Third Sunday of Advent Year C 15th December 2024
Lectionary Readings: Zephaniah 3 v14-20; Philippians 4 v4-7; Luke 3 v7-18.
Jumping on the bandwagon.
‘Crowds of people came out to be baptized, but John said to them, “You snakes! Who warned you to run from the coming judgement? Do something to show that you really have given up your sins.” (Luke 3 v7-8a).
John is challenging those who came for baptism without first thinking through the life-style changes required to convert the ritual of being ‘cleansed’ in the River Jordan to the reality of ‘new life’ as a member of God’s family.
John stressed that God was more than willing to forgive those who genuinely repent of their sins.
John demanded that newly baptised people show that by the way they relate to others, that they have changed into ‘good fruit’ (v9b); individuals who are caring, compassionate and loving people on they way to reaching their full potential as human beings created in the image of God.
John’s challenge is still valid today. Are we willing to change, willing to let the Holy Spirit change us from within?
John’s mission was to prepare the way for the arrival of God’s chosen one, the Messiah/Christ, who would ‘baptise people with the Holy Spirit’. (v16c).
The apostle Paul implies that ‘God’s peace’ is the product of the Holy Spirit, when in his letter to the Philippians, he says,
“Don’t worry about anything but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and request to God. Then, because you belong to the Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand, And this peace will control the way you think and feel.” (Philippians 4 v6,7).
Hymn writer Rosamond Eleanor Herklots writes of the way in which God’s grace can help us overcome our reluctance to forgive others, if we are willing to turn to him for help.
‘Forgive our sins as we forgive,’ you taught us, Lord, to pray,
but you alone can grant us grace to live the words we say.
How can your pardon reach and bless the unforgiving heart
that broods on wrongs, and will not let old bitterness depart?
In blazing light your cross reveals the truth we dimly knew,
how small the debts are owed to us, how great our debt to you!
Lord, cleanse the depths within our souls, and bid resentment cease;
then, reconciled by God to all, our lives will spread your peace.
From Singing the Faith No 423.
Bible quotations are taken from the Contemporary English Version