In the Name of God:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

What a Gospel text for Gaudete Sunday, eh?  That’s what the third Sunday in Advent is called Gaudete Sunday . . . ‘gaudete’ comes from the Latin word for ‘rejoice’, which is the first word in the traditional introit for today.  Remember, Advent is traditionally considered a penitential season, a time to repent of our sins and prepare for the coming of our Lord.  In fact, sometimes Advent is called the little Lent . . . or sometimes St. Martin’s Lent, because in the olden days Lent began after the feast of St. Martin.  And, just as in Lent, about half way through the season of Advent we take a break from all that penitence to rejoice in the Lord, to rejoice in the sure truth of the gift we are about to receive.  That’s why we have these pink vestments on . . . we’re taking a break from the rigors of Advent to rejoice.

But then, what a strange Gospel text we have for this Sunday.  Rather than rejoicing, we hear John the Baptist shouting, “You brood of vipers!  Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”  THAT certainly doesn’t sound very cheerful.  So what’s goin’ on?

Well, I want to back up a bit.  Remember how the Gospel opened last week?  “  In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.”  Whew!  What’s THAT all about?  Other than testing one’s ability at pronunciation, is there a point to all that?

Yes.  This is the beginning of the Gospel proper in Luke.  The birth and infancy stories are nice . . . but now we’re getting to the meat of the matter.  Luke, more than any of the other evangelists, wants to ground the story he’s beginning to tell.  He wants to embed Jesus’ story firmly in time and place . . . giving it a solid historical context.  Luke wants to make certain that we understand that the story of Jesus is REAL . . . that it happened in a real time, in a real place, with real live human beings.  That’s why he gives all of this detail about Herod and Philip and Lysanias.

And so we get to today’s story.  The Gospel proper begins with John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus:  “You brood of vipers!  Who told YOU you should repent?”  That doesn’t sound like a very appealing way to begin a speech, does it?  But this accusatory hectoring can’t be all there was to John’s message.  There had to be something about John that drew people to him.  Remember, he’s out in the wilderness . . . in the middle of nowhere . . . people are coming to HIM.  LOTS of people are coming to him.  He’s not chasing them down the street button-holing them, trapping them so they can’t get away.  No.  People are seeking him out.  There’s something very appealing about him . . . about his message.

Could it be the possibility of forgiveness? 

I sometimes wonder if we truly appreciate the extraordinary fact that God can forgive us for our failings.  I sometimes fear that we take this enormous blessing too much for granted.  Imagine living in the time of John the Baptist, before the arrival of Jesus on the scene.  Imagine knowing that you are less than perfect . . . that something you have done is truly offensive to God.  And now try to imagine that there is no way you know of to be CERTAIN that God will forgive you.  I don’t know about you, but I find that an absolutely terrifying position to be in.  Now imagine that suddenly someone appears on the scene offering just that . . . the possibility of God’s forgiveness.  I, for one, would certainly seek out such a person.

John the Baptist.

He begins by telling the crowd today that being Jewish is not enough . . . that alone is not gonna earn them forgiveness.  Remember, the Israelites knew that they were God’s chosen people.  That is both their history and their identity.  Their Scriptures are, in part, the story of this people grappling with the knowledge that they are God’s chosen even when it appears that God has disappeared, or worse, turned against them.  The people that John is addressing KNOW that they are among the chosen.  But that doesn’t seem to be enough for them . . . I doubt that John really needed to tell them their identity wasn’t enough . . . they seem to have figured it out for themselves.

Rather like us, aren’t they?  We’re not so very different from those ancient Israelites.  We know that Christ died for us . . . (in fact, Jesus died for the sins of the whole world) . . . but we Christians stake a special claim on this sacrifice.  Through Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection we are given our salvation by the grace of God.  Even so . . . we know we can’t rely alone on Christ’s sacrifice for us.  We can’t rely alone on our identity as Christians.  When cornered we might say something like, “But I’m a Christian, and God is merciful . . . so . . . I’m gonna be alright.”  But, in our heart of hearts, are we really so certain?  Don’t we need to do a little more than claim our identity as Christians?  Of course we do.  We know that we are sinful and that we need forgiveness . . . often.

John is simply driving home this hard truth to his audience.

Remember, I said that Luke begins this portion of his Gospel firmly grounding it in place and time?  He wants to make certain that we understand that Jesus’ story is solidly planted on this earth, among real, live human beings.  Well, the John the Baptist that Luke gives us, just as firmly plants his message on this earth among real, live human beings.  The people who seek out John want to know how to get right with God.  And he tells them.  The truth he tells them is not some spiritualized message for each of them to treasure privately in their hearts.  Nope.  Not at all.

Ya have an extra coat?  Give it to someone who needs it.  Ya have more than enough food?  Then give some of it to someone who’s hungry.  Ya have the opportunity to skim a little bit off the top of that juicy deal?  Don’t do it.  You’re used to pushing around the people who report to you?  Stop it.  John gives his audience cold, hard, practical advice, rooted in the realities of this world.  Ya wanna get right with God?  Then pay attention to the world around you – to the PEOPLE around you – and do them right.

Remember the summary of the law that you hear at the beginning of every mass?  “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second one is like it . . . in fact, you can obey the first commandment by following the second one:  You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  Ya gotta take care of each other . . . THAT’S how you love God on this earth.  In fact, all the Scriptures – the Law and the Prophets – are built on this reality.”  The summary of the law is just as firmly planted in this world as John the Baptist’s message.  Ya wanna get right with God?  Then pay attention to the world around you – to the PEOPLE around you – and do them right!

You want to be forgiven of your sins?  Then truthfully and deeply examine yourselves.  Honestly confess your failings.  Sincerely commit to changing your ways.  You want to love God?  Then commit yourselves to the welfare and well-being of others.

And REJOICE!  Rejoice in God’s mercy and the reality of forgiveness!  Rejoice in the incredible gift to us of our Savior, Jesus Christ!  Rejoice in the Lord always . . . again I say REJOICE!

Return to Grace Church Newsletter Page