Third Sunday of Advent

“The crowds asked John the Baptist, ‘What should we do?’ He said to them in reply, ‘Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.’”  --Lk. 3: 10-11

Can any plainer words be spoken? John the Baptist went to the very heart of the matter. He pointed out that having come and turned back to God, having repented, one must then bear fruit in daily life. Notice that it’s not a matter of doing these acts of charity and justice that come first. No, these actions flow from the act of turning back to God. They flow from knowing that one is accepted, loved, and forgiven. They are acts of gratitude, not obligation. They flow from an inner joy that knows no bounds. These acts are not done to gain acceptance, love, or forgiveness. For John the Baptist, there was no basking in warm, fuzzy feelings. Rather, one must evidence repentance by actions.

Notice John the Baptist never says, “Look, you earned what you have and you have every right to keep it.” What would it be like in our world today if the most wealthy among us adopted the attitude and the counsel of John the Baptist? If you have more than you need, give. Share what you have with those less fortunate than yourselves. Don’t bother to determine if that person deserves it, leave that to God. The person needs it. That is enough. Rejoice, rather, that you have been so richly blessed.

Somehow it has escaped many of us that perhaps that is part of God’s design: that some would have more than enough and some less, so that those with much could be blessed in the giving and those with less could be blessed in the receiving. This design is thwarted, however, when those with much hoard their wealth. There is nothing wrong with being wealthy. There is everything wrong with hoarding it to the detriment of your brothers and sisters in need. There is everything wrong with sitting in judgment, as to who or who does not deserve to receive assistance, while ignoring the obvious fact that one has done nothing to deserve wealth. This is just a wealthy person’s version of ‘entitlement’.

Blessed third week of Advent!