John Pridmore was a gangster, working in organized crime on the mean streets of London in the 1980s. He lived a life of drug deals, theft, and violence. He had a penthouse apartment, sports cars, money and power. But he knew something was missing. There was no peace in his heart.
Baptized Catholic, he drifted away from the faith. Despite having everything anyone could want in life, he felt empty. He knew he had to affect a change of heart in order to find that peace he so deeply desired. Even though he didn’t know it at the time, he was looking for Jesus. Becoming dissatisfied with what the world had to offer the senses, he began thirsting for the One Who satisfies the soul.
Jesus began His public ministry when He was 30 years old. He came to put His Father’s house in order. He called His disciples, spread the message of the gospel, and endured rejection, political turmoil, and persecution. Despite being met with resistance, criticism, and hostility, Jesus continued to spread His message of love, mercy, and forgiveness. In short, the gospel of Jesus is about a peaceful conversion of heart.
Even though John Pridmore didn’t initially realize it, he came to the point where he understood he was desperately searching for the conversion of heart and repentance through the teachings of the Catholic Church. He knew he had some crooked roads to straighten out, rough plains to make smooth, and uneven valleys to level. But if we’re honest with ourselves, don’t we all?
St. John the Baptist preached a message that John Pridmore knew he had to adopt. Echoing the words of Baruch, the last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets, St. John shows us the way to peaceful conversion of heart. Make straight paths. Fill in every valley. Smooth out the rough ways. St. John’s Baptism of Repentance is about making the necessary changes to bring about this transformation.
This week we lit the second violet candle on the Advent Wreath, representing peace. Traditionally known as the “Bethlehem Candle,” it reminds us of Mary and Joseph’s journey to the City of David. Coincidentally, the Advent Season is also about our journey. The journey to a peaceful conversion of heart, preparing ourselves to celebrate the birth of the Messiah.
Not only did John Pridmore experience a profound conversion, but he became a Catholic apologist and an internationally best-selling author. If a hardened criminal like John Pridmore could find a transformational sense of peace that only comes about through Jesus, then anybody can. And everybody should. God calls even the most broken among us to serve Him.
In this second week of Advent, may we all experience that peaceful conversion of heart resulting from leaving our sinfulness behind and embracing repentance, which ultimately leads us to the Prince of Peace in His Word and in His Sacraments and eventually in the Heavens.
Photo by KaLisa Veer on Unsplash
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