Historically today has been a bit of a break
from the solemnity of Advent.
Gaudete Sunday,
Rejoice Sunday.
That’s why we’ve got
a pink or rose candle burning
and some places even have vestments
and altar dressings to match!
Rejoice!
This week continues where last week left off.
John is still in the desert
preparing the way of salvation.
Crowds are coming to be baptized
in a baptism of repentance.
They know something big is happening,
even if they don’t know what,
and so they’re flocking to him.
In Luke John doesn’t just address leaders,
but everyone who comes to him.
They’re spooked
and scattering
like just hatched snakes.
John tells them to bear fruit worthy of repentance
and they ask him what that means.
They’ve come out into the wilderness
and are looking to change their lives.
In Luke’s narrative
we’ve already been told
that he will be concerned
with the lives of the poor and marginalized.
Mary’s Song has already been sung
in Luke 1.
Now there are people asking him
what they have to do.
John the Baptizer gives specific answers:
normal people:
you can’t overconsume
and have to share your food and clothes;
tax collectors:
you can’t get rich lining your pockets
collecting more than is actually due;
soldiers:
you’re already getting paid for your service,
don’t act like the mob
and charge people more to keep them safe
from you and your buddies.
This is what John the Baptizer says
is fruit worthy of repentance.
I’m gradually working through
Fleming Rutledge’s book simply called
Advent.
At least three different preachers
have quoted it during this season
from this ambo.
I’ve just read a sermon where she highlights
one of the things I love about Advent
especially as The Episcopal Church
is known to or tends to observe it.
Namely:
it’s not Christmas.
I must confess
that I’ve been feeling kind of grinchy this year,
but this is bigger than that.
We’re not singing Christmas carols yet
and we’re not talking about vague platitudes
of cheer or joy.
We don’t have greenery
or a creche up.
If you’re feeling cheerful or hopeful,
that’s great!
Rejoice!
It’s Gaudete Sunday!
But think about the contrasts.
A few weeks ago I watched
The Christmas Chronicles on Netflix.
Early in the film Santa say something to the effect of
“That’s why humans invented Christmas:
to remind themselves how good they can be.”
That’s a far place from
“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.”
I won’t get into the weeds
of the dating and observances
of Christmas
but reminding ourselves how good we can be
is really not a Christmas theme.
Except maybe, maybe,
aspirationally.
Here in the church, though
it’s Advent.
If the joy of the incarnation is getting you through
excellent.
I have resigned from the Advent police
beyond what the church calls us to observe
in our public worship.
What the church calls us to observe,
what John the Baptizer makes clear
is that even at our best hopes and actions
we all mess up somehow.
When we’re not sinning individually
society is sick
and people are being downtrodden.
As John prepares the way
for Jesus’ public ministry
and we prepare our hearts
for Jesus’ return and birth
we’re called again to change our lives
and to rejoice as we do it.
The people who throng to the desert
are hoping that John is the messiah.
The one who has come to set them free
to break of the chains of sin
and more importantly
the oppressive chains of the empire.
John understands their hope
and tells them that when Jesus comes
it’s not going to be the walk in the park
that they hope for.
That’s something that the church says
we should rejoice about.
I agree
and not just because
I’m feeling grinchy this year.
John’s promises of Jesus’ judgment
are good news
because they come with the opportunity
to repent and amend our lives.
Jesus’ coming –
his preaching and his final return –
will bring a purification.
When John says,
“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”
the point is saving the wheat.
A friend reminded me this week
that the text doesn’t even imply
that wheat and chaff are people,
despite certain strands of Christianity’s
obsession with who is going to be burning up
forever and ever.
Without thinking I said
“Crypto is chaff.”
That’s a little glib
but think about all the yuck
that John promises Jesus will purify.
Phishing scams
that make bishops send emails every months
clarifying that they aren’t traveling
and don’t need gift cards
are chaff.
Prior authorizations
are chaff.
Prejudice and discrimination
are chaff.
John says
“I baptize you with water…
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit
and fire.”
Water washes
and fire consumes.
This passage from Luke today ends with
“So, with many other exhortations,
he proclaimed the good news
to the people.”
The great day of judgment
which we’ve been hearing about
directly and indirectly
since All Saints
is good news.
It’s not good news
because we will skate through
and people we don’t like
will be tossed into the fire.
It’s good news because
the Son of Man
did not come into the world
to condemn the world.
but that the world might be saved
through him.
In here, where it’s Advent,
the good news about judgment
is that it means a better life.
Rather than reminding ourselves
of how good we can be
we’re shown a mirror
that we’re not without blemish.
That doesn’t mean
we need to wallow in guilt and shame.
It means we need to evaluate ourselves
and let the Holy Spirit guide us
so that whatever needs to be purified
can be burned and washed away.
“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.”
Rejoice!