Third Sunday of Advent
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Scripture |
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.” 18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. |
Devotional |
What shall we do?” For those of us who squeezed past John’s call for repentance last week, he does not leave enough room to squeeze by this week. John is inclusive. The crowds, toll-collectors, and soldier, he does not leave anyone out this week. John points to a religious experience that is beyond our control. Because it arises for a responsiveness to what God is doing among us, such experience cannot be channeled or domesticated to our taste. There is the mystery: God acts among us in ways that deft explanation or institutionalization. 1 John begins with an idea, which Jesus continues, that God is waiting on us rather than us waiting on God. The Jewish belief was that when events and people became so corrupt God would come to intervene and straighten out the world. Jesus’ teaching changes from we are waiting on God, to God is waiting on us. God is waiting for us to take action against the evil in this world. Changing the world begins with changing ourselves, John’s call for action is immediate and individual. He does not call the church to action but individuals. Before we get too comfortable, the toll-collectors and soldiers could include us also. The toll-collectors were independent business people who collected fees for the government and also kept a good share for their own selves. The soldiers were not part of the government but more like mercenaries who protected others for pay. Instead of protecting the good guys from the bad guy, they were protecting the bad guys from the good guys. If we do some self-reflection, we might find a toll-collector and soldier within ourselves. “What shall we do?” If you have two coats share one with those who have none. Do not collect more than your share of wealth. Do not use force to extract what others need to exist. 1 R. Alan Culpepper. Luke, New Interpreter’s Bible vol. IX. p. 89 |