A Sermon for the Third Sunday of Advent
The Rev. Patricia A. Gillespie
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Philippians 4:4-7(8-9)
Luke 3:7-18
Psalm 85 or 85:7-13
"You brood of vipers!" It's one of the great lines of Bible But just what is John saying? That his listeners are nasty, mean, and hurtful?
Just what do you know about vipers? Have you ever seen a brood of them -- a tangled mess of bodies twisted around each other? I grew up with them. In the Florida wilderness and even our backyards, vipers are common. Rattlesnakes and water moccasins are both pit vipers. I learned very early, for example, that one never steps over a fallen log -- you step on it good and hard first: to scare the snakes out from underneath. And they run away -- they are experts at "fleeing from the wrath to come."
The image John puts before us is of a fearful scattering in all directions. Snakes are afraid of people; It is their fear that causes them to be dangerous. Only when they are cornered or taken by surprise are they a problem.
People are like that too -- our fears make us dangerous. Look deeply enough behind most hurtful behavior, little hurtful words that slip out or major crime that destroys lives, and you will find fear.
John is telling us not to run away. Don't be afraid! Fear not! It is a customary beginning of the announcement of God's word by angels or prophets.
John says: "Don't run away! Stand and face the wrath to come." John has come to help us get ready for the one who is to come we can't do that if in our fear we run away.
But the words of today's gospel reading are really scary -- cutting off the dead stuff and burning away the chaff. We are told this message is "good news" but it sounds dangerous.
Yet the essence of this message is not about destruction. It is about finding what is good underneath the messy buildup of garbage in our lives.
Today is housecleaning Sunday.
If you're expecting a visit from a new baby, it's time to get things in order -- to remove the clutter from the guest room to burn the garbage and scrub things clean.
That kind of work isn't always fun. (I know -- my house is a disaster and my family will arrive soon for Christmas.) But when you are preparing for something wonderful the anticipation can make a joy of the work. (I've even been known to sing while vacuuming up the dog fur.)
And in the case of John's message what is anticipated is more than wonderful -- it's awesome. God is coming! Listen again to today's readings:
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice!" We are expecting "peace that passes all understanding." "Sing the praises of the Lord . . . ring out your joy!" "Do not fear!" "God has taken away the judgments against you" -- they are burned away like chaff in the fire. The wheat is revealed and your shame is turned into praise. "Rejoice and exult with all your heart."
Now this does sound like good news.
John says we can do some of the easy housecleaning ourselves: Simple ordinary things like: sharing what we have with those who have not -- go through your closet -- give some to goodwill; take some cans from the grocery cart to the food shelf; be satisfied with what you have -- don't ask for more than you share.
The good news is that when instead of running away like a brood of vipers we repent and turn and we turn and face God, even God's wrath, we get some heavy-duty help with our housecleaning: All the stupid and hurtful things we have done are going to be washed away, burned up, & wiped out.
Perhaps John's seasonal greeting might be: Rejoice, you brood of vipers! Don't flee from your God. Turn toward God and the tangled mess of your lives will be turned to joy.