Last Sunday we examined the beginning of John’s sermon where he said the King is coming, prepare! Today we continue with that sermon. Hear the words of John, the son of Zachariah, recorded in Luke 3:7-18.

John, austere preacher, calls for the multitudes to prepare the way for Christ’s coming with severe earnestness. His message is a call to repentance with actions that demonstrate an altered life. “Bear fruits that benefit repentance,” he says. “We have Abraham as our father,” is not a valid claim or an excuse. A life of faith and deeds of love are what counts before God. A religion void of moral and ethical implication is exactly that, void.

The idea that love is something we do is somewhat foreign to the modern Western mind. We grew up thinking that love is a feeling that overtakes a person. Some don’t understand it entails a commitment, concern, and concentration. It is something we are called to do.

It is true what we think and feel influences what we do. It is equally true what we do influences what we think. Our actions condition our thought patterns and determine our feelings. B. Stanley Jones advised: It is easier to act yourself into a new way of thinking than to think yourself into a new way of acting. If we decide to do loving things for people, these actions can generate loving feelings toward those people.

Christmas is not a theological idea. It has to do with flesh and blood events that happened, are happening and will happen. It’s truth is discovered in our own stories, what happens in our own lives.

And the multitudes asked him, “What then shall we do?” Bear fruit that benefits repentance: share with others, be honest, avoid violence, act in love, was the reply.

“And Jesus said a certain man, while doing his Christmas shopping, fell among muggers, who stripped him of everything, beat him to within an inch of his life, and left him in an alley behind St. Luke’s Church.

“The minister came along on his way to a service, and, when he saw the man, hurried into the church, afraid of becoming involved. And likewise an elder of the church came by and hurried past, as frightened as the minister. He even dropped the holly wreath he was carrying and didn’t return to pick it up.

“But the neighborhood agnostic, who didn’t even believe in exchanging Christmas presents, when he heard the poor man groaning, investigated and felt sorry for him.

“Bringing his car around, he helped the man into it, ignored the blood on his velvet pile seats, and drove him to city hospital.

“‘Here,’ he said to the receptionist, who presented him with a battery of forms. ‘This is my credit card, and he is my brother. Give him a private room and the very best of care, and, if it exceeds the limits of my charge account, I’ll borrow the money and pay you. What the heck, it’s Christmas Eve!’

“Which of these three men, do you think, was neighbor to the man who was mugged? And which one had a merry, merry Christmas?”6

An all-time favorite story at Christmas is “The Other Wise Man.” Artaban, in his pursuit of finding the newborn King, misses his three friends who set out before him. He misses the Christ Child, too, because his journey led him into strange encounters with dying beggars, and frightened mothers to whom he gives two of his three jewels saved for the Child. He returns to Jerusalem after a fruitless search in Egypt. For 33 years he still searches for the Child.

Now, an old man, Artaban notices an unusual commotion during Passover time. He inquires as to what is happening. “We are going to the place called Golgotha, just outside the walls of the city, to see two robbers and a man named Jesus of Nazareth hanged on a Cross.” Artaban knows instinctively this is the King he has been searching for all his life. He rushed to the scene.

On his way he meets a young girl being sold into slavery. She falls at his feet and pleads with him to rescue her. His heart is moved and he gives away his last jewel for her ransom. At that, darkness falls over the land, the earth shakes and great stones fall into the streets, one of them upon Artaban, crushing his head. He lay dying in the arms of the girl he has just redeemed. He says, “Three and thirty years I looked for thee, Lord, but I have never seen thy face nor ministered to thee!” Then a voice comes from heaven, strong and kind, “Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of my brethren or sisters, you did it to me.”

His face grows calm and peaceful. His long journey is ended. He has found the Christ.

Dear friends, don’t overlook the old refrains in that story: a journey, obstacles, acts of love, and ultimate grace and redemption and peace. And, don’t forget where he found the Lord: in the people who crossed his journey’s path.

How we respond to a world that contains so much wrongness, hurt, and despair is very much our responsibility. “Beloved, let us love one another as I have loved you,” says Jesus. God is love, and you find that love by loving people. Somebody loving you is grace, your loving someone is grace.

Blessed are they who find Christmas in the age-old story of a babe born in Bethlehem. To them a little child will always mean hope and promise to a troubled world.

Blessed are they who find Christmas in the Christmas star. Their lives may ever reflect its beauty and light.

Blessed are they who find Christmas in the joy of giving lovingly to others. They shall share the gladness and joy of the shepherds and wise men of old.

Blessed are they who find Christmas in the fragrant greens, the cheerful holly and soft flicker of candles. To them shall come bright memories of love and happiness.

Blessed are they who find Christmas in the happy music of Christmas time. They shall have a song of joy ever singing in their hearts.

Blessed are they who find Christmas in the message of the Prince of Peace. They will ever strive to help him bring peace on earth, goodwill to men (author unknown).

The good news of Christmas is:

“He who is mightier than I is coming,” said John, “the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

Teilhard de Chardin once wrote: “Someday, after we have mastered the winds and the waves, the tides, and gravity, we will harness for God the energies of love, and then for the second time in the history of the world man will have discovered fire.”

The Christ is coming. What shall we do? Deep within our beings we know...we know...go and bear fruits that benefit a citizen of the kingdom. And you too will hear a voice from heaven, strong and kind, saying, “In as much as you did it to one of the least you did it to me.” Amen!