The Rev. Carol S. Wedell
December 17, 2006

How many of you have seen the movie Snakes on a Plane?  Not me!  Watching Indiana Jones fend off the slithering hoards or watching Harry Potter deal with the enormous basilisk in Chamber of Secrets was enough for me. (Truth be told, I closed my eyes for portions of those movies!) I really don't have any desire to see a bunch of poisonous snakes let loose on a jumbo jet.  I'm in good company here. From the earliest pages of the Bible, snakes are portrayed in less than complimentary terms. Why mess with them?

It's rather startling then, that our gospel lesson this third Sunday in Advent gives us John the Baptist, calling the very people who have gathered to hear him a bunch of snakes!  I'm guessing that you all would not be too pleased if I began my sermons as John did! "You brood of vipers!" John began, when the crowds came to the wilderness to be baptized by him.  "Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Bear fruits worthy of repentance...." Not exactly a warm and friendly greeting. 

In words far too harsh for our 21^st century ears, John challenges the crowds to take a long hard look at themselves and be honest about their motivation.  Supposedly they have come to be baptized by John, in a "baptism of repentance."  But have they really come because they want their lives to be changed, or just because it's the thing to do?  Have they come to see what people are talking about, or to do an about face and begin moving in a different direction?   That's what that archaic churchy word repentance means - turning around and going the other way.  Repentance involves much more than a change of heart.  It's a total change in direction - and it results in changed lives.  Are they coming to the river merely for the novelty or to begin living a new way? 

Remember that John came at a time when the people were longing for change.  They desperately wanted God to intervene and turn their world around.  They were waiting for the Messiah, God's chosen one, who would alter the course of history.  So John tells them how to go about preparing for that Messiah:  repent.  But that's not all.  You don't simply get to say, "I'm sorry, I'll try harder." 

With outrageously brutal words, John makes it clear that true repentance requires a whole lot more than being dunked under the water.  It means living in a new way.  It will show up in everything we do, in all of our actions.  If want the world to change, then we must be willing to change.  John has been sent to remind the people that God's command to love their neighbor must be lived out in tangible, concrete ways.

Apparently, John got their attention.  You can almost feel them squirm (I didn't say slither!).  If their lives are supposed to "bear fruit," what would that mean about how they should live?  What should they do?

In fairly concrete terms, John answers the crowd's question, "If you have two coats, give one away.  Do the same with your food."  (A coat, in this case, was more the equivalent of a shirt - an everyday garment). Sharing shirts and food are specific actions of which anyone is capable.  It doesn't require special skill or knowledge to see another's need and respond to it.  Clearly his point is that those with material abundance (that meant merely two shirts, mind you!) will not think twice about sharing, if their lives have truly been turned toward God's way.

But it wasn't just the common peasants who wanted direction from John.  Tax collectors and soldiers also blurted out, "What should we do?"  That really is the question, isn't it? How can we show in our lives that we are preparing for God's coming?  How are we supposed to live?

John responds to each in turn. He listens to their inquiries, and points them specifically, from whatever their position, to how they can make God's love known in their lives.  Tax collectors, at that time known for their dishonesty and greed, are instructed to do their job ethically.  "Don't collect any more than the law requires."  Soldiers, who during this period were notoriously disgruntled with their pay, were instructed to play fair, and be satisfied with their wages.

Did you notice that John didn't tell them all to quit their jobs and go to seminary?  He didn't suggest that they join a religious movement, as he had, or that they abandon their families.  He didn't even tell them to go to church more often (although that's always a good idea!).  No, in every case, he gave them practical illustrations of what a life changed by God would look like right where they were.  He didn't ask them to move to a different location, or to change professions - simply to live with integrity, generosity and compassion in whatever place they already found themselves. 

