Today is the second Sunday of Advent
I remember leading a Bible study years ago where Jeff Cavins was the video leader. At one point he was making the point about not judging others but he added that we could be fruit inspectors. That made us all laugh but I’ve remembered it all these years later.
Today’s Gospel talks about “producing good fruit”. John the Baptist tells this to the “brood of vipers” who come out to the desert to see him, and ostensibly to get baptized themselves. That baptism of repentance is a call to change for them but it is not a baptism of the Holy Spirit like we receive. Did they change their ways? Who knows, but the message that we all need to change is good for us today just as it was for them way back then.
The penitential nature of Advent, as I wrote last week, comes as a result of the self-examination we’re called to make. I would never describe our little group the way John described those today but I suppose it’s fair to say we all have our moments. Those may be prideful moments or angry moments or envious moments, etc. Whatever your moments it’s good to think about the need for change as we approach Christmas, and especially as we think about the Second Coming.
So, what kind of fruit are we producing? It can be tempting to think about fruit in a long term sense, fruit that will last, but I think we should focus on producing current fruit, fruit in the moment so to speak. What are we doing to lighten the load of another? Can we smile a little more? Can we open a few more doors? Can we be a better example of Christian love? There are a lot of things we might do that can bear fruit but we sometimes “don’t try them because we think about them being hard?” as G.K. Chesterton might say.
So here’s my suggestion. Think about one thing you can do today or tomorrow that might produce a little fruit, even just for a moment, and try that. Then another day then another. Don’t consider long term fruitfulness, as much as we hope that will happen. Just try to do something nice for someone in the moment and let that stand on it’s own.
This week’s Advent candle is for peace. I remember the Blessed Sacrament bells playing Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me. I loved being able to hear the bells (even though they were electronic) when we lived on Holmes. The idea of that song is to be the change you want to see. That’s a great start in fruitfulness too.
That’s it for now. Thanks for reading.
I hope you have a great, and peaceful, week.
Peace, Bob
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