3rd Sunday in Advent Year C Luke 3:10-18 – 15 December 2018
When all the people asked John, ‘What must we do?’ he answered, ‘if anyone has two tunics, he must share with the man who has none, and the one with something to eat must do the same.’ There were tax collectors too who came for baptism, and these said to him, ‘Master what must we do?’ he said to them, ‘Exact no more than your rate.’ Some soldiers asked him in their turn, ‘What about us? What must we do?’ He said to them, ‘No intimidation! No extortion! Be content with your pay!’ A feeling of expectancy had grown among the people, who were beginning to think that John might be the Christ, so John declared before them all, ‘ I baptise you with water, but someone is coming, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to undo the strap of is sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his barn; but the chaff he will burn in a fire that will never go out.’ As well as this, there were too many other things he said to exhort the people and to announce the Good news to them.
GUIDELINES TO HELP US TO MEDITATE ON THE PASSAGE SO AS TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE GOD’S PRESENCE AND ACTIVITY IN OUR LIVES AND WORLD TODAY.
(Prepared by Volunteers from the Lectio Centre project)
“I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals” Have you ever admired someone greatly: everything about them radiated peace and goodness and gratitude but they themselves were very humble, never taking the praise for themselves, always knowing that without the greater help from their faith, and the example and support of others, they would not be the persons they are.. We thank God for their example of their humility and self-confidence.
“What must we do?” Can you identify with those asking John “What must we do?” … in your own personal life, family life, as a church, society. Perhaps you have been overwhelmed with the pressure of work, family, loss of a loved one, changes in your circumstances – not coping as well as you might and desiring to do better. We thank God for those moments of honesty and humility when we acknowledge we are not all that we could be, all that we are called to be, and look for help.
“he said to exhort the people and announce the Good News to them” We give thanks for John the Baptist figures in our lives and in the lives of our community and world (people like Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa, Pope Francis, Gandhi) who were not afraid to challenge the status quo and speak out for people who are marginalised because of their colour, class, etc
“His winnowing fan is in his hand…” We give thanks for great organisations like AA that have helped people. The AA programme encourages the person to look honestly at themselves and their lives so that they are able to “clear their threshing floor” of habits and actions that are detrimental to themselves and others. In their daily walk and example, these same people are now “announcing the good news to others”