Pope: 'giving substance' to Advent with a journey of conversion

"First of all we are called to reclaim the depressions produced by coldness and indifference, opening ourselves to others with the same sentiments of Jesus, that is, with that cordiality and fraternal attention that takes responsibility for the needs of our neighbor".

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The Christian is someone who, like John the Baptist, "points to hope even in those impervious existential contexts, marked by failure and defeat", who is open to others "with that cordiality and fraternal attention that becomes responsibility for the needs of others. And all this with a special care for the most needy". Pope Francis called on people to "give substance" to Advent, a time of expectation, like John  the Baptist, before the recital of today's Angelus.

30 thousand people were present in St Peter’s Square this Sunday, but Francis began his address by reflecting on the invitation of last Sunday’s to live the time of Advent and waiting for the Lord with the attitude of vigilance and prayer.

Instead today, the second Sunday of Advent, we are shown how to give substance to this expectation: by beginning  a journey of conversion. Pope Francis called John the Baptizist “a guide” for our conversion journey. Luke’s Gospel presents him going throughout the “region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Luke 3:3). Luke understands that John was the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy of paths being made straight, valleys filled in and mountains being brought low.

"In order to prepare the way for the coming Lord, it is necessary to take into account the demands of conversion to which the Baptist invites us. First of all we are called to reclaim the valleys produced by coldness and indifference, opening ourselves to others with the same sentiments of Jesus, that is, with that cordiality and fraternal attention that takes responsibility for the needs of our neighbor ".

 "You cannot have a relationship of love, fraternity, charity with others if there are holes as you cannot travel a path if there are holes. And all this with a special care for the most needy ". "Then we must soften so much harshness caused by pride and arrogance, making concrete gestures of reconciliation with our brothers, requesting forgiveness of our faults. It is not easy to reconcile, always asking who will take the first step. But the Lord helps if there is good will. Conversion, in fact, is complete if it leads to humbly recognizing our mistakes, our infidelities and own faults ".

"The believer is the one who, through his being close to his brother, as John the Baptist opens roads in the desert, that is, indicates hopeful prospects even in those impervious existential contexts, marked by failure and defeat. We cannot give in to negative situations of closure and rejection; we must not allow ourselves to be subjected to the mentality of the world, because the center of our life is Jesus and his word of light, of love, of consolation. The Baptist invited the people of his time to conversion with strength, vigor and severity. Yet he knew how to listen, he knew how to perform gestures of tenderness and forgiveness towards the multitude of men and women who came to him to confess their sins and be baptized with the baptism of penitence ".

"The testimony of John the Baptist helps us to move forward in our testimony of life. The purity of his proclamation, his courage in proclaiming the truth, succeeded in reawakening the expectations and hopes of the Messiah that had long been dormant. Even today, the disciples of Jesus are called to be his humble but courageous witnesses to rekindle hope, to make it understood that, despite everything, the kingdom of God continues to be built day by day with the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us think of how each of us can change something of our attitude to prepare the way of the Lord. May the Virgin Mary help us to prepare the way of the Lord day by day, beginning with ourselves; and to spread around us, with tenacious patience, seeds of peace, justice and fraternity ".

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• reconciliation