Luke 3:7-18 (NRSV)
Read Luke 3:7-18 on biblegateway.com
Verse 7John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Verse 8Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Verse 9Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." Verse 10And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" Verse 11In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." Verse 12Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" Verse 13He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." Verse 14Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages."
Verse 15As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, Verse 16John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Verse 17His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." Verse 18So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
Devotion
The end of this Gospel lesson has always been a bit disconcerting to me. John emphasizes that the coming Messiah will be powerful, eager "to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire" (Luke 3:17b).
Immediately after this description of separating the wheat from the chaff, Luke the Gospel writer explains, "So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people" (Luke 3:18). Good news?!?! What’s so good about unquenchable fire?
We know that Luke was a fierce advocate for the poor and oppressed. He is, after all, the Gospel writer who includes Mary's Magnificat, which states that the hungry will be filled with good things and the rich will be sent away empty. The promise that God will set things right for the poor, then, is good news in Luke's book, and it should be good news in ours. The Messiah is coming to bring justice to an unjust world. We are called to participate in that justice.
Prayer
God of mercy and compassion, help us rejoice in the coming of the Messiah, with all that his arrival entails. Make us advocates for the poor and instruments of your peace. Amen.