Sons of Abraham: An Advent Reflection on Luke 3.7-18

All too often, it seems to me, as people of faith, we want the big, bold solution to the problems of the world, instead of the simple things right before us. And perhaps that’s why the teaching of John the Baptist, which was later echoed and expanded upon by Jesus, resonates so strongly with me. He consistently pushed those listening to him to stop looking for solutions outside themselves and take ownership for their actions and the impact they have on the world. Today’s Gospel reading provides us with a great example of this teaching and it’s worth reflecting on today as we near the wonderful feast of Christmas.

John wasn’t one to mince words, and we see that right at the outset. He begins:

You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear 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. Even 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” (Luke 3.7-9).

Their problem, as he sees it, is that they’re relying on their identity as God’s ‘chosen people’ instead of living their lives well — as though they’re proud to be farmers and love all the trappings of the farming lifestyle, but don’t care about plowing fields, sowing seeds, or reaping harvests. As we’ve seen time and time again here, the point of being God’s people is to live in ways that promote healed and whole, reciprocal relationships in the world. It’s not about being part of the right team, but to be playing the game to the best of our abilities. As the old saying goes, God may have children, but God has no grandchildren. It doesn’t matter who our ancestors were, or the great legacy of faith in our family history. What matters is how we live, today.

This is not to say there’s no advantage of such heritage. As the Scriptures tell us, the blessings of the faithful bear fruit that touches multiple generations. But, if you count Abraham as your ancestor, the point isn’t to show off your pedigree, but to use his faithfulness as an example for your own (see Romans 4 for Paul’s take on this). Likewise, it does us little good to belong to churches that count their history back to the Church Fathers and Mothers if we aren’t going to live with the same faithfulness and intention that they did. Otherwise we become like the wastrel third or fourth generation descended from a wealthy family, spending capital that isn’t our own and emptying the coffers instead of filling them up, and generously giving to others.

What should we do then to not rest on our spiritual laurels? Again, John’s answers are simple:

• Share our excess with those who have less than us (3.11)
• Don’t take more than what is rightfully ours (3.12-14)
• Don’t abuse our positions of power (3.12-14)

This is not complicated! And yet if we look at the world around us, we see that even these very basic principles are shockingly violated, even by those who call themselves Christians.

This has been a common idea in this space this Fall, as we explored Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. God’s ways are not complicated or difficult in and of themselves, but are made hard because they’re not the ways of this world, which are always easier and so very tempting.

But we are not left alone in all this. As John tells his audience here, while he baptized them with water, the one who is coming would baptize them with the fire of the Holy Spirit. It’s an apt analogy. Fire warms and consoles, fire provides for us in the way of cooking meals, fire protects from threats. But fire also destroys, consumes, and purifies.

And spiritually speaking, we need both. We need to be torn down in order to be rebuilt. In Paul’s terms, the old self must die so that the new self — fully opened to God and God’s ways — can live and thrive, bear the good fruit of repentance, reap a wonderful harvest, and fill up those spiritual granaries.

And now, as much as two thousand years ago, if not more, this is needful and good news.