“What must we do?” We hear that question asked three times in today’s gospel account. What must we do? Much like the Jewish people in the time of Jesus, Christians have asked that question down through the centuries, as if we could achieve salvation and redemption by ourselves. It is easy – in our pride – to think that whether or not we will go to heaven is tied to the sum of our good deeds. Of course, as we humbly admit our sinfulness, we come to recognize that we cannot save ourselves; we need God’s help.
In just a little more than a week, we will celebrate the birth of Jesus. He came into our world because we could not save or redeem ourselves. Our efforts, measured against the infinity of God, would never begin to be sufficient. Our humanity can be redeemed only through one who is human, yet divine. In Jesus, God took on our humanity so that he, the infinite and divine, could render a service by which our sins and transgressions could be redeemed.
And what was this service? Nothing less than the passion and death of our Lord. A person can give nothing greater than his very life. What more do we have? We might ask ourselves why God would ever do this for us. We are not even sure we would give our lives for another. Why would God do that? Saint Paul tells us in the letter to the Philippians that God’s love is beyond all human understanding.
God wants us to be convinced of his love for us. In Christ, he gave all he had to give, his very self. We are called to accept God’s gift. And, in gratitude, as John the Baptist instructs the people of his time – and us today – we are called to share God’s abundance with those around us. You will notice that the first response John gives to the question: “What must we do?” involves some of the corporal works of mercy: clothing the naked and feeding the hungry. The second response – to the tax collectors who ask: “What must we do?” is not to be greedy but satisfied with what God has given us. And, in response to the third group – soldiers of the occupying Roman Empire – John calls them to be honest and not to take advantage of others; he teaches us the same lesson today.
And, in all things, as St. Paul teaches us so well in the second reading, we should “rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all.” In gratitude to God’s great gift to us, we are called to rejoice and let our kindness to everyone be a sign of our gratitude, even when life is hard. Scripture scholars tell us the St. Paul probably wrote his letter while he was imprisoned in Rome. Despite his dire circumstances, he could encourage his beloved community in Philippi – and us – to have no anxiety but to rejoice in the Lord.
God’s ways are not our ways – and we should be ever grateful for that! As a God who is love, a love beyond words, our response should be to rejoice and strive to imitate Christ – extending ourselves in love to one another – as a sign of our gratitude. That’s the best way to prepare for Christmas!