[A reflection on the Gospel selection for Mass on the Second Sunday of Advent (Western Rite), December 10, 2023: Mark 1.1-8]
If you have not figured out by now that repentence and forgiveness is a big part of the Christian message, well, who can really blame you these days? It seems some Christians are more interested in condemning people for their sins (perceived and real), or for glossing over the whole concept of sin altogether (but really, anyone saying they have no sin is either delusional or comatose). We did not invent the concept, however, nowhere even close.
Let that sink in for a moment.
Many religions have a concept of sin, those destructive acts and attitudes that spread chaos and wreckage in their wake, ranging from minor/venial to major/mortal. After all, recognizing bad behaviour that hurts others is a matter of observation (again, holding otherwise is to be delusional or, yes, comatose). The religion of the Israelite tribes of Canaan certainly did so; Psalm 51 (50 in the Septuagint), a very moving prayer of regret for sin committed, was composed over three thousand years ago. The prophets of Israel and Judah from the Classical Hebrew period spoke of sin and repentance constantly. So it should come as no surprise that a prophet active in Judaea in the Common Era's early First Century, should speak about it, and even have a ritual cleansing to represent the repentance.
He does not stop there, however.
John son of Zechariah, who was the prophet in question, made it a point to note that while he offered a message of repentance and forgiveness from God for sin, that there was more to the story. Beyond forgiveness, there would be an additional grace from God to be given by John's successor (at this point unnamed), the baptism of the Holy Spirit. What does that mean? John did not go into detail...he left that for his succesor, for Whom he was preparing the nation of Israel to receive.
Like John's followers, we too should not just partake in repentance of our sins and receiving the forgiveness of God. There is more to come. When the One who is mightier than John comes to us, He will bring the Holy Spirit with Him, truly a game changer if ever that was.
Such a gift seems vague and open to an infinite array of possibility. Let us be open to the Spirit. The results may surprise us all.