We are journeying in the path of preparation for Christmas. The Gospels of Advent’s Sunday are helping us with important messages: to be vigilant, to open up our heart for the coming of the Lord, and now, on this Sunday, to start a process of conversion.

According to the Gospel, people are interested in knowing John the Baptist. He is an original person. He lives a very frugal life in the desert, preaching the coming of the Messiah. He is aware to be only the precursor, the one who is to prepare the coming of the Lord. Yet people flock to know him and to listen to his words. John preaches a baptism of repentance. He asks people to change their deeds and thoughts, whenever they are not in line with the will of God.

I would like to highlight three aspects of the preaching of John. First of all, John does not ask people to do particular things primarily addressed to God, such as special prayers, rituals, fasting, or pilgrimages. John calls people to improve their deeds towards their neighbors first. He invites them to share their goods with those in need and also to have honest behavior, avoiding abuses and exploitation of the weak. Loving the neighbor is the first step for loving God.

Second, John does not ask people to do extraordinary things, such as ascetical practices beyond the possibilities of his listeners. On the contrary, he asks them to be just and honest in their work and to be satisfied with the ordinary wages, avoiding extortion, corruption, and falsity. John was calling people to a conversion which is at hand, something that can be done easily as long as the listeners desire to do it.

Third, we can ask ourselves who is the beneficiary of such conversion. We normally think that we convert ourselves in order to make God happy. This is true. God will rejoice if we do good deeds. But if we think more deeply, any achievement in improving our life, any defect that we can overcome, any temptation that we overcome, are in fact enhancements of our quality of life. Let’s just think if a person can stop his addiction to drugs, of course, God will rejoice in seeing this improvement, but the main beneficiary of such repentance will be the person himself: his life will change for the better, and so the life of his family and friends. Conversion, therefore, is mainly an invitation to change for reaching happiness. It is a gift from God for us.

Let us ask the grace of the Spirit to accompany and sustain us in the process of conversion we personally need. It will be a journey of liberation, a journey towards happiness.

Happy Advent!