Advent 8 - Make a U-Turn

DAY 8 - Make a U-Turn
Luke 3:7-14 

What does it look like to repent?

Simply put, repentance means “to turn.” On the one hand, we turn FROM our sins. We turn away from selfishness and pride. We refuse to use people for our personal gain. Someone once said, “Repentance means being sorry enough to change.” Turning from sin means feeling sorry for whatever we’ve done wrong. It means committing to do better. It also means fixing anything we’ve broken.

On the other hand, we turn TO Jesus. In many pictures of John, he’s pointing at Jesus. He points at the one who can baptize us with the Holy Spirit to change us from the inside out. Anytime we turn from one thing, we turn to another. It’s not enough to turn away from selfish things, we have to turn to the selfless love of Christ. We kindle devotion to Jesus. We seek purity of heart and holiness of life.

Turning to Jesus means turning toward our neighbor, too. We cannot love God without loving other people. In his book, The Weight of Glory, C.S. Lewis said, “Next to the Blessed Sacrament [of the Lord’s Supper] itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses.” The saintly social worker, Dorothy Day, said, “I really only love God as much as I love the person I love the least.”

John the Baptist warned the crowds that religious curiousity only goes so far. Like everyone getting ready to meet God, they need to “produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” The godly sorrow we talked about yesterday is good but must mature into actual behavior change. Pay attention to John’s recommended change. Everything he encourages maximizes fairness and love with our neighbors.

When we see ourselves honestly, we must turn from sin and turn to Jesus. That’s a great way to get ready for Christmas and Christ’s return!

REFLECT
What is one sinful attitude, desire, or habit you should leave behind?
What good attitude, desire, or habit could replace it?

PRAY
Merciful God, you sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation. Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. AMEN.