Comfort in the Abstract

The Third Sunday of Advent

Scripture

Zephaniah 3:14-20; Isaiah 12:2-6; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18

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Prayer

O God of the exiles and the lost, you promise restoration and wholeness through the power of Jesus Christ. Give us faith to live joyfully, sustained by your promises as we eagerly await the day when they will be fulfilled for all the world to see, through the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen. (Revised Common Lectionary)

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Reflection

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore, bear fruits worthy of repentance, and 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; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be 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?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, 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 who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with[b] the Holy Spirit and fire. 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.”

So with many other exhortations he proclaimed the good news to the people (Luke 3:7-18)

We are OK with preaching sin in the abstract—the general “we are sinners but if we repent God has made a way.” We don’t mind preachers getting specific with sin as long as it’s the sin of others. When it’s our sin that gets highlighted, we find ourselves scandalized by the message.

Imagine the following conversation:

Parishioner: Pastor, you need to preach more on sin.

Pastor: OK, which of your sins do you want me to preach on?

Parishioner: No, you need to preach more on sins you never talk about.

Pastor: OK. I can do that. Which of your sins that I never talk about should I start with next week?

Parishioner: Nevermind.

John, the Baptist gets specific with sin when the crowds ask him what they should do in order to repent. John just doesn’t give a general platitude; he gets specific. If you have two coats you must share with someone who has none. It’s the same with food. Tax collectors, don’t collect more than the amount prescribed. Soldiers, don’t extort money. Be satisfied with your wages.

I wonder how welcome John the Baptist would be in our pulpits today? To have him refuse the comfort of the abstract—reminding us that we’re sinners in general and not only preaching on the sins of others—but getting specific with the things that trip us up, the things that get in the way of our relationship with God. I wonder how John the Baptist would be received today?

PRAYER: Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer)

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