Father Thomas Welbers' Homily	Jump back to Homily Index
Third Sunday of Advent, December 14, 2003 Zephaniah 3:14-18a Philippians 4:4-7 Luke 3:10-18	(Audio to come)

Folks were shocked and scandalized at the people John the Baptist attracted. They were the riff-raff of society. They were the ones no “proper” people would ever welcome into their homes, much less into their lives. But then again, John himself was no ordinary “proper” person.

Last week he was introduced to us: living the life of a wild man, crying out in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord.”

It’s interesting to note this week: Who heard him? Who were drawn to him? Who came asking for more? Notice, first of all, that he did not go to them. He stayed out in the desert. The power of his presence and mission drew them to him, even if it meant leaving home, and the comforts of civilization to go out into the wilderness.

Crowds of ordinary people came, and what did he tell them? Something very ordinary: “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” Take a good look, he was saying, at what you really need. You have a right to no more than that. Whatever you have beyond what is essential really belongs to someone else. Look for the person who needs it, and give it to them. That was his message to the crowds.

Some surprising people were in that crowd. Tax collectors – those were Jewish people who made their living by being agents of the hated Roman government. Proper religious people thought them not only to be traitors but to be irredeemably evil. They could not be saved. They were locked into a life of damnation. Notice what John the Baptist does not say to them. Get another job – turn away from your evil work. Give up your sinful lifestyle. He doesn’t say that. He simply tells them, “Stop collecting more than is prescribed.” In other words, do your job, but be honest in it. Do not use your position to cheat or take advantage. I wonder if today he might say to financial people, “Be careful how you play the stock market. It is wrong to make a profit from other peoples’ loss.”

And then, soldiers. Ruthless, cruel, violent pagan Roman military men. These were the strong arm of the Roman domination. They were given a similar message: “Do not practice extortion. Do not falsely accuse anyone. And be satisfied with your wages.” In other words, you don’t have to give up your way of life, but recognize that you have great power, don’t misuse it.

A simple, rather ordinary message. Not at all what we would expect from a fiery wild man in the desert. Why? Even the greatest sinners cannot be told to do what is impossible. That would simply lock them in their sinfulness, and destroy all hope. How often have we felt, “I can’t be as good as God wants. That’s beyond me.”

All that John the Baptist told the greatest of sinners was, “Open the door. Let the Lord in. Make straight the path to you heart. Invite him into your life – and do it sincerely, simply by being willing to let go of whatever is beyond the essentials, the necessities.” Make room for God, and then the rest is up to him. The Good News is that the Lord will do what we are powerless to do – if we want it. The Lord will transform us – if we let him.

In these final two weeks before Christmas, the message that I hear coming to me through reflecting on and praying over the mission of John the Baptist is God saying to me, “Tell my people how much I love them,.” Just that, “Tell my people how much I love them.” That’s the beginning and the end of being what God wants us to be. And in this message, God is speaking to you as well: “Go out from here, and tell everyone you meet how much God loves them.” That’s the best Christmas gift you can receive – and give.

© Thomas Welbers 2003