Fourth Sunday of Advent (CL)

Matthew 3:1-12
1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.’ ”
4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Mt 3:1-12). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

John the Baptist is the voice crying in the wilderness. He has come to prepare the way of the coming Christ. John the Baptist gives us a Christmas image of Jesus Christ. He is the one who calls the people to repentance. But look at this image.

Jesus stands with a winnowing fork in his hand. He is ready to clear the threshing floor. John the Baptist also gives us a fire in the back ground. Who does this remind you of? It makes me think of Satan Claus. He is the one ready to throw you into the fire. He is the one with the pitch fork or winnowing fork in his hand. He is the one who stands in the midst of fire.

But this is our picture of Jesus. He is the Judge who will come to judge the living and the dead. John the Baptist must truly get a rude awakening when he sees the Lamb of God who is going to take away the sins of the World. Jesus does not come with fire and judgment. But he comes with a message of Hope for salvation and forgiveness of sins.