 St Alban’s Episcopal Church Bolivar, Missouri Saturday, December 11, 2021 Joy and John the Baptist?  Isn’t that a weird combination?  Luke 3:7-18(Okay. I have to admit I love this reading, and especially the final line! Cathy+)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? 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. 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.” And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” In reply he said to them, ‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we what should we do?” And he said to them., “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusations, and be satisfied with your wages.” As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one is coming who is more powerful than I; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into his grainary; but the chaff he will born with unquenchable fire. “ So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.”  *See you tomorrow for Eucharist led by Fr. Jos Tharakan, and dinner, and the beginning of Share Your Christmas set up beginning at 10:30.ALSO – expect to see your first glimpse of baby Ellie Williams! And hear Sandy Sherry sing the second prelude! And get a slice of my justly famous, delicious, rose-colored jello pie for dessert. IS this “good news? “Well, Luke thought it was. So what’s up here? Read this with the eyes of a Jewish peasant under Roman occupation. Tax collectors and soldiers work for that foreign government. They are locals who have to walk a line between identifying with their own people, and identifying with their oppressors. And as usual, most people in such situations fail at that. The promise of money and power are themselves coercive – and corrosive. So tax collectors had to give the government its due – but they were also allowed to extort as much money over what was required as they could get away with. No one was more hated than tax collectors – which is why Jesus loved them. He came to save them from the suffering of that double life – as he comes to us. Remember Zacchaeus. And remember when it was said that tax collectors and sinners would enter the kingdom of heaven before the good guys who sense no need for a savior. Same for the soldiers – Of course they had authority to keep order in the city and countryside. But like our police today they too often overstepped their legitimate authority for the privilege of power, and the possibility of bribery. To everyone else, he says, whether you are poor or rich, if you have two coats, give one to the man who has none. Just do it. If you have extra food in your pantry, share it out. If you’re making an excuse for why you can’t, or won’t, well, then you’re of the “brood of vipers” and not the children of Abraham, or of Jesus, either. These are the fruits of repentance. Live as if every one you meet is as worthy of good things as you are, as beloved by God. When yo do that, you re already living as if the kingdom of God HAS come near. It means anyone can enter in – right now, right here -And see – that IS the “good news” that John and later Jesus, proclaimed, not in a vacuum, but in the context of Imperialism. The phrase, “good news” by the way, has come to be identified with Jesus. We translate it as “gospel” – or “evangelism,” from which “evangelical” takes its root. But to first century ears, an “evangelist ” was simply a Roman who was tasked with shouting out, or posting, a message, news, from the emperor or his representative – the “lord.” When John does it, he proclaims an opposing message that is a direct challenge to Emperor Tiberius – and to his rule, and that is indeed good news. It’s only bad news if you still think the emperor is lord and fear, or want to please, him more than you want to please God. And about that “wrath” that will consume the chaff? “Listen to the Scottish author/theologian George MacDonald (1851-1905), who wrote: “The wrath will consume what they call themselves; so that the selves God made shall appear.” (in, Unspoken Sermons) And that is the very best, most hopeful news of all. |
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