Gospel Reflection 2nd Sunday Advent

In today’s Gospel, John the Baptist felt called to proclaim the message of “repentance for the forgiveness of sins” so as to prepare people to receive the Messiah that is to come.  

Like Israel in her exile— we are imprisoned by our own sinfulness and in need of restoration and conversion. The readings for this second Sunday of Advent should teach us that as God again and again has delivered Israel, He will free us, too, from our own sinfulness if we return back to Him in repentance.