The Gospel for December 18, 2004 (Ember Day)
Luke 3:1-9
In the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judaea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the territories of Ituraea and Trachonitis, Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, and while the high–priesthood was held by Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah, in the desert. He went through the whole Jordan area proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the sayings of Isaiah the prophet: A voice of one that cries in the desert: Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight! Let every valley be filled in, every mountain and hill be levelled, winding ways be straightened and rough roads made smooth, and all humanity will see the salvation of God. He said, therefore, to the crowds who came to be baptised by him, ‘Brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming retribution? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance, and do not start telling yourselves, “We have Abraham as our father,” because, I tell you, God can raise children for Abraham from these stones. Yes, even now the axe is being laid to the root of the trees, so that any tree failing to produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown on the fire.’ -- The New Jerusalem Bible. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1995, c1985
A Study
There is a distinct difference between Luke and Matthew in that the version attributed to Matthew calls the Pharisees (only) a "brood of vipers." The brush used by Luke's writers is far broader.
A Reflection
This is the beginning of the "faith-vs-works" debate that continues today. It's pretty clear that John Baptist was in the "works" camp, or at least the no-bad-works camp.
And it's clear that John certainly had no illusions about the salvation bestowed by Abrahamic DNA.
There is a good -- and typical -- example of this debate that exists in many marriages. The man comes home to a clean house, dinner on the stove, quiet kids, and a completely frazzled housewife. Giving her a quick kiss, and an "I love you, sweeheart!", he plops down with the paper and a cocktail. Later, facing an icy and clearly upset wife, he chastises her for never telling him that she loves him.
Yes, I know that there are more wives working outside the home than ever, but this is an illustration -- like many of the stories in the Bible, for crying out loud.....
I don't need to elaborate on who was communicating love, and who was communicating about love. When we thoughtfully analyze Jesus' (and John Baptist's, for that matter) words and actions, we see love in action, and prioritized. Jesus' teachings were dramatized for effect: "Who is my mother?" wasn't to say that Jesus had abandoned Mary, but that following Him takes precedence over family: that we will often be called to make painful choices that put family #2 behind Him. Not last, just behind Jesus.
Jesus clearly thought that marriage was important, or He wouldn't have been so distraught over the way that some divorces proceeded. Clearly not last, just behind Him in importance.
What kinds of good fruit can I produce right now, today?
A Collect
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
8:52:53 PM 
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