At our baptism, we too have been given a mission from God to make that difference. That mission is to prepare ourselves and the world for the coming of Christ, not only each Christmas Season, but also when He comes at the hour of our death to judge us individually or at the end of the generation when He comes again to the earth to judge and rule over His kingdom. It takes such great effort to make these transformations take place, that it is only by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us that it can be done.

This advent Season calls us to some sort of transformation, some action to be taken. That action is to repent. Repent means to turn away from. From what? From that in our lives which prompts us to go against the will and teachings of God.

A few weeks ago we heard the gospel from St. Luke on how the tax collector Zaccheus realized that he had to change and  repent from his awful sinfulness, as indeed, tax collectors were considered the greatest of sinners. He took action in not only seeking Christ's mercy from the tree he climbed, but also by doing the most difficult thing, getting rid of all of his wealth that caused him to sin and to make repentance by giving back the money to its owners and to the poor.

Transformation of our lives is influenced by our openness to the Holy Spirit. Once we are transformed, we are called to transform others. Like John the Baptist, we too are called to give testimony to the Light and Truth of Jesus Christ. Do you point others to Christ in the way you live, work, and speak?

John the Baptist's life was fueled by one burning passion -- to point others to Jesus Christ and to the coming of His kingdom. Who is John the Baptist and what is the significance of his message for our lives? What does scripture tell us?

John was the one who took action to initiate this transformation of the world. He indeed was an amazing person. He was, you recall, a relative of Christ, perhaps a 2nd or 3rd cousin. After Mary learned that she was to be the mother of God, she visited her cousin, Elizabeth, to help her prepare for the birth of her son, John. According to Scriptural accounts, several great wonders surrounded the birth of the Baptist. First of all, Elizabeth was far beyond the child-bearing age. Then, John's father Zechariah, a temple priest, was a mute; he had been unable to speak for some months. During the ceremony when he named the child John, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak. John, himself, grew up to be a hermit, an ascetic, a striking figure and a prophet. It had been a long time since God sent a prophet to the Jews and they were attracted to him, fascinated by his powerful speeches.

When John began his ministry, all the Judean countryside and the people of Jerusalem went out to hear him preach and to be baptized. He had a very strong following. Scripture tells us that John was filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb by Christ himself, whom Mary had just conceived by the Holy Spirit. When Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, John lept in his mother's womb as they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

The fire of the Spirit dwelt in John and made him the forerunner of the coming Messiah.  God sometimes manifested his presence by use of fire, such as the burning bush which was not consumed when God spoke to Moses. The image of fire was also used to symbolize God's glory, His protective presence, His holiness, righteous judgment and His wrath against sin. It is also used symbolizing the Holy Spirit.  God's fire both purifies and cleanses, and it inspires a reverent fear of God and of his word in us.

John was led by the Spirit into the wilderness prior to his ministry where he was tested and grew in the word of God.  John's clothing was reminiscent of the prophet Elijah.

John broke the prophetic silence of the previous centuries when he began to speak the word of God to the people of Israel.  His message was similar to the message of the Old Testament prophets who criticized the people of God for their unfaithfulness and who tried to awaken true repentance in them for their lack of concern with the things of God. It was his work to awaken their interest, shake them up, and arouse them to recognize and receive Christ when He came.

Are you eager to hear God's word and to be changed by it through the power of the Holy Spirit?

John's baptism was for repentance, that is, turning away from sin and taking on a new way of life according to God's Word.  Our baptism in Jesus Christ by water and the Spirit results in a new birth and entry into God's kingdom as his beloved sons and daughters. Jesus is ready to give us the fire of His Spirit that we may radiate the joy and truth of the gospel to a world in desperate need of God's light and truth. His word has the power to change and transform our lives that we may be lights pointing others to Christ. Whether intentionally or not, what John did was to clear the way for Jesus as he preached a decisive change in history.

We are called upon during Advent and indeed through our whole lives to transform ourselves, to break out of our old habits and begin life again as a new person. We may not be able to do it perfectly. We will make mistakes and fall back into old ways, but it is enough to respond continually to the invitation. You don't know the incredible joy that you're missing out on! Jump out of your life of sin and discover how many blessings will start coming your way!

The Scriptures teach that when we repent and cast away our sins, we make ourselves "a new heart and a new spirit" and God will refresh us. In other words, the Lord tells us that he loves us so very much, that no matter how terrible and sinful we've been in the past, He'll gladly wipe the slate clean if only we are sorry for what we've done and honestly try to amend our lives.

Just being sorry is not enough, although it's certainly a good start. John the Baptist says that we've got to give some real evidence that we mean to reform our lives. He wouldn't let the Jews get away with saying, "Well, we're the chosen people because we're descendants of Abraham,"  nor will he let us get away with saying "We're adopted children of God, because we are baptized Christians and Jesus died for our sins." No, that's just pride and arrogance, says John the Baptist.

"Show evidence," he says. God demands proof. John the Baptist came to a people who merely wished that the Messiah might come. It was a great fantasy in their minds, but they weren't doing anything about it. John the Baptist taught them to change their lives. He told them to repent and reform. He told them that they couldn't be satisfied with doing nothing, just sitting on their heritage.

Our power is in the Lord, and as we come up to receive Him in the Blessed Sacrament, call upon this power that dwells within us and was given by our own baptism. Our baptism introduces us to the Lord. The Eucharist fills us with the Lord. That is why Christ was born. That is Christmas. That is what we are preparing for, in anticipation, in this season of Advent.