Gospel Lesson for the Third Sunday of Advent: 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.
Dear Friends,
Frederick Buechner wrote, “The gospel is bad news before it is good news.” John the Baptist seemed to think so. He had the style of an evangelical preacher. He made sure his listeners knew they were sinners before he talked about being forgiven.
Since I won’t go to a church that harbors an in-your-face-preacher I have to be self-critical. What excuses do I make for myself to excuse my worst behavior? “I go to church and I am a Christian!” I can hide behind that veil. “I give to the poor and I am kind to children.” Another veil for my eyes.
The question is why am I having to say these things to myself? What am I afraid to look at or admit? What would I be better off having cut away or burned out of my behavior?
I am both wheat and chaff. Even admitting that about myself is good news for I am not one without the other.
Peace to you, Keith
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