3 Sunday of Advent A

2016
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3rd Sunday of Advent A

1. The new Testament reading today is from the letter of James. I want to talk about the Letter
of James, because it is one of the least known books of the New Testament.
Paul had written to the Romans that we are saved by faith alone. James writing maybe 50 years later
stated that faith without good works is dead. These 2 letters set off a major controversy in Christianity.
Let us start with Paul. The first Christians were all Jews, so they required any pagan wishing to become
Christian to convert to Judaism first, the men had to be circumcised, accept all the laws of Moses before
baptizing them as Christians. Paul fought that tendency and argued the conversion to Judaism,
observance of the 613 laws of Moses and circumcision did not earn salvation for people. Salvation had
been earned for us by Jesus sacrifice, and all we have to do is to to be saved was to have faith in Jesus.
However, a couple of generations later, some Christians concluded, Jesus did all the heavy lifting, all I
have to do to be saved is to the belief in certain doctrines. They reduced faith to a mental activity, and
did not feel any obligation to live by Jesus high moral standards, nor to help their neighbors in need.
The letter of James was written towards the end of the 1st Century AD, and reflects a controversy in the
early Church about the need to live by faith by maintaining a good moral conduct and by doing good
deeds, that is to say by loving our neighbors as ourselves. James sided squarely with the necessity to do
good works and stated that faith without works is dead: those who believe in Jesus, called to follow his
example and live as he did. Christian faith is a life-long commitment to live moral lives and love our
neighbors, not merely the mental acceptance of all the doctrines listed in the creed.
This controversy of faith vs. good works literally exploded in the middle ages, when the term good works
took on the meaning of giving money to the Church to obtain indulgences and avoid purgatory.
People were lead to believe that, even if they lived immorally, all they misdeeds would be forgiven if at the
end of their lives they gave their money to the Church. They could skip purgatory and go directly to
heaven. Luther rejected this notion of good works because the poor, who could not afford to give money
to the church, were made to feel worthless and damned to suffering in Purgatory.
Even now the R.C. Church holds that Christians must earn Paradise through good works, but they
interpret good works as moral conduct. Episcopalians agree with Luther in affirming that Jesus earned
salvation for us all, and that if we believe we are saved. But we also hold that with faith comes the duty to
imitate Jesus example and live morally and perform charitable deeds.

3 Sunday of Advent A
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If we step away from theological distinctions and debates, this is a false controversy. If you are a runner,
whats more important your right leg or your left? You need both to run We need faith and good works.
In the passage we read today, James is writing about the virtues of patience and perseverance to people
who had been suffering persecutions and had been waiting for the second coming of Jesus. While they
were waiting for the Lord, James reminded them of their duty to be charitable with each other
The church gives us this reading as we are preparing to commemorate the coming of Jesus on Christmas.
How should we prepare for the Lord? With faith, of course, but faith is not merely an intellectual
acceptance of doctrines. Faith is a life-long commitment to follow Jesus by imitating him in his love of God
and love of the people.

2. The reading from the prophet Isaiah is again an oracle about the restoration of Israel at the
end of the Babylonian exile and proposes a vision of the desert blossoming
The prophet Ezekiel had used an allegory comparing the Israelites to a valley of dry bones that returned to
life when they heard the words of the prophet.
Isaiah used a different allegory: for him Israel was like a parched desert that returns to life with the rains
and abundance of water
These are images that speak to Gods power to create life and to transform something that seems dead
and desolate into something beautiful and fruitful. By sending his Son Jesus to become a human being
and reconcile us to himself, God the Father breathed new life into humanity and re-created us from dry
bones and wilderness into his adopted children

3. The Gospel reading today deals with the relationship between Jesus and John. John asks
Jesus if he is the Messiah. Jesus answers, My actions speak for themselves, I am the
Messiah. Then in turn Jesus praises John as the greatest among. men, but then adds that
those who believe in him are even greater that John. Whats going on here?
This is not a real debate between John and Jesus. John knew very well who Jesus was. According to the
Gospel of Luke they were cousins. When John baptized Jesus, he heard a voice from heaven proclaiming
that Jesus was the Son and God, and John himself had stated that he was merely preparing the way for
Jesus.

3rd Sunday of Advent A

Under the disguise of a conversation between John and Jesus, this passage reflects the debate
between Johns disciples and Jesus disciples. Both John and Jesus had their own groups of
disciples. Each group thought that their guy was the one.
Eventually, John was imprisoned and executed. After Johns death, his disciples were shocked.
A little later, Jesus was executed and the two groups of disciples were left to try to figure out
who was the real Messiah.
In this reading, John was still being held as prisoner, and asks Jesus if he is the one or if they
should wait for another. But this is more likely a question raised by Johns followers than by
John himself
Jesus answered by pointing to his deeds: curing the sick and proclaiming the good news. Then
Jesus praised John by calling him a prophet and the greatest of all human beings, only to point
out that those who follow Jesus are even greater that John.
This is an invitation to Johns disciples to come over to Jesus side. Historically, some of Johns
disciples became integrated into Christianity, while others went back to Judaism.

4. So what can we take home from these 3 readings?

a. The Gospel deals with the problem of conflicting messages: who has the truth? And the
answer from Jesus is the old proverb: you will know a tree by its fruits: if the fruits of a
religious group are good (works) then the tree is good.
b. The letter of James reminds us that faith is not merely an intellectual acceptance of doctrines,
but a life-transforming commitment to follow Jesus and to persevere, even if things dont go
out way
c. Isaiah holds out a vision of the transforming power of God: he will intervene in his own time
and turn the desert into a beautiful garden,
d. So in this season of Advent we are reminded that to believe in Jesus means that we are called
to follow his example in taking care of the needy. Faith must transform our life. To believe
means to act according to Jesus value system. After we do everything in our power let us
trust that the Lord will with his creative power transform our nature and our weaknesses.