December 16, 2018 - Third Sunday in Advent - To Scold or Not To Scold

In today's Gospel John the Baptizer scolds the crowd who has come to be baptized,  "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."  

Pastor Ray preached about the Facebook meme here to the left bring some humor to what he called John's scolding. Luke does not offer even the comfort of Matthew where John is said to be condemning the Pharisees and Sadducees in the crowd.

In his sermon Pastor Ray pointed out the Good News contained in the later verses. God meets us where we are he pointed out using verses 12 -14 to make his point  "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."' Jesus called for incremental change within their duties and not push beyond the limits of their authority or to coerce others into giving them what they want.

In essence the initial verses abut the brood of vipers introduces this theme well. Remember John the Baptizer is preparing the way for the crowd to accept a long-awaited messiah. John delivers God's message that salvation will ot depend on ancestry. God will not only meet people where they are in life but also in who they are. Good news delivered in a "scold" Happy Advent!

So many of us long to anchor ourselves in life's safety and comfort but God demands something more.  "You brood of vipers!" moves us from that complacency. It is a clarion call for transformation. It is easier to read this as God's judgment but how does this work with God meeting people where they are in life and who they are?

This is where faith must guide us as well as reason.