There Must Be Reconciliation Before Communion

Today we are introduced to the great Advent figure, St. John the Baptist, whose vocation was to prepare the way of the Lord as Isaiah had prophesied: "Every valley shall be filled and hill made low." To prepare the people to receive Jesus into their hearts, what did he do? He had the people come to confess their sins and receive a baptism of repentance. If we want Jesus to find our home in our hearts, we too have to acknowledge, repent, and be forgiven for our sins -- this reconciliation always proceeds communion. Like in human relationships, t is impossible to have communion with God without there first being reconciliation.