Another Opportunity – Second Sunday of Advent 2025

On this Second Sunday of Advent, we turn our attention to Ecuador, the second major location for the Dehonian Jubilee celebration. From there, we share with you this meditation by Ms. Norma Padilla, a member of the Dehonian Family in Quito.

by Norma Padilla

On this Second Sunday of Advent, the Gospel reading from Matthew 3:1-12 presents us with John the Baptist, who shows us the path we must follow. God offers us yet another opportunity with the birth of His son, Jesus, to become better men and women.

John the Baptist calls us to conversion and to prepare for the coming of Jesus. He invites us to reflect on our lifestyle and to change it so that we may receive Jesus with a pure and clean heart.

John proclaims: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” He calls us to sincere repentance and a conversion of our attitude in our daily lives.
Through his demeanor, John shows us that humility must be our calling card, and with this attitude, we must joyfully bring the good news to our brothers and sisters.
John shows us that following sincere repentance, we must produce fruits. How do we do this? By helping, visiting, conversing with our brothers and sisters, and reaching out to people from whom we need to ask forgiveness (works of mercy).
John reaffirms that if we undergo a sincere conversion and bear fruit, we will be worthy of receiving the grace of God.

As Christian laity and children of God, imbued with the spirituality of Father Dehon, let us give the love and reparation that we receive from Him. Let us not waste this new opportunity He gives us. Let us prepare for His coming by following the path shown to us by John the Baptist.

Our repentance must not be merely superficial—just chest-beating over our sins or mistakes—but must be reflected in a change in our lives. With the vision of the Newborn Child and the tenderness He inspires, we might begin with a simple greeting, a smile, and fundamentally, by putting ourselves in the other’s shoes (empathy). In this way, we will be responding to the love of Jesus.

Brothers and sisters, in this time of prayer and conversion, let us make use of the three offices of Christ received at baptism, which invite us to participate:

As priests, by offering our lives to God and praying for others.
As prophets, by proclaiming God’s truth through our words and deeds.
As kings, by leading and helping others to use their talents through service and example, or by governing ourselves so that we may offer ourselves to God.

Prayer:

Lord, help me prepare for your coming. Give me the grace to recognize my sins and change my way of life. Grant me the humility to use the offices received at my baptism so that we may bear fruit. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.