bearing fruit (a sermon on Luke 3:7-18)

Today is the third Sunday in Advent. Traditionally, the theme word for the third Sunday in Advent is “joy” - and we light a pink candle in the midst of the blue to remind us of this. “Joy” fits! We are so close to Christmas, so close to gifts and cookies and togetherness and good cheer.

But...then we get to the Gospel reading. Which is not necessarily what I would pick to talk about joy. Brood of vipers? Ax lying at the root of the trees? Winnowing fork? Unquenchable fire?!

Merry Christmas to you, too, John.

So why this story? Where’s the joy?!

Let’s take another look.

John is out in the wilderness preaching the word of God, clearing the way of the obstacles that are blocking people from seeing the glory of God, and helping the people prepare for the living word of God, Jesus, to arrive on scene.

He is not, perhaps, the most eloquent speaker. But his words about repentance and bearing fruit certainly catch the attention of the gathered crowds who have come to be baptized.

There is a sense of urgency, and importance, in John’s words: “Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

“What then should we do?” the crowds respond. How do we bear good fruit?

Perhaps you are wondering the same thing. Perhaps you are tallying your list of good deeds for the year, checking if you’ve done enough for the ax to pass by. Perhaps it seems that your list is coming up short, and so you are hoping for a quick fix, something to get you back on track just enough for you to slide back into your old way of being.

Here’s the thing about bearing fruit, though. If you really think about it, there’s nothing extraordinary about an apple tree that grows apples, or a tomato plant that grows tomatoes. There’s nothing special, nothing that’s brought about by a quick fix. It’s just what they do!

The fruit that grows forth from the baptized person is no different. To bear fruit is nothing special - it’s simply our way of life. It’s just what we do!

But first, our important Lutheran clarification. Good works do not precede our salvation. They are not the currency that earns or buys our place in heaven. Only God’s grace brings about salvation, forgiveness, and new life. Full stop.

Good works, then, are our joyful response to the gift of salvation, forgiveness, and life we have received from God. They are the fruit borne out of the baptized life, the expected and ordinary growth from the seed that has been planted and watered in us. As Luther said, our good works are done not for God’s sake, but rather for the sake of our neighbor, and for the sake of our life together.

They are not noteworthy, surprising, extravagant actions saved for special occasions, but the regular, mundane, everyday activities of the baptized in whatever our vocation may be. John described “bearing fruit” in this way: “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.”

For tax collectors, who were known to charge above the required tax amount in order to line their own pockets, John said that bearing fruit looks like collecting “no more than the amount prescribed for you.”

For Roman soldiers, who were known to take advantage of their position as an occupying force, John said that bearing fruit looks like refraining from abusing the power and authority they have been given. “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”

And we, what should we do? What might John say to you about what bearing fruit looks like in your profession or the places and ways in which you spend your time? How might you live out in ordinary, everyday ways your baptismal calling to “live among God’s faithful people; to hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s supper; to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed; to serve all people, following the example of Jesus; and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth”?

Where is the joy on this day? It's here. There’s joy in living as who we were created to be. There’s joy in seeking justice and helping bring about the kingdom of God. There’s joy in life together as a community embodied by kindness, friendship, and peace.

And also, in this season of busy-ness and to-do lists, we are reminded that bearing fruit is not just another thing to add to a rapidly growing list. Instead, bearing the fruit of good works is what we were created to do, what God has intended to be our way of life. 

The fruit we bear is much-needed in a world that is hurting, marred by brokenness, enveloped in shadows. We, too, can sense John’s urgency.

John's call - God's call - turns our attention to repentance; to examining how different parts of us might need to be pruned in order to produce fruit; to our constant need for forgiveness and grace. The joy of this is found in God's promise to be with us, to plant and water in us the seeds that will lead us to bear good fruit. In the midst of the shadows, and fear, and sadness that surround us, there is always a glimmer of light. This light, the light of Christ, is coming into the world, and it is unwavering. Thanks be to God. Amen.