"What to Do?"
Sermon Presented December 17, 2006
Luke 3:7-18
Third Sunday of Advent - Year C
Here we are - just one week before Christmas - and what does the Lectionary give us, but a text that pictures John the Baptist ranting and raving! There are no angels, shepherds, or baby! It doesn't seem very "Christmassy", and it definitely isn't uplifting! In fact, it seems about as far removed from what I would like to focus on this Advent Sunday of Joy as anything I can think of. Who wants to hear a prophet neglect all rules for winning over his audience by calling them names? Let's look at the text and see where it takes us on this Third Sunday of Advent. I'm reading from Luke 3:7-18.
I have a hydrangea that I picked up on clearance at Home Depot last June. It bloomed profusely all summer and fall - large orange blossoms - so when the first freeze was forecast, I brought it inside. At first, it bloomed but now, even though it sits in front of my sliding glass doors and is watered and fertilized, it doesn't bloom. I'm trying to decide whether to keep it, or get rid of it and buy another one next year. I want my plant to do what it's supposed to do - produce flowers!
That's what John the Baptist expects from his listeners. He wants them to produce the fruit that they are supposed to produce, and that's what he tells them in no uncertain terms! They have come to the wilderness to hear him preach and be baptized, and he chastises them and calls them a bunch of snakes!
However, instead of becoming angry and leaving, the people ask what they should do. (I doubt if you would be that gracious toward me in similar circumstances!) God works in the hearts of the people, convicting them of their need to change their lives, and they respond positively to John's message.
But John doesn't want to hear their words of confession; he wants them to change their lives to serve others. Who their ancestors are doesn't matter either - no matter how good and important they are, and words and baptism are insignificant. What's important is to turn from sin toward God and do acts of love and justice.
When John tells them to repent, he means for them to turn around 180 degrees and show by their works that they have repented! That means they must share from their abundance - food and clothing - and be just in their relationships with others.
John doesn't offer a "one size fits all" approach. He tells the tax collectors to take only what is required from the citizens. He tells the soldiers not to extort money and be satisfied with the wages paid. He tells them all to treat others as they would want to be treated by sharing from their possessions.
Each of the specific ethical instructions John gives concerns possessions - either sharing possessions or the prohibition against extortion and greed to gain more. The demand for justice in handling possessions is a theme running throughout Luke's gospel. By repeating the demand for generosity three times within this one brief passage we see clearly Luke's concern for the audience he is addressing.
When John calls the crowd a bunch of snakes, he does more than engage in insult and name-calling. He confronts the people with the danger of self-deception. Why are they presenting themselves for baptism? Are they truly repenting or just following the crowd to hear a powerful preacher? John recognizes that actions speak louder than words, and the best indication of repentance is a changed life. He calls for real change and the evidence to prove it. He lets them know that true faith produces godly acts.
The last sentence of the text says that "John the Baptist proclaims the good news to them." It's good news because all people can be a part of God's Kingdom - soldiers, tax collectors and all of the vipers who come to hear John preach. When people participate in God's Kingdom through acts of love and justice toward others, their repentance is validated.
The text says that the people are filled with expectation! They believe John. God is working in them and yet they are confused. They are expecting the Messiah, so the crowd asks John if he is the Messiah, at which time John points them to one who will come after him. He could have allowed himself to become the object of their worship. But instead of claiming glory for himself, he points the people to Jesus.
Today, we don't hear John's message in the same way as people did almost 2000 years ago. We live in a post-resurrection world and we have seen the evidence of the power of Jesus and God's Spirit. Yet John's words challenging the spiritual excuses of his day should challenge us too.
John's call to repentance isn't general but contextual. He speaks to what his audience needs to hear. Today's Advent call to repentance and change must also be shaped to our lives right now. Because we are gifted differently, what is required of us will be tailor-made to our specifications.
Today as then, money and possessions often keep us from Kingdom living. And today - as then - we hear the good news that change is possible! God presents us with new ways to live life and then gives us the spiritual power to do it.
If you're like me, you want to use your money wisely. You want to give to those who are truly needy and not be taken in by a scam. When someone tries to lay a guilt trip on me to get money as someone did a couple of weeks ago, he gets nothing. I'm sure that at times I fail to respond to a worthy person and instead give to someone who is using me, but I do the best I can.
Last Sunday, I had messages both at church and at home from a woman who needed help for Christmas. I returned her call and was told that she is having surgery in January and can't afford to purchase gifts for her children. I told her I couldn't help them all, but would buy an outfit for each of her four daughters - 2 sets of twin ages 10 and 11. I didn't know if I was being taken advantage of, but acted on my gut feeling that this was legit! I delivered the packages last night and was overwhelmed with her gratitude. She also asked me to pray for her as she faces surgery. Knowing how to share from our abundance is as important as our willingness to share, and this time I believe I did the right thing.
Jesus proclaimed that the Kingdom of God is now - and not just future. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand - not the Kingdom of Hell. We are called to proclaim the advent of Jesus. He came as John promised. That's good news! It is also good news that Jesus continues to come into our lives over and over again with nudges to live out our commitments to God through acts of love and justice.
You see, God does have standards and God calls us to live up to divine standards. John's words call us to change and when we change, our lives - not our words - will broadcast that changed lives are realities, not merely wishes. With repentance and right living, we find true joy in our relationship with Christ and with others.
John's answer to the questioners addressed the inequities and injustices of that society - food and clothing needed to be shared; taxes were based on greed; and the military threatened, intimidated and blackmailed the people. John said the people needed a true religion based on moral and ethical earnestness. He said they needed to repent of their sins and turn toward God.
Repentance doesn't mean beating ourselves up over our failures as much as it means courageously and painstakingly reorienting our priorities, unlearning old patterns and turning our face toward the light of Christ. John says that repentance means changing our actions toward others.
Wilanna shared her DVD of My Name is Bill W., the story of the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. I thought of all of the courageous men and women who are addicted to something and choose to fight that addiction through the help of God and of others who have faced the same addiction. They are making 180 degree turns in their lives.
I think it's easier to follow John's admonitions during the season of Advent than it is at other times of the year. Now we are more sensitive to the needs around us. Since I have been here, there has never been as much food collected for a food drive as we have in the foyer this morning. We are generous with our time as we visit those who can't get out or call those who need a personal connection. We are generous with appeals from worthy organizations to provide food, shelter and emotional support for those in need. All of this is good - and worthy - and is needed 12 months of the year. Loving actions and justice are year-round responsibilities.
On this third Sunday of Advent, I'm urging you to participate in Christ's Kingdom NOW as you minister to others with the gifts you have been given. We are called to inner repentance year-round - beginning today. Let's begin to smooth out the rough places for the coming of Christ anew in our hearts. Let's bear fruit worthy of repentance.
The evidence of a changed life - a repentant life - is new priorities, commitments, personal relationships, passion for peace and justice and unplanned acts of compassion. But to live this kind of a self-less life, we must seek God's presence in our lives and our decision-making. The proof of the pudding is in its taste. The proof of repentance is a 180 degree turn. As John promised, Jesus came to make that change possible. So let's ask "What do I do?" and then let our lives be living proof that God is in charge!
