Do the Good That Is Yours To Do
Dec. 15, 2024, Third Sunday of Advent
Series: Words for the Beginning: Advent Reminders for New Seasons
Isaiah 58:9-12, Luke 3:7-11
Rev. Cynthia Cochran-Carney, First Presbyterian Church, San Rafael, CA
Then you shall call, and God will answer; you shall cry for help, and God will say, Here I am. If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,
if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. God will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in. Isaiah 58:9-12
John 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? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham and Sarah as our ancestors'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Sarah and 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." And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" In reply he said to them,
"Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." Luke 3:7-11
“What should we do?”
Is that question one that keeps you awake at night?
What should we do? What should I do?
The Gospel of Luke introduces John the Baptist as not just a primary character in Jesus’ birth story (Elizabeth pregnant with John is visited by Mary pregnant with Jesus), but also a key player in his ministry. John is not the Messiah, but he paves the way for the One who will baptize with water and spirit. He does the good that is his to do.
The crowds have surrounded John. He’d created a following, a movement – a movement based on fear, fear of fire and eternal damnation, fear of being cut down and fear of not being deemed worthy.
The movement that John created rivaled the followers of Jesus! And in fact, the political leaders of the day were more afraid of John than they were of Jesus. John was the revivalist preacher of ancient time, like the Hebrew prophets – Isaiah, Amos - who wore strange clothing and consumed an even stranger diet: wearing a camel’s hair coat while munching on wild locust and honey… who preached fire and brimstone… he was big on judgement and light on mercy. He was a loner and a leader…
And out of fear the people ask, “What then should we do?”
“Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none.”
Sounds simple … until you look in your closet and count how many coats you do have. Maybe the key is in the sharing… in asking yourself, ‘How much do I really need’ instead of,
‘What can I give?’ and sharing out of your abundance…
A few verses later, we read that even the tax collectors came to be baptized, asking,
“Teacher, what should we do…” “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” In other words, don’t line your pockets at the expense of others.
And a few verses later the soldiers asked … “And we, what should we do…” now, this is an odd group to be included. Even those of power and strength, even those in control are asking, “What should we do?” John’s reply, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation and be satisfied with your wages.” Don’t use your power for ill means…
It is interesting that all 3 responses are rooted in sharing & not taking what you don’t need.
And then John does what all good leaders of all successful movements do… he pointed to another, to others who will carry the movement on… John 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.”
What should we do? How shall we live? Although we are worshiping God in a building and we a congregation, the church for me in many ways is a movement, a movement toward right relationship… a movement toward justice and mercy… a movement that seeks to follow in the way of love that Jesus lived. How do we do that individually and collectively?
This week I watched a clip from a Ted Talk by David LaMotte. He is an author, musician, active in the peacemaking work of PCUSA. His talk and book are entitled - Why Heores Don’t Change the World. He debunks the myth of the hero narrative as a successful way to make change and solve the world’s greatest problems. Instead, he highlights movement work as a sustainable and effective way to change the world. This short talk encourages listeners to pursue small, achievable actions alongside fellow changemakers.
It got me to thinking, maybe we and the church have turned Jesus into a hero.
John the Baptist began a movement based on fear and judgement and pointed to Jesus. And Jesus continued that movement, rooting it in love and justice, mercy and hope… a movement that continued in Pricilla and Paul, Timothy and Aquilla… in Martin Luther and Teresa of Avila… Martin Luther King… , and countless others throughout the centuries, people like you and me, who asked each day, “What then should we do?”
We may think, “I'm just one person. What can I do?” Yet, as followers of Jesus, as part of an interfaith community, we’re invited to consider a different question, one rooted in hope and action: “What is mine to do?”
To answer that question, Lamott suggests you ask yourself: What is bugging you? What frustrates, enrages, or persistently tugs at you? Maybe that work is yours to do…
Or, you might ask, What inspires me? What do you see happening in the world that makes you sit up a bit straighter and feel a little more hopeful about humanity?” Maybe that work is yours to do…
So I can’t do it all, but I can do something that matters. And every choice we make matters – not only to us, not only to the movement – but to the world. Choosing to stay engaged. Choosing to participate in difficult conversations. Each choice matters – not just to you – but to the movement, and to the larger world.
When approached by various community members—each grappling with their role in a society marked by inequality and injustice—John the Baptist gives practical advice that speaks across centuries. To the crowds, he says, “Share what you have.” To the tax collectors, “Take no more than your due.” To the soldiers, “Do no harm in pursuit of personal gain.”
As John the Baptist taught about bearing good fruit, the crowds, tax collectors, and soldiers ask him, “What, then, should we do?” His answer to each group is slightly different, but ultimately the same: “Do the good that is yours to do.”
We can each bear good fruit through acts of justice and righteousness, love and kindness. Hesed. We can all be what Isaiah calls “repairers of the breach.”
May it be so. Amen
This sermon included content from our Advent 2024 materials published by A Sanctified Art
https://sanctifiedart.org/words-for-the-beginning-advent-bundle
Rev. Lloyd Bruce, sermon notes – Sanctified Art Group Facebook page
TedTalk “Why heroes don't change the world” by David Lamotte. TEDx Talks. July 30, 2024.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDHrgQ5NmI4&ab_channel=TEDxTalks
