December 12, 2021 - Third Sunday of Advent - Consecration of Creator's Pledges, Affirmation of Baptism and Reception of New Members

"What then should we do?" The question in this weeks Gospel reminds me of a book Leo Tolstoy wrote about poverty, exploitation and greed called What Then Must We Do? At the time of its publication, the book had a great impact on thinking people both in Russia and abroad, who acknowledged the power of his account of life in the Moscow slums. In examining the causes of poverty through the ages, Tolstoy develops a vision of a way of life that would deny the possibility of the exploitation of one person by another: a vision of self-discipline and responsibility, of joy, passion and compassion, in which work for its own sake plays an essential part as a means to a healthy and kindly life.

It is a question that haunts Christianity. John warns the crowd not to think of their ancestry as the basis of their salvation but by what they do. If we are saved by God's grace like we believe as Lutherans, what should or must we do? John gives us a work, reward solution, Jesus does not. John gives a path where, presumably, people might take comfort that their actions are bringing about the kin-dom of God. Jesus praying to God saying "Why have you forsaken me?" gives no such comfort to anyone. 

There is a spiritual moment in a film called The Year of Living Dangerously where one of the characters, played by Linda Hunt, feels betrayed by everyone the character has helped physically and spiritually. Billy, at first, quietly asks the question "What then must we do?" and finally ends up desperately typing the question over and over again. Strauss's Four Last Songs sets the mood perfectly.

We feel we want the results of our actions to change the world materially. Jesus is concerned with a much-harder-won inner transformation. There is something interesting in the initial question John asks, "Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" and the crowd asks, "What then should we do?" to flee the wrath to come. They want a plan of action for living their lives and, no doubt, they will say the first time anything does not go their way "Why do bad things always happen to good people?"

There was good attendance at the service today. The Affirmation of Baptism and Reception of New Members was particularly joyful. There was good conversation at the consecration meal. Being a member of a faithful and hopeful congregation is truly amazing.