Luke 3:8
• In 2021 for Advent 3 I wrote about the Zephaniah reading
• Overview of Luke's Gospel
Luke 3:7-18
7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."
10 And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?"
11 In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise."
12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?"
13 He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you."
14 Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages."
15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,
16 John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
18So, with many other exhortations, John proclaimed the good news to the people.
John the Baptist
Two weeks ago on the First Sunday of Advent, the church started a new year of grace with a season particularly focused on hope. Despite John the Baptist's words, this Third Sunday takes somewhat of a break from penitence and receives the designation Gaudete or "Rejoice," from the first words of the introit or entrance prayer that's derived from the second reading from Philippians, "rejoice in the Lord always." If you've sung in choirs, you probably know Henry Purcell's anthem, "Rejoice in the Lord alway."
Today we hear from and about John the Baptist as he instructs people (a brood of vipers who need to repent) how to get ready for the arrival of God in their midst in the person of his cousin Jesus.
Do you remember John and Jesus were very close in age? John's official church birthday is June 25, right after the summer solstice. Although Jesus' birth likely was during the season of spring, we celebrate his birthday right after the winter solstice, on December 25. Birthdays of increasing and decreasing light symbolize nicely John's observation recorded in John 3:30, "Jesus must increase, I must decrease."
To get a full picture of John the Baptist, we can lay out what each of the four gospels says about him. That would be a great project for a Sunday School class leader or participant at this time of year.
Getting Ready
Take a look at this scene as Luke wrote it. Luke has just cited John's invitation to a baptism for the forgiveness of sins (remember, sin and debt were close to synonymous in that economy), and then quoted Isaiah, "Prepare the way of the Lord … all flesh shall see the salvation of God" when the camera switches to John's followers down by the Jordan Riverside.
Would God among us not be an alleluia moment, a time to sing praises?! In this narrative we read and hear during Advent, John the Baptist has people preparing for God's arrival in their midst by starting to live as he knew Jesus would teach us to be and to act. When that happens, everyone will shout alleluias! An alleluia moment? Alleluias lived out every single day!
People often imagine God calls them to activities, careers, and other endeavors the world considers amazing—teaching elementary school in the inner city, serving as a mostly pro-bono attorney for marginalized populations, serving a non-English speaking mission in a semi-exotic place, parenting kids who go on to get a PhD or MD and help save their corner of the world. God does call and prepare people to those and other redemptive ministries—both highly visible and less conspicuous ones. Ministries that require immense skill and endless preparation along with options almost anyone can pick up. But?
And Then?
But Jesus' cousin John tells us to get ready for The Coming One by sharing essentials like clothing and food where we already are. He doesn't even advise tax collectors and soldiers who are in the employ of the occupying Roman government to quit their jobs (that potentially oppress and even might bankrupt people).
John encourages them to act right here where they are, to give of themselves and any material excess. We always need to bloom where we're planted! After all, most people don't have the option to relocate or travel elsewhere, and even when or if they do, people in need still surround us wherever we are.
As we follow the biblical witness and trace history over the following millennia, we find actions of Jesus' followers become a major aspect of Jesus' presence increasing and growing on earth. We've been seeing and we've been part of initiatives and results from ordinary, everyday people who have been baptized with water and with fire.
Later
Today's gospel reading anticipates the same Luke's volume II Acts of the Apostles where everyone has everything in common, where members of the emergent church provide for the common good.
Just as Matthew never lets up on justice and righteousness, Luke never lets up on living for the other, for the neighbor, correcting the imbalance of some having more than they need, the sorrow of others trying to get by with less. Early on in Acts we hear:
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Acts 2:42-45
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