Two phrases jump out to me in this Gospel: “What should we do? and “Exhorting them in many ways, he preached the GOOD NEWS to the people.” Good news, Luke says??? The Scriptural reading we’ve been hearing for the past two weeks isn’t quite what I’d term “good” news. We’ve been hearing predictions of occurrences of unimaginable proportions … taking down mountains, flattening hills, wiping out valleys, hearing voices crying in the desert, watching for signs in the sun, the moon, the stars, dismay, perplexity, roaring sounds and people dying of fright. And this is GOOD news? Seems a little too real with daily news alerts of COVID spinning off variants of the virus and active cases on the rise. Snow storms are billowing across the northern states and this morning we learned of the loss of lives and devastation from tornados in Kentucky and Arkansas. There are floods and toxic drinking water in Hawaii. Fires are deliberately set and ravaging our forests; wildlife and residents escaping for their lives. Threat of war, discord, political “cat fights” and gun violence is a growing reality.
And, we find ourselves striving for Benedictine peace at the half-way point in Advent 2021. We sense it in the rose colored liturgical appointments and candles. They all symbolize “relax” – be joyful! In the days when it was popular to use the Introit of the Mass, we sang – “Guadete! Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice!” Storms, conflicts, disease and dissension call us to give voice to the petition in the opening prayer for tomorrow’s Mass. We beg for a gentle rain on the earth. “Drop down dew from above, and let the clouds rain down the Just One; let the earth be opened and bring forth a Savior.”
John’s message today is simple. He doesn’t ask the tax collectors to stop collecting, nor does he encourage the soldiers to go AWOL. He says, Share what you have, be honest, do not oppress people. What he preaches is at the same time easy and difficult; simple and challenging. How can I bring the Divine into my daily ordinary actions to make my faith a living thing so my walk echoes my talk?
One thing is certain – John’s audience knew where they stood with him. And, he knew clearly his place in God’s story. “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the strap of his sandals.” Another translation says: “untie the laces of his sandals.” Why, I wonder, did he say “loosen, untie” which would leave the wearer’s shoes flapping on his feet or sliding off his feet so he is barefoot? Is this an allusion to the spirit of hospitality expected of all Christians? It brings to mind Benedict’s admonition of the ages old practice of first washing the guest’s feet for which the shoes would have been untied, loosened, removed. And look at Jesus on the cross – his bare feet exposed to the elements and on-lookers’ abuse.
And, there’s that question Luke’s text raises: “What should we do?” John’s answer is unique in Luke’s account, he responds
by offering specific actions:
If you have more than you need, whether in terms of food or clothing, you must share.
Stop stealing from your neighbors.
And stop using your power to take advantage of each other.
In other words, no more hoarding, no skimming, no extortion.
The question, then, to each of us, in flashing neon lights, is – “What should I do? What should we do?” How shall we respond to the Advent of our Emmanuel that our prayers, our hymns and our intercessions are talking about? How can we meet the promise of the season with real, meaningful expectation when everywhere around us the world seems to be caught up in merrymaking, crowd gathering with death hovering “out there”? How can we celebrate in a deserving manner the solemnity of our God come to earth?
Today, faithful John has a gift for us wrapped in rough brown burlap and the coarseness of a camel’s hair shirt. He jolts us out of our pessimism and any moodiness or reluctance. His exhortation shakes us awake from our sleep to an awareness of the sparkle in the eyes of a new born Babe, the giggle of a child’s Knock-Knock joke, the welcome look on an elder’s face, the grateful tears of the recipients of our good deeds. We see evidence of a warming heart as life-giving words fall gently on world-weary ears…and, we know our answer to the question…WHAT SHALL WE DO?
~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress
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