December 11, 2009
Sunday Scripture
Third Sunday of Advent
BY FATHER DONALD DILGER
Last Sunday’s gospel reading introduced John the Baptizer. It ended with a poetic description of the effects of John’s preaching. Luke borrowed from Isaiah 40:4-5, “Every mountain and hill will be brought low, the crooked made straight, rough ways smooth, etc.” thus building a spiritual interstate highway for the approach of the One whom John was sent to proclaim. Today Luke tells us what this poetic language means in the concrete circumstances of not only the lives of those who heard John preaching, but also in the lives of those to whom Luke’s gospel is proclaimed.
Luke begins, “The multitudes asked John, “What shall we do?’‘’ That John had a large following and enjoyed great popularity among the people is clear not only from our four gospels. For those who tend to skepticism about the gospels, there is a witness to John the Baptizer outside the gospels. He writes at the very time when the gospels were written, the last third of the first century of Christianity. He is Flavins Josephus, a Jewish priest and military commander in Palestine, and later a writer of Jewish history and the struggles of patriotic Jews against Roman occupation of their country. Of John the Baptizer he writes: “He was a good man. He commanded the Jews to exercise virtue, righteousness toward one another, and piety toward God, and to come to baptism. Many crowded around him, because they were greatly moved by hearing his words . . .”
Luke is more specific than Josephus. Those who asked him what they should do to give expression to the baptismal washing which they accepted from John, the Baptizer says, “Those who have two coats, share with one who has none. Those who have food, let them do likewise.” This advice was not new. The Old Testament prophets abound in such advice. After all, John was one of those Old Testament prophets, the last of them. It was taken for granted that more recent prophets reused and recast the advice of the more ancient prophets. Matthews’ gospel gives the same advice in a more extensive form in his parable of the last judgment, “When I was hungry, you fed me, etc.”
Even the despised and shunned tax collectors are motivated by John’s preaching. They too ask, “Teacher, what shall we do?” The tax collectors had a reputation for collecting more than they should and of pressuring taxpayers for “protection money.” Perhaps their approach was not quite as forceful as the tax collectors in the comic strip “Hagar the Horrible.” There the tax collectors are accompanied by an executioner brandishing an axe. Soldiers approach John, “And we, what shall we do?” The soldiers were the bodyguards or enforcers of the tax collectors. They had their own scam — robbing taxpayers and threatening them, that unless they were given protection money, they would falsely accuse taxpayers of not having paid their taxes. For them John has basic advice: “Rob no one by violence or false accusation, and be content with your wages.”
The enthusiasm created by John’s ministry led people to conclude that he might be the long awaited Messiah (Christ) who would free them from Roman oppression. John quickly cut off such expectations, even as Jesus would later cut off expectations of himself being a political leader and restorer of independence from Rome. In total humility and service John compares himself with the One he was sent to proclaim, “I am unworthy to untie his sandal strap.” One is reminded of homilists who proclaim mostly themselves, a proclamation to which patient audiences have to listen Sunday after Sunday. Not so John the Baptizer. He inflames his audience with a description of the One, “I baptize with water, but he will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
Zephaniah is an obscure 7th century B.C. prophet in Jerusalem. The main theme of his oracles is a denunciation of just about everybody, threats of punishment, threats of doom. The saving grace of his oracles was added by his editors — to give hope and joy to Judea and Jerusalem. This note of hope and joy determined the selection of this reading for the Third Sunday of Advent. The Mass of this day begins with the word, “Rejoice!” But why? Zephaniah answers, “The King of Israel, the Lord, is among you. The Lord your God. Rejoice and be glad with your whole heart!” By this reading the liturgy urges us to joyfully prepare to welcome Jesus once again in the celebration of his birth.
Like the joyful anticipation of the arrival of the Messiah in today’s gospel, and like the joyful promises of Zephaniah, so also does Paul proclaim joy to the world. Paul’s advice, from prison no less, commands, “Rejoice! Rejoice!” “The Lord is near!” The joy of being a Christian should not be limited to anticipation of Christmas. Thus Paul advises, “Have no anxiety. Pray. Be thankful.” If a Christian lives in this joy and with confidence that God hears our petitions, then “the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”