Fr. Bob’s Homily – Second Sunday of Advent

Years ago, a newspaper columnist reported on an unusual story about people trying to remove unwanted tattoos. Many of the people quoted in the article were young men and women, regretting the designs made on their skin in permanent ink, that once seemed like a good idea. They soon discovered that tattoo removal was possible – although it was painful, costly and often left impressions that never completely faded.

That story illustrates something deeper about all of us. Each of us carries marks we wish we could erase. Yes, we all have done things we wish we could take back – choices made, words spoken, opportunities missed. If we paused for just a moment, we could easily recall at least half a dozen things we’d love to take back and erase from our lives.

The real struggle is that so many people live with regret without knowing what to do with it. They try to forget, to push guilt aside, yet it always finds its way back. It ends up being a losing battle.

A novelist once wrote, “I have committed follies. I have done things in my life that I am unable to entirely forget. If I had been fortunate enough to be Catholic, I could have delivered them at confession – and after performing the penance imposed, received absolution and put them behind me.”

It takes a statement like that to help us realize how truly blessed we are as Catholics. Just as those young people rejoiced to learn they could remove their tattoos, we can rejoice knowing that Jesus has given us a way to remove the stains of sin.

This is one of the reasons why the Church has set aside Advent each year. Advent recalls the great gift God made available to us: The Sacrament of Reconciliation. 

God encourages us to use this gift, because not only does reconciliation give us peace of mind, but it prepares us for the day we will stand before the Lord in judgment. On that day, we will be judged not only for what we have done, but for what we have failed to do.

My friends, Advent invites us to remember that we can be made new. It reminds us that reconciliation not only restores peace to our hearts, it also prepares us to meet the Lord, face to face and unafraid.

The words of Scripture echo through every generation. They were not only meant for the people of Jesus’ time. Those words St. John the Baptist spoke were also meant for us: “Prepare a road for the Lord. Turn away from your sins. The One who comes after me is mightier than I am.”