‘Even now the axe lies at the root of the trees’ Mt 3:10

We are incomplete without God. In this life we are destined to live in tension between things on earth and in heaven. In this sense we are people of Advent. Advent characterised people of the Old Testament and strangely enough it is one of the main descriptions of people of the New Testament.  Advent is a time of yearning for God, for the second coming of Christ. ‘My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. /Ps 42;2-4/
 
However, Advent is not only a time of our inner desire for God, it is also the time of God’s action towards us. Today we are taught about an axe. The axe is a simple machine, which allows us to chop wood. For centuries axes reduced the efforts of woodcutters. The axe simply splits the wood into two parts by the pressure concentrated at the blade, leaving no stump behind. It is particularly helpful when roots need cutting. One must use much strength to be able to do it but the axe cuts to the very roots. The handle of the axe allows the user to increase the force at the cutting edge.
 
The Lord wants a total change in our lives. He uses the axe of love to cut the roots of our sin, moral and spiritual destitutions. If your private life is full of pride or fear, violence and anger then Christ will put the axe of His LOVE to the roots of your problem. The same applies to your professional life and sexual life. If you are corrupted or if your conscience is asleep, Christ’s love will awaken it. His LOVE is enough to change us. Jesus Christ, the one who is amongst us, loves us and embraces us but He also splits the soul from the spirit so that we are overtaken by the love of God. One of the best fruits of Advent is a good and deep sacramental confession. In this way, the Divine axe is a blessed gift to us

Fr Stan