ADVENT
A Season of Promise

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Third Week of Advent

Read Luke 3:7-18

7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” 10 And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” 11 In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13 He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.” 15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16 John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 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.” 18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

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We are productive people. We like to accomplish tasks and then cross them off of the to-do list. Some of us have an actual list and the satisfaction that comes with striking a line through the completed task offers a great sense of accomplishment. Some of us keep a running list of to-do’s or should-do’s in our heads and then when the job or task is completed we make a mental note for ourselves, smug and satisfied that our “do” is done. Our instinct is to get busy and do something. We like to be busy. We like to be doing.

We are now in the throws of the busy season this third Sunday of Advent. There is much that has to get done. If you haven’t gotten your Christmas tree yet, get busy. If you haven’t finished your Christmas shopping, get busy. If you haven’t gotten the teacher gifts and the work gifts and the extended family gifts, get busy. If you haven’t baked your cookies and Christmas treats, get busy. These are the messages we hear and we tell ourselves this time of year.

We are not unique with our need to get things done. The crowd that came out to be baptized by John the Baptist and listen to his warnings was a group of people that wanted to do. In response to John’s message the crowd wanted to know what they should do, the tax collectors asked what they should do, the soldiers asked what they should do. John’s response was not the expected get busy. Instead John said, “share what you have.” Instead John said, “tax collectors, collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” Instead John said, “soldiers, be satisfied with your wages, don’t extort or threaten.”

John’s response to the crowd turns the expectations everyone had upside down. In the musical The Cotton Patch Gospel there is a great song that sets this reversal of expectations to music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO7cES1srjg

They tell you to worry 'bout yourself,
Before you help somebody else.
"Look out for number one," that's what they say,
But I've got a far better way.

When someone asks you for a ride to the bus-stop,
I say "Well, don't let 'em down."
Take 'em with a smile, go the extra mile.
Don't drop 'em at the bus stop,
Drive 'em all the way to town!
Drive 'em all the way to town!

Turn it around, turn it around,
Surprise 'em a little, start shiftin' the ground,
To get rightside-up, turn upside down
Now is the time to turn it around!

Now is the time to turn around our expectations of doing and doing and doing. Let us prepare for the one who is to come by sharing what we have with our neighbor, loving those around us and offering help to those in need.

Light the first, second, and third candles of the Advent Wreath.

Prayer:

You came in the midst of squalor and need.
You came to those who were least in society.
You ask us to love and share and commit ourselves to those
who are in need.
Place in our paths those who you would have us help, love and
serve so that we can be ready to worship the One who came to
serve.
Come Lord Jesus. Amen

NEXT: Advent Devotional - Week FOUR >>>

Updated December 2, 2009