A Baptism of Repentance
Taking a bath here in London at this time of the year is like a Chemistry titration. I have to balance the scalding hot water with freezing water to get it just right. Last evening I overturned the hot water faucet and was momentarily scorched.
It became for me, a metaphor of John’s baptism of repentance in this week’s Gospel Luke 3: 1-6 ‘he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.’ The scalding water cleansed me.
The term baptism comes from the Greek word baptizó (βαπτίζω), meaning “to immerse” or “to dip.” This word predates John and was used in various Greek contexts to describe ritual washing, purification, or immersing objects or people in water.
John the Baptist’s baptism was unique in its purpose: it called people to repentance as preparation for the coming of the Messiah. It symbolized a spiritual cleansing and commitment to turning away from sin.
It is the same for us today. If we are to hear the word of God in the wildernesses of our lives, we must be ‘spiritually cleansed’. Our minds and hearts must be cleared of the clutter of noise and distractions. To experience Metanoia (see yesterday’s post) we must be open to the action of grace in our lives.
We open ourselves—both literally and figuratively—to a baptism of purification, turning away from sin and the distractions of the world, so that we may become more attuned to hearing the word of God. And hearing this special call from God we respond withdrawing from the more active concerns of a worldly life in order to devote more time to prayer and conversion.
This does not mean escaping from our daily duties, but ordering them to give quality time to prayer and reconciliation with God. In our wilderness we retreat from excessive ambition, preoccupation with world news and social media to devote time to contemplation.
The second week of Advent invites us into a time of cleansing and renewal, a sacred opportunity to prepare our hearts to receive the word of God more deeply. Like John the Baptist’s call in the wilderness, this season encourages us to turn away from the noise and distractions that dull our spiritual senses.
By seeking repentance and quieting our souls, we create space for God’s presence to resonate within us. As we journey through this week, may we embrace this cleansing with humility and hope, allowing it to refine us and make us more receptive to the transformative power of God’s word in our lives.