2nd Sunday of Advent A 7 December 2025 Expectancy
The Bible is a very long book. One reason for its length is the necessity of preparing the
human race to
receive what is promised. The human race
takes convincing that they are that lucky.
When people receive a phone call to say they have won the lottery there is always that sense of disbelief. You must be joking etc. Gradually it sinks in.
Think of the prodigal son who got more than he expected. He was just going to slink in through the back door trying to escape notice and he was greeted with great fanfare.
He received more than he expected, more than he dared to hope. This is our position in relation to God. We know He wants to bless us in a general sort of way, but we have trouble grasping the scale of what he has prepared for us and is still promising.
We would settle for less, but we get more. Eternal life, no more pain or suffering, paradise like conditions wolf with lamb etc first reading.
Good news can be taken by stages and then is not so much of a shock. You had better sit down before I tell you etc.
That is why the Bible is so long; God wants us to understand His blessings to us in the context of his overall plan.
Plus, we see over centuries not only the original plan but how much rejection God would receive, just for trying to save the world!
Within the Bible there are many colourful characters who fill out the scene One of the most important is John the Baptist.
He is the greatest of the prophets (Mt 11,11) and the closest to the good news which is being prepared.
He fascinates the people such that they want to see and hear him. They think he might be the Messiah, so impressive is he.
He replies that he is not worthy to tie up the real messiah’s shoelaces (Mt 3,11). He eases the people in, to expect more and even better good news.
There are two parts to how he does this:
One is to offer forgiveness of sins to those whom he baptises.
The other is to offer a change of heart to those who really want to learn.
God wants to bless us in these two ways – to take away the guilt of our sin and to let us stand upright before Him.
And then to give us a new heart (cf Ezekiel 36,26) so that we will no longer have any desire to sin.
We have been restored like the prodigal son. Expecting to be thrown out we are welcomed; expecting to re-offend we are suddenly able to see things in a new light, and we sin no more.
Not only are we allowed into the house, but we can live like royalty. And we can all be like this. Everyone is a winner in Heaven.
Even the pharisees had an opening … brood of vipers even you can be a part of this blessing Mt 3,7).
Christ could have come anyway but better if the people had some preparation because they were not used to things going so well.
Hou much do we dare to hope for? Many would settle for too little.
If it is really true, then we are luckier than we would have ever dreamed of being. We have a foretaste of it in this life but there is much more to come.
We did not expect the Incarnation of God as Man, but having received it we can respond.
We cling to what we know, so we are gradually extricated and prepared for our proper state.
We are that younger son, this time getting it right!
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