So how shall we wait with faithfulness for the coming of the Messiah?  What should we do? Well, that will depend upon who you are and what your life is like. Look at who you are and begin there.  Don't wait until you have more faith, or more time, or more money or more whatever.  Remember:  John's answers were not complex or hard to understand.  They were specific to each person, yet could be applied broadly. His suggestions were practical and tangible. So let's imagine what his answer to us might be this morning.

For those of you in school, I think John might tell you to watch out for the kid that everyone else ignores or gangs up on.  He or she might need a friend.  I think John would tell you that even if half your class is cheating on a test or project that you should simply do your best on your own.  Maybe he would tell you to take a few things off of your own Christmas list and offer to use that money to help some kids that might not even have enough food on Christmas. 

What might John say to those of you who are employed in a variety of settings?  What would a changed life look like where you work? (I know that I could well be accused of meddling here - that's not my intention.  But what difference does coming to church make if it doesn't get lived out when you leave this place?) 

I heard one of our members speak this week of doing work for which she knew she would never be paid, because it was the compassionate thing to do.  That sounds like the "fruit of repentance" to me!  I've known folks who spoke honestly even when doing so might cost them their jobs.  Putting in a full day's work, giving it your best, and being sensitive to the needs of co-workers could well demonstrate a life lived in faithfulness to God.  Take the framework of integrity, honesty, generosity and compassion and use your imagination to think of how those qualities could be lived out within your work environment.

John's words leave no one out.  Whether students or seniors, salespeople or those happily at home, each of us are challenged to think about how our lives will show that we belong to God.  Being God's people is always shown, according to John, by how we live - with works of justice, reconciliation and love.  In a way, we are being asked to act ourselves into a new way of thinking or believing.    If we act in a loving manner, we may begin to feel more loving.  If we act generously, we begin to be more generous.

The same could be said for us as a church.  I am thrilled that the tables in the narthex are overflowing with boxes of ornaments and lights for the New Life Community, where homeless families will now have the brightness of Christmas in their apartments.  It warms my heart to see bag upon bag of food for North Presbyterian Church to distribute to folks in need.  Without question, those are good things for us to be doing, especially as we prepare for Christ's coming.

But that preparation, those signs of a changed life can't stop simply because December 25^th has come and gone.  Using more, not less or our time and money to respond to the needs of God's children should be at the top of our list year round.  We can never be satisfied with merely taking care of ourselves.

We are those who have been shown a vision of the world as God wants it to be.  Like the people of Jerusalem to whom the prophet Zephaniah spoke, we need to free our imagination so that we can see what God envisions:  a world where all will share and there will be enough for everyone.  Joanna Adams has put it well, "John the Baptist preached a different message:  those who cannot imagine a different future will be condemned to be prisoners of the present.  What releases the power of transformation is the spiritual discipline of repentance." (Christian Century, 11/28/06, p. 19).

It's important to prepare.  Altering your "to do" list to reflect God's priorities is essential.  But there is something critical to remember.  Both the inspiration and ability to make such a turn around in our lives comes from the One for whom we wait and prepare.  We may act our way into lives that are faithful, but it will be God who sustains us in those actions.

Carlos Wilton has written, "when it comes right down to it, the true meaning of Christmas is not ‘Sleep in heavenly peace,' but ‘rise up and follow.'....Jesus came not to bless our world as it is, but to transform it into what God intends it to be." (Lectionary Preaching Workbook, Series VII, Cycle C, p. 22).  What should we do?  Begin now, taking practical steps that give witness to that vision.

I have a friend who is giving witness to that vision this Christmas.  She is a part of a group that goes to the Judson Retirement Community the fourth Monday of the month to lead a communion service.  Well, the fourth Monday of the month falls on Christmas Day this year.  So her entire extended family (including many out of town relatives) will be heading on Christmas to Judson this year.  Along with the pastor who comes, they will be pushing wheelchairs and assisting residents who wish to come to this special service.  Sometimes we separate celebrating Christmas and reaching out with compassion.  Why not do both?

A little over a week from now Christmas will be over.  Or will it?  By God's grace, may it truly be just the beginning.