Luke 3:7-18
What then should we do?
- That is what the crowds ask John the Baptist in today’s gospel.
- They are asking about the treatment that will begin to heal the hurt in their lives and world.
- It has been a familiar question in my life…and I bet it has been in your life too.
- What then should we do?
The Lord be with you
I wonder how many times we have asked that question throughout our lives.
- Anyway…it is a question I have asked repeatedly.
- I started asking it in childhood and continue to ask it today.
- It is not a question we ask only once.
- And it is not a question that is answered once and for all.
- What then should we do?
I asked it when I was thinking about my future…
- Making decisions and trying to grow up.
- And growing up is hard at every age.
- And I still am trying to figure out what I am going to do when I grow up.
- I asked it when I was in over my head and life was overwhelming.
- I asked it when a relationship got difficult and painful.
- I asked it when I had really messed up and did not know where or how to begin cleaning up the mess.
- I asked it when grief and loss broke my heart…when dreams were shattered…and when I was scared.
- I asked it when I was inspired…excited…and passionate about a new interest…a sense of calling…or a long-awaited opportunity.
- I asked it every time I came to a transition in my life regardless of how I got there.
- What then should we do?
It is a question that opens something within us.
- It is a reminder that life is always unfolding before us.
- It is a step on the journey of uncovering…discovering and recovering ourselves.
I have come to realize that when I ask that question…I am not just looking for information.
- I am really looking for myself.
- It is not just a question about what I should do.
- But about who I am and how I want to be.
- And that is what is going on with the crowds who ask John:
- What then should we do?
Here is why.
- John has just called the crowds a brood of vipers and told them to bear fruits worthy of repentance.
- Anticipating their next move…he tells them to not even begin defending…excusing…and justifying themselves by claiming:
- We have Abraham as our ancestor.
- (Tribal….).
John is anything but indifferent to the crowd.
- He is angry with love and concern for them.
- It is like a parent’s anger at their child who runs out into the street without looking.
And so here is what John is saying:
- You sons of snakes…take responsibility for yourselves and stop wasting your life.
- I do not care what your name is or who your tribe or family is.
- This is about your life…not Abraham’s.
John is not rejecting Abraham’s legacy.
- He is making a distinction.
- Abraham’s legacy is not a fixed path to be followed.
- It is a light that illuminates the crowds’ path of life.
- Abraham’s legacy is not a lifetime guarantee.
- It is a promise that they do not walk that path alone.
- They must…however…walk the path of life for themselves.
- Abraham cannot walk it for them.
- And that is also true for you and me.
John is turning up the heat…holding up a mirror…and closing the exits.
- And that is when the crowds ask:
- What then should we do?
- It is as if they are saying:
- If we cannot do what we have always done…if we cannot stand behind Abraham…if we cannot make him responsible…We don’t know what to do.
- We have never done it any other way.
- We do not know who we are apart from Abraham.
- We have never taken responsibility for ourselves…
- Who we are…or how we want to be.
- What then should we do?
Their question is a confession that things are not going all that well.
- Their question is a symptom that they have lost themselves.
- Their question is a symptom that their lives have become untethered from their deepest self.
- Their question is a symptom that they have become untethered from the one who is more powerful.
- Their question is less about what they should do.
- Their question is more about who and how they want to be.
What is the self from which we are living today?
- That is the unspoken question in today’s gospel.
- Who we want to be…and how we want to be.
- Who or what is the Abraham in our life today?
- Are we living our life or someone else’s life?
- What is connecting us to the one who is more powerful?
Every time we lose a piece of ourselves and latch on to some Abraham we descend into a valley.
- Every time we lose a piece of ourselves and latch on to some Abraham…we walk a crooked path…or stumble over rough ground…and it hurts.
- It hurts us and it hurts others.
- What then should we do?
- How then do we want to be?
It will be as simple and obvious as a person who has two coats sharing with someone who has none.
- Well…this is Stephen…and he gets it.
- Stephen Dick is a high school senior. He plays football for the Flagstaff Arizona Eagles.
- In June of 2023…Stephen suffered a massive seizure in the weight room during football practice.
- Stephen was diagnosed with brain cancer.
- His teammates immediately rallied around Stephen and his family…they were with him every step of the way.
This past summer…Stephen was contacted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
- Stephen’s wish was not a trip to Disney World or going to the Super Bowl or an awesome…impossible-to-get tickets-for rock concert.
- Stephen’s wish? Football helmets.
- Fifty-five state-of-the-art Riddell SpeedFlex helmets…the safest helmet on the market at $560 a helmet-$30,800).
- Make-A-Wish arranged with former Cardinal’s wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald’s foundation to purchase the helmets.
Stephen knows all-too-well the fragility of the human brain.
- I wanted to reduce the risk for my teammates anyway I could Stephen explained.
- In presenting the helmets to his stunned teammates…Stephen said:
- I just can’t have this wish be for me…every single person has been there for me…I am so grateful for you. You are family to me.
And Stephen’s teammates and family members got their biggest wish…too.
- After successful surgery and chemotherapy…Stephen’s brain scans are clear…and he is on the road to full recovery.
Stephen understands what John proclaims at the River Jordan:
- We can only realize the presence of the Messiah in our lives when we step beyond ourselves to embrace the needs and hopes of others.
- What then should we do?
- How then do we want to be?
It is as simple and obvious as a person who has two coats sharing with someone who has none.
- It will be that simple and obvious.
- What then should we do?