[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Advent 3C: "John, the Baptist"

[Joe Parrish]

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From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Dec 15, 2018 7:09 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Advent 3C: "John, the Baptist"

DearFriends, ThisSunday’s sermon is entitled “John the Baptist” and deals with the gospel (Luke3: 7-18).  Here it is:   The last verse in today’sgospel (Luke 3:20) said: “Finally, Herod put John (the Baptist) in jail, andthis was the worst thing he had done.” This morning let’s see what happenednext to this strange Bible characters- John the Baptist.  He was the last of the Old Covenant prophetsand had the job of preparing the way for Jesus. Even his beginnings were unusual. John’s parents, Elizabeth and Zechariah, were childless and way too oldto have children.   Elizabeth was Mary’s cousin and Zechariah wasa priest in the temple.  One day,Zechariah was doing his job in the temple when the angel Gabriel appeared andtold him that he and his wife would have a baby, who was to be named John.  Zechariah doubted the angel, so he was struckdumb.  Shortly after this incident andagainst all odds, Elizabeth became pregnant.  It’s obvious thatZechariah and Elizabeth were accepting, compassionate people because after theVirgin Mary became pregnant, she spent some time with them- probably to gaincourage to face everyone when she began to “show.”  Well, in due time the child promised toZechariah and Elizabeth was born; and when he was circumcised and presented in the temple, everyone wasabout to name him “Zechariah” after his father. It was the custom of the day to name children after a relative.  Zechariah still could not speak, so hecommunicated by writing, “His name is John.” Immediately, Zechariah’s speech impediment vanished.  Those watching these happenings wondered whatkind of a man this “John” would turn out to be.            Theywere wise to wonder, because this “John”, actually “John the Baptist” was trulyunusual- many must have wondered about his sanity.  While others lived in comfortable houses, helived in the desert.  While othersdressed fashionably (or at least comfortably), he wore an itchy camelskin.  While others ate fish and breadand occasionally some meat, he ate what he could find- usually locusts and wildhoney.  He spent his time baptizingpeople in the Jordan River , giving them asecond chance to enter the Promised Land following God’s way.  As you recall, Jesus (John’s second cousin)was baptized by John.  When he wasn’tbaptizing, he was preaching.  Heencouraged the common people to repent and return to God, but he infuriatedthose in power by calling them “snakes”- not a very good way to get ahead.  When King Herod married his sister-in-law,John condemned the whole affair. Needless to say, he had many enemies in high places.  Herod was so angry with John’s meddling thathe threw him in prison.  While John wasthere he must have experienced a period of doubt, because he sent some of hisfollowers to ask Jesus if he was really the Messiah, or was he going throughall of this imprisonment for nothing. Jesus sent them back with the message that the deaf hear, the blind see,the lame walk, and the poor have the good news preached to them- in otherwords- the Jubilee message.One of John’s most dangerousenemies was Herodias, the sister-in-law whom King Herod married.  One day, Herod threw a party.  After all the men at the party were drunk,Salome (daughter of Herodias) really turned them on with her dancing.  Herod was so impressed that he promised heranything she wanted, even half of his kingdom. Salome asked her mother what she should request, and the answer cameback clearly: “Ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”  Since Herod didn’t want to look like a foolin front of his friends by going back on his word, that’s just what happened.Out of the strange life ofone of God’s greatest prophets, what’s the message for us?  How can this help us get ready for the birthof Jesus in a few weeks?  Here are fourthoughts:1)      John didn’t follow the crowdand neither should we.  Don’t worry whateveryone expects you to do to prepare for the holiday.  In all your rushing around, don’t forgetJesus.2)      As busy as you are thisyear, don’t miss Jesus when he comes to you. How is this possible?  Look, ifJohn the Baptist walked in here right now, I’m here to tell you that we’d probablyget a little nervous because (to put it mildly) he’d look different.  Actually, we’d probably wonder if we had acrazy man in here!  If we didn’t take himseriously, we would have missed one of the holiest people in the Bible.  Remember, Jesus comes to us in otherpeople.  (“Whatever you do to the leastof these, my sisters or brothers, you do to me.”)  Don’t diminish anyone just because of how helooks or talks or what she wears.3)      If you meet people whoaren’t quite sure about this “Jesus event,” be kind.  Remember, even John had his doubts when timeswere hard and he was in prison.4)      Last- remember who we’repreparing for.  Yes, I know that Jesuswas born a little baby in a manger, but he didn’t stay that way.  He grew up to be a wonderful, powerful manwho suffered, died, and rose for our sins. At ChristMass time, a church that will go nameless often has one ofthose cute sayings on the sign in front. It says: “Xmas is Christmas without Christ.  Don’t “X” Him out!”  I’m sure you’ve heard people talk like that-saying it is unchristian to substitute the “X” for the “Christ” inChristmas.  My sisters and brothers,they’re well-meaning, but very wrong. The “X” is the Greek letter Chi, for “Christ.”  That “X” is also the way you make a Romancross, so “X” stands for a cross.  “Xmas”is a way of saying “Mass for the Holy One who died on the cross.” “Xmas”reminds us that the baby who was born at ChristMass grew up to be the man whodied on the cross for our salvation. “XMass” or “CrossMass” reminds us, as we prepare for the birth of ourSavior, to take up our own cross and follow Him.  Some years ago, a friend gave me this statueof Santa kneeling at the manger.  That’sthe Christian priority.  Remember thatthis is Jesus’ birthday.  We’re preparingfor him.  The Santa component is fun, butthe true ChristMass is Jesus and his birth. For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updatedAfrican-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish’s web site under“Sermons & Stuff”. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org. Blessedpreaching,JudyBoliSt.Paul's Episcopal ChurchSaginaw,Michigan-- 
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