December 13, 2009 at Saint Mark Church in Norman, OK
Zephaniah 3: 14-18 + Psalm Isaiah 12:2-3,4:5-6 + Philippians 4:4-7 + Luke 3: 10-18 Fr. Boyer
Poor John the Baptist suffers from bad-press.I think he needed a press agent or someone to put a good spin on his preaching. His home in the desert as we have it described does not exactly sound like a villa in Phoenix or Palm Springs. Maybe it was his wardrobe or his diet that made him seem so scary both of which seem to have caught the attention of writers. Artists have consistently made him look like a raving mad-man. But Luke treats him a bit more gently today. John is not screaming rebukes trying to reduce a crowd to a pool of guilt and fear. While there is a sense of urgency about his message, when you listen carefully without all the bad spin he gets, he is encouraging not threatening. The response he urges is not motivated by fear and terror, but by a desire and hope for readiness. “What shall we do?” they ask. In fact, three times the question is asked by the crowd, by the soldiers, and by the tax collectors. Everyone asks. I find it interesting to notice that this is the exact question posed with the exact same Greek words in Luke’s description of how the people responded to the preaching of the apostles on Pentecost morning, “What shall we do?”
In some ways, it’s a silly question and as often is the case, questions say a lot about the ones who ask them. It’s a like a student coming to a teacher and asking, “What do I have to do to get an A in this class?” Duh!
How about showing up for class; paying attention, participating in discussion, reading the text book, and getting assignments done on time for starters!
Tax collectors as the question, and John says: “How about not cheating people for your own gain?” Soldiers as the question, and John says: “How about not abusing your power like a bully?” Of course they’re all looking for some big thing to do, something extra ordinary perhaps to get some attention and look good when the time comes. But that is not what they get from the response, and it must have left them stunned.
Instead of telling them to head to the Temple, to offer incense, light candles, start novenas or hold fast days, he tells them to be just, stop being greedy, feed the hungry, share their clothing and take care of one another. I would point out to you that this translation is not quite as specific. If it were more precisely translated from the Greek, would be clear that what John proposes is not a closet cleaning whereby you get rid of extras coats. The word he uses specifically refers to what is worn closest to your skin. In other words, take off the one you are wearing and give that someone who has nothing. Giving a spare is not much of a gift. You don’t need it anyway.
He tells the powerful to stop victimizing the poor. The poor are not there to supplement and sustain the lifestyle of those in power. The message of John and of the one coming after him is first of all a social message that addresses political and economic matters long before it turns to pious matters of faith. It is as though we have to get that right before we can show up at the temple with any authentic credibility. The conversion and repentance John calls for affects first of all the social life of the people who hear the message.
So, filled with expectation we are like those who heard John and we still ask, “What shall we do?”
John has the same answer for us. Readiness for Christ’s coming at the end of our time requires nothing spectacular and nothing we cannot do. For people like me, it means giving all I can, being prepared for Mass, listening and guiding, leading and teaching, forgiving, comforting, and encouraging. For young people it means being kind, faithful to your church, chaste, prayerful, and attentive to the Gospel, using your gifts and your time generously, and being good students open to learning and looking for wisdom. For parents it means simply nurturing the whole life of your children spiritual, physical, intellectual loving them all the way even when the love is tough and painful. For spouses it means fidelity, love, and sacrifice. It means presence, tenderness, attention, and willing forgiveness before it is asked. For single people it means simply being who you are wherever you are;
living with integrity, sincerity, and confident that just as Christ is your companion every day, you are a companion to others. Do a good day’s work as best you can. For all of us readiness for Christ’s coming means being and living just as God created and called us: living our vocation in fullness and in gratitude. In the light of what John has to teach us then there is nothing for us to fear and every reason to live with the joyful anticipation that one day even if caught by surprise we shall be found worthy and blameless in God’s sight.