December 15, 2024 at Saint William and Saint Peter Churches in Naples, FL
Zephaniah 3: 14-18 + Psalm (Isaiah) 12: 2-6 + Philippians 4: 4-7 + Luke 3: 10-18
We call him John the Baptist, but I think we ought to call him, “John the Preacher.” It was his preaching that drew crowds. It was his preaching that stirred them and filled them with expectation exciting their hope. He was a rock-star at his time. That Baptism of John is nothing important. It fits within the common Jewish purification ritual system. It is what he said that was different, not what he did.
Those people were worn out from the Roman occupation, taxation, and oppression. They longed for a leader who would set them free, someone who make Israel a great nation again, and suddenly there he was. Maybe – Maybe not. They never asked him. Luke says that they just wondered among themselves. But, he knew what they are thinking.
It had to be flattering for John, a big temptation to enjoy the glory that the crowd offered. Yet, he resisted, and with extraordinary humility, he pointed to Jesus. To get that adoring crowd to shift their hopes, he points to this Baptism of the Holy Spirit. His was a baptism of repentance. The baptism to come would bring not just forgiveness of sins, but also a new kind of re-set for creation and entry into the community of believers.
There is political turmoil everywhere in the world these days with people looking for someone to fix the economy, restore justice, and bring us all back together, and there is always someone who thinks they can do it ignoring the message of this Gospel. There is only one person who can restore us to goodness, who can bring real justice and peace. He comes into our lives as a helpless baby and then rides into the great and powerful Jerusalem on a beast of burden. He washes feet. He shares meals with people the powerful despise. He knows what it is like to flee his home under the threat of a violent tyrant. He knows what it is like to be blamed, accused, and judged for things he never did.
If we listen in depth with our hearts to this story, we too will ask the question, “What shall we do?” Three times that question is asked in this Gospel, and John answers the question. It is so simple it almost seems like there must be more, but there isn’t. “Repent,” he says. Repentance has nothing to do with feeling guilty, sorry, or ashamed. It means change. It means: Do the right thing, all the time. Take care of one another. Don’t judge someone one unless you know the truth of their story, and if you want to be forgiven, you better know how it’s done. That’s how repentance works. It bears fruit.
My friends, we have all been Baptized by the Holy Spirit just as John foretold. Our church has a mission to inspire. If we do not, we shall surely expire. As God’s people, our lives, our hopes, our behavior must challenge anything and anyone who puts profit ahead of people. As people of God, the gospel gives us eyes to see and ears to hear the suffering cries of those exploited by the powerful. Our repentance and then our presence, points to the only real power that can restore us to the perfection with which we were made. It might just be time to give up thinking that politicians can come up with a plan for justice and peace and pay attention to the one who comes in the name of the Lord.