By Chloe Guillot
December 15, 2024
John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore, bear fruits worthy of repentance, and 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; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be 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.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”
As the people were filled with expectation and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 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 strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
So with many other exhortations he proclaimed the good news to the people.
Luke 3:7-18, NRSVUE
How do you prepare the way for a joy you know is coming?
As we begin the book of Luke, John the Baptist does not appear to be in a particularly joyful mood. Only a few paragraphs before the baptism of Jesus, in Luke 3:7-18, we find John admonishing the crowds gathered before him, warning them to repent and stop hiding behind their religiosity. He warns: “Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Luke 3:9 NRSV)
Perhaps, in recent months, you have felt a bit like John in preparation for this Christmas season. Perhaps you have looked at people or situations in your life, in your community, or in the world around you and thought “This tree is not bearing good fruit.” Maybe you have felt a desire to scream out, to demand repentance.
Perhaps, like John, you are sensing a need to cut down the roots that bring agony to make a way for the coming joy.
When the crowds ask John, “What, then, should we do to bear this good fruit?” John makes three directives. First, to the common people, commanding them to share their resources. Second, to the tax collectors, commanding them to only take what is required. Lastly, to the soldiers, commanding them to act justly and reject greediness. As John prepares the crowd for the coming of Jesus and the coming joy, he instructs the people on how to be a community that cares for each other. He instructs the people to turn away from selfishness and greed and to give to those who are in need. He urges them to turn to each other and to think of the needs of their neighbor instead of turning inward and only thinking of themselves.
In this season, amid any lament, grief, or anger we may carry, we are called beyond ourselves in preparation for the advent of joy. We are called to be the ones who dig into our closets for an extra coat to give to our neighbor who has none. We are called to be the ones who do not ask for more than what people can give, whether that is money, time, or energy. We are called to treat people fairly and to act justly and righteously in all situations. In doing so, we may begin to prune the soil for good fruit to grow. We may begin to prepare for the coming joy that Jesus has promised us.
In this kind of shared community, a community wherein people of all walks are treated as beloved members of the collective, there is joy. Through John’s address, we see the diversity of the crowd that is gathered. There are common people, but there are also tax collectors and soldiers, people who would be seen as enemies and evildoers by those who are poor and oppressed.
We may find ourselves in similar spaces. We may be in situations where we are sharing a table with someone who we disagree with, people who we may see as upholding unjust systems or bearing evil fruit. How do we prepare the way for joy when holding space with those who we cannot see as part of our community?
Author and activist Audre Lorde claims, “The sharing of joy, whether physical, emotional, psychic, or intellectual, forms a bridge between the sharers which can be the basis for understanding much of what is not shared between them, and lessens the threat of their difference.”
The threat of difference is lessened by our shared joy. When we commit to living in community, to the giving of our resources, our time, and our fairness so that all people are treated equally and protected, then we are sharing in the good news of Jesus. We are sharing our joy with one another. Only when we see our neighbor as the object of our love and kindness instead of the manifestation of our hatred and fear can we bear the good fruit necessary to usher in the joy of this season.
So, as we prepare for the coming of Jesus, as John commands, let us commit to bearing good fruit towards each other so that we may usher in joy. Let us not stash away the old coat that we haven’t worn in three winters, and instead give it to someone who doesn’t have a coat of their own. Let us not complain about the price of our latte, and instead tip an extra dollar to the barista working on minimum wage. Let us resist our own greed and pride and find ways to uplift those in our community who need uplifting. And may we rejoice in making way for the coming of the Lord.
Reflection Questions:
- Where in your life do you see bad fruit that needs to be cut down to make space for joy?
- Who in your life brings you joy? What qualities or characteristics in that person bring you the most joy?
- Do you remember a time when someone in your community helped you through a hard time or a tough situation? How did that experience make you feel?
- What is one thing you can commit to doing this Advent season that will uplift someone in your community?
___________________________________________________________________
Chloe Guillot, Polaris Fellow 2023
Chloe (she/they) is a community organizer at heart who is interested in the intersection between Christian ministry and social justice advocacy. She graduated from Seattle Pacific University with degrees in Theology and Social Justice/Cultural Studies. Chloe is currently the Director of Community Life and Local Engagement at Quest Church in Seattle, WA, and is striving towards a world where Christians are better known for who they liberate than who they oppress.
