Zephaniah 3: 14 – 20 / Isaiah
12: 2 – 6 / Philippians 4: 4 - 7 / Luke 3: 7 – 18
This is the homily given at
Flohr’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCA), McKnightstown, Pennsylvania, on
Sunday December 15, 2024 by Fr. Gene Tucker.
“SACRAMENTAL
LIVING”
(Homily
text: Luke 3: 7 – 18)
The
topic for this morning’s Gospel could easily be called “St. John the Baptist,
Chapter Two”.
Recall
that, last Sunday, we were introduced to John’s story, the account of his
father, Zechariah, offering a prayer for his new son; John’s call to go into
the wilderness, rather than to follow in the footsteps and the career of his
father as a priest in the Temple in Jerusalem; and John’s radical call for
repentance and for beginning a new and holy life, rather than simply going
through the motions of religious observance (such as was happening in the
Temple).
This
morning’s Gospel picks up with John’s urgent call and warning to those who had
come out into the wilderness; some of them just to check up on what John was
doing; some of them who were simply curious (perhaps) about the stories they’d
been hearing about this priest’s son who’d shunned his expected calling to work
in the Temple; and some of them to come, enter the waters of the Jordan River,
confess their sins (remember that, last week, we remarked that John probably
required those who’d come to make their confession to do so orally and aloud)
in order to begin a new and holy life.
John
says to those in his hearing: “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from
the wrath to come?”
Then
he says: “Bear fruits in keeping with repentance”, adding, “Do not say to
yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father, for I tell you, God is able from
these stones to raise up children for Abraham’”.
In
this second statement, we have (I think) the essentials of the meaning of the
Church’s Sacraments, and, therefore, sacramental living that flows from our
encounter with God in the Sacraments. Notice John’s reference to the inner
change that is the goal of the baptism he was administering: Confession of sin,
a “coming clean” with God, and the beginning of a new life…that’s the focus of
the first part of the statement, the part that refers to repentance. The
statement begins, however, with the outer (and visible) aspect of the
actions that will flow from repentance and the journey into the waters to be
cleansed from sin and unrighteousness. So, John says, “Bear fruit”.
Now,
look back at the preceding paragraph again. I’ve highlighted in italics the two
aspects of John’s work; He is concerned with inner renewal and with outward,
observable actions which flow from that renewal.
Here,
we come to the definition of a Sacrament: It is a holy act which is composed of
an outward and visible sign, signifying an inner and invisible
grace. (Hope the use if italics makes it
easier to see the dynamic involved.)
So,
for example, as we look at the Church’s two great Sacraments, we can see this
inward/outward dynamic at work.
In
Holy Baptism, we are claimed by God as His child; we are cleansed of the
Original Sin with which we came into the world; and we are buried with Christ
in a death like His, in order to be raised to a new life like His.[1] Those are the inward and
invisible things that happen in Baptism.
The outward and visible sign of Baptism is water.[2]
Now, let’s consider Holy Communion.[3]
The
inward and spiritual grace which takes place in Communion is that we receive
the Lord actually.[4] The word “communion” itself means to “be one with”.
The
outward sign for Holy Communion is the bread and the wine.
Now,
let’s return to John’s comments.
In
response to John’s stark warning, and his admonition that one must “bear fruit”
which stems from repentance, his onlookers ask, “What, then, should we do?”.
John
outlines four commands: 1. If you have clothing to share, share it with others
in need; 2. If you have food, do the same; 3. If you are a tax collector, do
not extract more in payment than is permitted; and 4. If you are in a position
to extract taxes (like a soldier), do not go beyond what is prescribed, using
force or threats to do so.”
John’s
commands are rooted in the circumstances of the day. In that society, there
were many who were in need, dire need. There were tax collectors for whom it
was customary to add to the amount of taxes owed in order to pad their own
pockets.[5] There were instances when
soldiers would take for themselves property above and beyond the taxes owed,
using threats to get their way.
Each
of the items on John’s list constitute outward and visible actions which point
to an inward change-of-heart.
We
might regard the process which begins in the heart and which finds its way out
into the ways we relate to others as an outward-flowing process.
Such
an outward-flowing process is an indispensable part of our renewing walk with
God. Consider the Letter of James, which reminds us that “…so also faith by
itself, if it does not have works, is dead”. (James 2:17)
Apparently,
the outward-flowing actions which are the fruit of a genuine encounter with God
are unavoidable requirements of God’s will and design for the people He has
created. This means that what happens in this world, yes, this everyday world,
is extremely important to God.
John’s
admonition requires us to keep our feet firmly planted in two places: The inner
life of God, which is marked by continuing repentance, amendment of life and
the seeking of God’s face; and the changes we are able to make in the everyday
world, so as to share the love that we have received in Holy Baptism with
others.
AMEN.
[1] See St. Paul’s explanation of this in Romans
6:3 – 9.
[2] I think that the Lord was wise in choosing
water as the outward and visible sign for Baptism, for water can cleanse, water
is necessary for life, but water can also kill.
[3] Known in various Christian traditions as the
Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion, or the Mass.
[4] As Lutherans, we affirm that the Lord is
really present in the bread and in the wine, although we do not believe that
the accidents of communion (bread and wine) remain, while the substance (the
Lord’s body) changes. (This is the Roman Catholic position and belief, known as
Transubstantiation”.) The Lutheran position is known as “Real Presence” or
“Consubstantiation”. Anglicans also hold to the same belief and position.
[5] For proof of this, see Jesus’ interaction with the chief tax collector Zaccheaus, Luke 19:1 – 10.
