John the Baptist had a grim message for the Pharisees and Sadducees who came to receive his baptism:
“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’”
Why is the Baptist so harsh with these leaders? Is it not enough that they are coming to receive his baptism like everyone else?
Indeed, they are coming to receive his baptism, but they are receiving it as a cloak to cover their sins. They have no intention to face their inner wretchedness and truly repent. The external ritual of baptism has become, in their eyes, a way to distract them from the inner decadence in their hearts.
It is also important for us Catholics to be careful lest we too approach the sacraments as a way to avoid the deep conversion of heart that the Lord demands from us. We too can attend many Masses, say many prayers, and receive the sacrament of Reconciliation while holding onto our sins and sinful tendencies. We can use these sacramental rites as a way of feeling good about ourselves without allowing God to actually transform our hearts from within. …
