Self Saving
If you believed this was your last day, would you live it any differently than you planned?
Even now the ax 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." And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages." - Luke 3:9-14
In today's Gospel, John the Baptist warns of the coming time of trial and it makes the crowd nervous.
He appeals to their desire to save themselves, but is that the right motivation? Shouldn't they want to share what they have and be honest out of love for others?
Both John and Jesus focused on our dealings with others, but they offered different motivations to get people to listen. Where John talks of avoiding judgment, Jesus talks of showing our love for God and our neighbor.
John's message has a greater sense of urgency, telling us we need to do something now, before it is too late. Do this to save yourself, and that may tend to make people act more quickly than to tell them to do this because it is the right thing to do.
I think many of us believe we are saved regardless of what we do or don't do, so the sense of urgency may be lost on us. And if we do not feel we have to do these things for others, perhaps we will put them off, figuring we could do them when we have time or money to spare.
But what if John is right?
What if the time is nearer than we think, and we will be called to task for our failure to help others?
Maybe we should tackle each day as though it is our last, so we can tie up the loose ends and be ready, just in case.
If we do that each day, it may just become a habit. Who knows how that might change us?
More to come...