Sunday, September 22, 2024  

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Today's Scripture
Luke 3:15–22

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 thong 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. But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, added to them all by shutting up John in prison.

Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” (NRSV)

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Reflection

Wheat or chaff?

I have begun to wonder about perspective as I read stories like this one. When I was young, I was baptized into a more conservative religious tradition. And although we spent many Sundays with our feet dangling over the pits of hell lest we backslide, we usually identified as the wheat or the Samaritan or one of the meek.

As I consider perspective, I wonder if I should look for myself in other characters. Am I the jealous brother of the prodigal rather than the prodigal? Am I a Pharisee or Sadducee, clinging to or demanding exclusive religious protocols over Christ’s radical example of inclusive love and acceptance? Even among Christians within the same tradition, we can’t seem to agree on what that example is. Perhaps this is what working out our faith in fear and trepidation means?

Our tradition is “reformed and ever reforming.” If this is true, then are we not called by tradition to continually evolve in our understanding? I teach for a living. I’ve discovered that learning is not about finding the correct answers. It’s about learning to ask oneself better questions. Perhaps this passage and ones like it are God’s way of saying “Check your privilege.” Maybe you are wheat, but there may be a little chaff left on you.

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Prayer
Creator God, help me to live into the life you would have for me. Keep me thirsty for your wisdom and life-giving, life-affirming word so that I might continually become more like your Beloved Son, in whom you are well pleased. Soli Deo Gloria. Amen.

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Written by Robert Sinclair, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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