Any Good in This News?

Third Sunday of Advent

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire - Luke 3:16

Winnowing, burning, fleeing, and name-calling: where is the good news? This passage from Luke ends a bit abruptly: "So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people." Where is the good news in today's gospel message from John the Baptist?

The word "gospel" literally means "good news" and is used to describe the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John - those books that describe the life and ministry of Christ. "Gospel" is also used to describe the reading each week that comes from one of these fours books, and today's excerpt from Luke is our good news for this day. So where is the good in this news?

John the Baptist has earned his reputation for fiery and provocative preaching partly because of his startling address to those who came to be baptized: " You brood of vipers!" Comparing one's own congregation - those who came to hear him preach and be baptized! - to a hissing and writhing mess to poisonous snakes probably doesn't earn too many fans.

John continues to antagonize by even dismissing the entitlement claims of those who have been born into a faith community. And so we ask with the crowds that day, "What then should we do?"

Here is the good news, here is the gospel: we are all snakes, we are all children of Abraham, our lives both wheat and chaff. John's words strip away all pride and self-righteousness while simultaneously promising inclusion and salvation beyond anything this world can offer.

While we self-defensively curl up and hide among the shadows, fleeing in terror at any tremor or perceived earthly danger, the promise of the gospel redirects us: "Be fruits worthy of repentance." John has caught our attention, not to insult but to inspire our Advent preparations. For the Messiah draws near, baptizing with the Holy Spirit and fire. This is truly good news.