From the Sunday Note, with additional thoughts:
The crowds asked John the Baptist,
“What should we do?”
He said to them in reply,
“Whoever has two cloaks
should share with the person who has none.
And whoever has food should do likewise.”
Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him,
“Teacher, what should we do?”
He answered them,
“Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.”
Soldiers also asked him,
“And what is it that we should do?”
He told them,
“Do not practice extortion,
do not falsely accuse anyone,
and be satisfied with your wages.”
Now the people were filled with expectation,
and all were asking in their hearts
whether John might be the Christ.
Luke 3:10-15 from Sunday’s Gospel
Our readings this Sunday again sound the note of joy. The first three readings use “joy” “joyfully” and “rejoice” no less than 11 times! And then, WHAM! John the Baptist announces judgment in our Gospel. Why this sudden change? It is less of a change than it seems. Keep in mind that joy and judgment often go together. Joy when your team pulls out a last-second win, “the three-pointer from deep!”—is simultaneously a negative judgment on the opposing team. In our case, we are preparing for the coming of our Savior. For those living unjustly, that won’t sound like joy coming.
Those John has spoken to and baptized with water are those who realize how downtrodden and unjoyful their lives are: negativity, deprivation, pain and sorrow surround them, and they are hoping for a way out. Three representative groups begin by acknowledging their measure of responsibility for their sins, for lingering in them and making them worse.
“The crowd” (just regular folks) ask John, now that we have owned up to our sins and asked forgiveness for them, “what should we do?” and he tells them to share what they have, building up community.
The “tax collectors” (people with connections and access to position/prestige/and money) ask John “what should we do?” and he tells them to deal honestly inside a corruptible system.
The “soldiers” (societies’ licensed enforcers) ask John “what should we do?” and he tells them to no longer use their monopoly of the use of force for self-aggrandizement.
And that is as far as John can go. He knows there is more to come—but he does not know, in detail, how or when this will take place, or what further commitment it may involve for those he has baptized in the Jordan.
Now, the different books of Scripture are all in dialogue with each other—referring, quoting, rehearsing similar activities and examining things in light of new information or a new situation. Luke understands this well as he quotes many Old Testament books. So, then, we should be particularly alert when Luke repeats something he himself has already written three times. The question is found for a fourth and final time in his writings, in Acts 2:37, when Peter proclaims the Gospel immediately after Pentecost and points out that the longed-for Messiah came and was judicially murdered by the corrupt leadership of the people. Stunned, the people ask, “what should we do?”
Peter can go, and does go, far beyond what John was able to say. “Repent and be baptized” (acknowledge and regret your sins, plunging into the water. This much, so far with John.) However, Peter adds “in the name of Jesus Christ” (that is, in the reality of Jesus the Savior) “for the forgiveness of your sins” (not just your regret as with John, but your regret meeting Jesus’ acceptance of that and his rejoicing in your regret.) Plus, “and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit” (that is, the active life of God, giving you divine life within yourself, something not available in John’s baptism). In short, you must become a new person “in Christ.”
“In Christ” we have the possibility of living every day the way we know we should, with real, active concern for others. We have been given the gift of God’s presence within us. We have made Jesus the real center of our daily life. We should ask him, the living presence of holiness within us, “what should I do?” ten times a day and then act as his Spirit leads us. There is plenty to rejoice about in that!
For further reflection:
There IS plenty to rejoice about, but keep in mind what John adds about the one coming with the winnowing fan in his hand. A judgment is coming, so this is URGENT business. We need to get about it. Time’s a wasting … .