It is that time of the year, where you find yourself unpacking Christmas decorations from the box room, garage or space in the house dedicated to storage. Don’t you sometimes find yourself rummaging through items of all shapes and sizes, some of which have been sitting unused for ages—creating nothing more than clutter? We all seem to have a natural instinct to hold on to things, even when we know we will probably never use them. We think that by keeping them tucked away, one day they might come in handy. Unlikely!
Advent, in a way, invites us to do something similar—but with our hearts. In this Sunday’s Gospel, we hear the bold words of John the Baptist: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 3:2). These are the same words Jesus used at the beginning of His own public ministry. But why, in the time of Advent, is there such a strong focus on repentance?
Repentance is more than simply saying sorry or feeling regret. It is about clearing the clutter of sin and distractions from our lives—making space for God to re-enter. Just as we sort through old, unused items and decide what to keep, what to give away, or what to discard, repentance asks us to turn away from all that weighs us down spiritually and to let it go.
Repentance is not about promising never to sin again. It is about taking the courageous step to change, so that sin no longer has the same hold or purpose in our lives. It is about creating freedom in our hearts, even though freedom sometimes comes at a cost.
Through this act of honest reflection and renewal, our hearts are strengthened, our hope is renewed, and we prepare ourselves to welcome Christ more fully this Christmas.
This Advent, as we light the candles on our wreaths, let us also light the flame of repentance in our hearts. Let us embrace this season as an opportunity to declutter our spiritual lives, to grow in courage, and to make room for the joy, peace, and hope that Christ brings.
We look forward to seeing you at Mass this Sunday 7th December, as we journey together in reflection, renewal, and preparation for the coming of our Lord.
