Luke 3:7-18
7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 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. 9 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.” 10 And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” 11 In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13 He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” 14 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.”
15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16 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 thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 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.” 18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
John the Baptist and the Expected Messiah
Last Sunday we were invited to reflect on John the Baptist being the promised Elijah who came as the forerunner to prepare for that great day when the promised Messiah would arrive. John fulfilled the prophecy of Malachi that concludes the Old Testament according to our Christian Biblical Codex. Malachi 4:5, “I will send the prophet Elijah to you before the great day!"
This third Sunday of Advent, the forerunner starts his mission by baptizing in the River Jordan, preaching and teaching those who would come to him and ask for the forgiveness of their daily sins.
Many of those approaching John are proud of being "Sons of Abraham.” This was a title used in Israel, considered a reason to be proud of belonging to a nation that’s immune from evil because of Abraham's faith. John goes further and deeper. He claimed that those in Abraham's genealogy should embrace both faith and obedience to God in words and deeds.
The forgiveness of sins is necessary, but changing a person from within to extirpate the root of sin is much more important. The baptism John offers is with water, but the one the Messiah will grant guarantees a new birth from above, from the Holy Spirit! John 3:3, “Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’”
John the Baptist introduced the imminent Messiah to the crowd according to his concept and perspective. John expected him to be the almighty Messiah who would cleanse the earth from every bad doing, eradicating every evil, imposing justice as the foundation of peace, prosperity, sharing and security.
In this context, where the land is occupied by the Roman empire, taxes were very high. Soldiers used their authority to abuse and molest poor citizens. The high priest and his colleagues in the temple were accused of corruption. The almighty Messiah was extremely needed to restore the land, to bring Israel back to the Lord and to save the whole people from slavery, injustice and degradation! The Messiah would use his power to impose a new and righteous life.
Listening to John, the crowd, knowing the reality and the quality of their life, had enough reasons to think that he could be the expected Messiah. This is where John, aware of their thoughts, declares with honesty and transparency that he is not the Messiah. Luke 3:16, “John answered them all, ‘I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.’”
We are invited to think with John:
Am I proud of my Christian faith, considering that as a gift of superiority over other people?
Do I take God's blessings for granted?
Do I have my own concept of who Christ is for me and how he should be acting with others?
Do I come to Christ only to ask for forgiveness of sins or to promise a resolved determination of real change in my life?
Do I practice the basic virtues John exhorted of justice, sharing, respect of others' dignity and rights?
May we go in depth as we receive the call of the Gospel today. Reflect, meditate and pray with a determined will to hear John's voice!