Reorient as needed, rejoicing.

“Whoever has two coats, share with anyone who has none.”

Advent 3C - Zephaniah 3:14-20, Philippians 4:4-7, Luke 3:7-18

Out in the wilderness, John the Baptist saw crowds coming to him and he didn’t know why. He asked the crowds what had happened. “Who warned you to flee…?” What did you see that made you come here? We are not told what it was.

This story takes place decades after the birth of Jesus. John the Baptist and Jesus are adults. Pilate is the governor of Judea and known to be ruthless. Maybe the crowds had learned of another one of Pilate’s atrocities. There had been many.

Whatever it was, the crowds were worried. They saw trouble in their future and they went out to the wilderness to ask John for his help and advice. John’s advice was “repent.”

“Repent” can mean feeling sorrow or regret. But the Greek word John uses, metanoia, means “change your mind.” Get reoriented. Stop doing what doesn’t work and do something different. 180 degrees different. Turn around and let go of what did not bring you peace or security.

Do we need to repent? Maybe. Absolutely if we have allied ourselves with Pilate and those who use power to oppress and repress and terrorize. But it also may be that we have noticed what goes on in our heart and mind when we make decisions. Values, priorities or fears have snuck in that aren’t what we want to be about.

When that happens, yes. We need to repent. Joyfully. Because we know that we can change our minds and reorient ourselves to more life-giving values. Perhaps towards the things the prophets spoke of: justice, kindness, humbleness. When we do, we will likely find ourselves doing the things that embody those values. As John says, being satisfied with what is rightly ours, not cheating or stealing, not trying to make others afraid, and if we have an extra coat, giving it to someone who has none. The basics.

In the days to come, Jesus will ask us to go beyond the basics. But not now. In this Sunday’s gospel, John the Baptist seems to say “First things first.” For now, go and prepare. Be clear about the values you choose, reorient as needed and, rejoicing, get on with the basics.

Peace.

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash