Bear Fruit of Repentence

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, ‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” ’ Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe 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. ‘I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’ Matthew 3:1-12

We do not admit it, but repentance and humility do not come easily to us humans. And those of us who have been abused, forced to repent or forced to grovel, will tell us that that has destroyed their sense of self. John is pointing us to something different than forced and abusive humility. John was speaking to the religious leadership who had abused their power so completely. The fruits of repentance and humility are a safe and secure community, where everyone has a voice and their gifts are honored.

Loving Creator, you fashioned us all

from stardust and divine wondrous light

and you made everyone in your image

a people of endless capacity and beauty.

We have used our power to scar others

we have abused the blessings you give us

we have been arrogant and haughty

thinking ourselves the authors of life.

Help us to be humble and repentant

so that we might see the beauty in others

let us cling to your love as a life preserver

and bear the fruit of love, patience and compassion. Amen.