None of us are ever fully ready. Not for children, not for life, and not for following Jesus. In this Advent 2 sermon on Matthew 3:1-12, we explore what repentance truly means. It is not perfection or spiritual performance. It is a return to the God who comes close long before we have everything figured out.This message weaves together John the Baptist in the wilderness, the story of bringing a first child home from the hospital, and a recent encounter downtown with a man holding a sign that named our own tradition. Through it all, we discover the heart of Advent.God meets us where we are.God restores what is broken.God prepares the way even when we are not ready to hear it.Repentance is not readiness. Repentance is return.If this message encourages you, share it with someone who needs to hear that Jesus loves them too.