Matthew 3:1-12 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 3:1-12 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 3In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, Verse 2"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." Verse 3This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'" Verse 4Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Verse 5Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, Verse 6and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
Verse 7But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Verse 8Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Verse 9Do not presume 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 10Even 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 11"I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Verse 12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
Devotion
For the Advent season we are looking back and reflecting on the previous week's readings.
Our shared hope is not dependent on ourselves, on our own goodness or ability, on our own community, no matter how good and cozy our faith community may feel to us. Our shared hope is not in our identity, just as John the Baptizer reminded the people of Israel: do not rely on the fact that you are children of Abraham. God in fact raises up children from what is lifeless, from the dead. Here we are reminded of our baptismal hope. In baptism we have died to the identities, the cultural and societal norms that we have created for ourselves or in which we find some solace or meaning. Baptism is first of all a death (literally immersion, a drowning!). A dead person can do nothing on their own! But God steps in and pulls us up out of the waters, raises us to new life, new identity, new creation. It is now in this new creation that we live and wait and hope and welcome and witness as community that completely belongs to Jesus Christ.
Prayer
O God, continually make new what is dead in us. Enliven our hope that we may welcome and witness as those who belong to Christ. Amen.