In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” 4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful 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, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
The gospel for the second Sunday of Advent focuses on John the Baptist. The evangelist does not even bother to introduce John, who, we are told, was active in the wilderness of Judea, located east of Jerusalem going towards the Dead Sea. A number of religious groups appear to have established themselves in this area, notably the Qumran community. Matthew gives John three major characteristics. First, he is the forerunner, who will announce the arrival of the Lord. This identifies him with Elijah who was expected to return and proclaim the Messiah. Second, he is inferior to the coming one and realizes this fact. Third, Matthew provides a number of resemblances between John and Jesus: their messages are similar, as are their enemies; both are recognized as prophets by people but ultimately, like so many prophets, both are rejected and executed.
Both John and Jesus call on people to repent, which, in the Bible, means to change completely the orientation of one’s life. John does so because he understands that “the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This refers to the day when God’s power will be recognized on earth as it is in heaven. The only logical response to such an event is to repent and try to live as God wants. In verse three, Matthew quotes Isaiah 40:3 about a voice crying in the wilderness which obviously refers to John. He is the new Elijah, announcing the coming of the Lord, Jesus. Furthermore, John’s strange outfit also associates him with Elijah (note that the Bedouins still wear clothes made of camel hair). In spite of his rather gloomy message, John seems to have been something of a sensation in his time, drawing large crowds.
The Pharisees were a Jewish sect who kept a rigorous interpretation of the Law, especially rules dealing with purity. They first appeared in the second century BC, at a time of great persecution. The Sadducees were a priestly and aristocratic group, closely associated with the temple, who, unlike the Pharisees, did not believe in life after death. No one knows the origin of their name, but the group also seems to have developed in the second century BC. Unlike the Pharisees, they died out after the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. John (as will Jesus) violently attacks both, calling them a “brood of vipers.” John calls on them to repent and to show good fruit through their actions. Judgment is coming (through Jesus), and everyone must be ready. The Pharisees and Sadducees may think they are saved because the belong to the chosen people, but John insists this is not enough.
In the final verses, John speaks of the Messiah, whose superiority he wholeheartedly acknowledges. Fire is the traditional image for judgment and so the Messiah will bring it. A winnowing fork was used by a farmer to separate the grain from the chaff. In this way, the Messiah will separate good from evil. All too often, this passage has been interpreted as referring to people: that good people will be saved, and bad ones perish. But it is more likely to refer to the good and bad within each of us. We shall be purified of all that is evil and truly become children of God through the action of the Messiah.
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