Sermon for the Third Sunday of Advent

Texts:
Zephaniah 3:14-20;
Philippians4:4-7;
Luke 3:7-18.

John heard voices in his head. It was nothing new. He heard his father’s voice. And his mother’s. He remembered hearing their hushed conversations when he was a tiny boy. He could not understand their words, but he could hear his mother’s soft weeping and his father’s reassurance.

Later, he would have a dim recollection – something about the loss of a child. But parents did not discuss such things with their children. He was an only child, and supposed it was because they had not been able to birth another living baby after him.

But it was also possible that he was the child they murmured about together. His father, with his mother’s blessing, had dedicated him to the service of God when he was born. Quite likely they expected more children to come. But sadly, no brothers or sisters were added to the family. And while still a small boy, John would have to leave them to receive his training.

Yet John also heard his parent’s pride. He was quick to learn, and eager to please. As he grew his parents impressed upon him that they had no regrets over his service to God, even if it meant he would never marry or have a family.

You have important work to do. You’ve been set apart to listen for God’s Word. Perhaps you will be a prophet like Isaiah, or even Elijah, God willing! You will bring us happiness and honor in our old age by your righteousness and love of God. It will be enough for us.

His parents’ voices lingered in John’s consciousness. But now he was a grown man and their voices had become muted. Meanwhile, other voices were growing louder. And John was a man trained to listen with great care.

John heard that people zealous for Israel’s future were organizing. He could hear the fever pitch of their desire for power and for revenge on those who had cooperated with the enemy. They had not felt free for generations. That which they were not given, they would take by force.

John heard the fretful voices of the common people whose wages no longer bought enough bread to fill their bellies. They could not provide their children with milk to grow strong. Greed and corruption were rampant. No one could say or do anything about it.

These were the voices John heard. There was too much suffering. Too much frustration. And John knew that people who hunger for revenge or for bread, are dangerous people.

He longed for the days when people danced and sang, giving thanks to God. People were still very attentive to religious matters, but John knew how careless many were becoming with the Torah. Because it is remarkably easy to observe God’s commandments while failing to fulfil the commandments.

John was over thirty years old when out of nowhere God spoke. He knew it was the voice of God. Not by any quality of sound, but by the way his heart felt when the words formed in his head. It’s time to speak John. Go now. And so he did.

He left everything. Took only enough food for a day. He wore the simple clothing of his profession. Rough looking and with fire in his eyes he crossed the Jordan and began to summon the people.

They came in uncountable numbers. From every walk of life. Zealots, common villagers, merchants, laborers, priests, government workers, even Herod’s soldiers. When John saw them, he realized what they all had in common. It was the heavy, mucky weight of sin.

These were Abraham’s children? God’s beloved ones? How had they wandered so far from God? In John’s eyes they seemed like a nest of baby serpents, more dangerous than full-grown ones because when stirred up they strike out with uncontrolled venom.

John’s passion was fierce. This was personal to him, as a man of deep faith. He had God’s word to give, but first as he washed them in the river, he spoke from his own heart.

Who warned you to flee? There was wrath to come. But not wrath of God’s making. It was the anger dangerously building among them. Their lack of care and concern for anyone else. These people were their own worst enemies. God help them!

The people heard John clearly and were convicted. What can we do about it?  He could hear the resignation. They wanted to know how to do better. And as quickly as John’s anger had flared, it subsided.

God’s Word was ready on his lips now. A gentle and encouraging word. This not impossible. This is within your reach. You create this world by your choices. You who have kept, now give. You who have been greedy, now be generous. You who have used power for personal gain, now use it for the good of all.  

The people loved John for his message and many joined his following. Could he even be God’s messiah? No, said John. That One is still coming. One who will clean and sort and purify so that you can be presented to God. This One will be good news for all people.

The voice of God still speaks urgently to us. A child is about to born into the world. An innocent child. How will you make this world and your own hearts ready for this child?