Prepare the Economic Way of the Lord

Sermon by Rev. Steven McClelland on Luke 3: 1 – 18.  Focus on how John is calling the people to opt out of the economic system of Rome and Jerusalem.  He is advocating for economic reform and its the country folk verses the city elites.  Check out Simona Frenkel and the choir.

Our story begins in a very specific time; so specific in fact, that Luke wants us to know whom the Emperor was, who the governor was, who the kings of Galilee were and how long they had reigned. He does this so we can see what John was up against.

In this time, when the political and religious leaders, whose reputations for lying, distortion, scandal and greed had proceeded them, in this time and place where Caesar, Pilate, Herod and his brothers were in charge politically and Annas and Caiaphas were in charge religiously, something happened over which they had no say.

What happened was that the Word of God came into being, a Word that had not been heard in a long time, a Word that did not come through the expected channels of power but instead came to a desert dwelling wildman by the name of John and the message he came to deliver from God was marked urgent – repent, turn around, go in a new direction, be baptized, join a new movement, if you have two coats give one to someone who has none and receive forgiveness for your sins.

And the people who had been mislead who had been walking in deep darkness and were longing for light, came out of Jerusalem and the surrounding towns in droves to hear what he had to say that according to the Jewish historian Josephus who lived during John and Jesus’ time.

People listened to John because they already suspected that what he was saying was already true. They were experiencing the economic hardships that the Romans and their religious leaders had been placing on them. The people who came out to hear John were angry. They were country people not city people. They were the ones who were being overtaxed and underpaid. They were the ones losing their land to the Temple Priests and Tax Collectors and Rome itself.

John says the axe, and by this he means God’s axe, is laid at the root of the tree and here he means Israel. He warns us how easily we can all be replaced: God can raise up children from these stones, pointing to the rough road they’ve traveled on to come and hear him preach.

John’s loud and he’s abrasive. John is incredibly sure of himself too. He is no wilting violet.

And then the people asked John what shall we do to prepare the way of the Lord. And John’s answer is very simple, practical – reasonable economics and it was a word that offered hope to so many who were hurting. And here’s what he said: If you have two coats, give one away to someone who has none. If you have two loaves of bread. Give one away to someone who has none.

Behave fairly, treat people justly, no matter who you are. The tree root he is pointing to is the economy. The economic system itself is corrupt he is saying. And the people know this. They experienced it every day of their lives. Change the economy he urges them.   Don’t wait for tomorrow. Prepare the economic way of the Lord now!

Bring down the moutains of jealousy and hatred that has kept you separate O Israel from your brothers and sisters in the south. Make level the uneven ground that has grown between you Judah and the rest of your brothers and sisters to the north. Make it so everyone in the land can see the coming of God’s economy and salvation.

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” (vs. 4-6)

What does that mean to us? What will we lose and what will we gain when the Lord comes? For without a doubt we will be mended and amended into a more divine image. The question is: Will we collaborate in our transformation as John would have us do or will we need to be pursued and overtaken by God and refined as gold is refined through scorching heat. Either way we will be made new.

The repentance John advises to the crowds is economic change. The actions of sharing with each other are the actions that prepare the way for our redemption John is saying.

And what happened once upon a time happens all the time. That is why each generation must prepare the way of Lord. Each person must decide whom they will serve.

That is why what we read and hear on Sunday must be echoed to each new person and each new generation, because the meaning of God’s coming lies not so much in how it was fulfilled once upon a time, but how it is fulfilled in our time and in our lives. Only then can the promise that all flesh shall see the salvation of the Lord be fulfilled. Amen