Why Do We Fear

John the Baptist was fearless. He spoke the truth at all times without fear of reprisal. Ultimately, this would cost him his life. However, that was of no concern to him because he knew that preserving worldly comfort or his earthly life was not what mattered most. What mattered most was the state of his soul. What mattered to John was doing the will of God, not compromising the truth for worldly gains. This Gospel passage provides an excellent opportunity to turn inward and see if we have fearlessly defended the truth like John.

Gospel - Luke 3:10-18

The crowds asked John the Baptist,

“What should we do?”

He said to them in reply,

“Whoever has two cloaks

should share with the person who has none.

And whoever has food should do likewise.”

Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him,

“Teacher, what should we do?”

He answered them,

“Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.”

Soldiers also asked him,

“And what is it that we should do?”

He told them,

“Do not practice extortion,

do not falsely accuse anyone,

and be satisfied with your wages.”

Now the people were filled with expectation,

and all were asking in their hearts

whether John might be the Christ.

John answered them all, saying,

“I am baptizing you with water,

but one mightier than I is coming.

I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor

and to gather the wheat into his barn,

but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Exhorting them in many other ways,

he preached good news to the people.

Scriptural Analysis

This exchange between the crowds and John is unique to Luke’s Gospel. In the previous exchange between John and the crowds, he warned them that, “every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Luke 3:9) In other words, they need to produce good fruit. In response to that exhortation, they seek his council, “What should we do?” Note that these actions are a way for one to show the repentance that John called for.

John tells them to give to those who are in need. This fits the pattern established by the prophets of old, “Is it not to share your bread with the hungry” (Isaiah 58:7), or “Gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment.” (Ezekiel 18:7) The people are being instructed to share with those who lack the basic necessities.

Two additional groups then question John, the tax collectors, and the soldiers. He tells the Tax Collectors to stop collecting more than prescribed. There was widespread corruption in that profession. In fact, it is this corruption, this practice of collecting more than they were supposed to, that leads one to equate the tax collector with the sinner.

John instructs the soldiers not to practice extortion or to abuse their power by taking money through threats and violence. In doing this, he is pulling from Leviticus, “You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another.” (Leviticus 19:11). The soldiers should not falsely accuse anyone, and they need to be satisfied with the wages they receive for their work. This removes the temptation to extort people to earn more money. It is interesting to note that although the soldiers will later arrest John and others crucify Jesus, Luke does not paint them entirely in a negative light. There are several instances of centurions being positively portrayed. In doing this, Luke is trying to convey that the occupation of a tax collector or soldier is not inherently wrong. These professions can be done with dignity and honor.

The people begin to wonder if John is the Messiah. Of course, the reader knows that is not the case since Luke presented Jesus as the Messiah in the previous chapter. John denies the claim and points to one mightier than him who will baptize the people with “the Holy Spirit and fire.” Just as John’s baptism of water is unique from the ritual washings of the Jewish people, so too is the baptism of Jesus distinct from John’s. This is noted in Acts, where when Peter is asked by the people what they need to do, he responds, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)

Compared to Jesus, John feels that he is unworthy even to untie the straps on his sandals: a menial task, to be sure. John uses an agricultural image to describe the “coming wrath.” A winnowing fan is a big forklike tool used to toss the threshed wheat into the air. The lighter chaff blows off, and the heavier wheat grains fall to the ground. The grains are then gathered into the barn, whereas the chaff is discarded. The chaff is a symbol for the wicked, as we see in the Prophet Hosea, “like the chaff that swirls from the threshing floor.” (Hosea 13:3). The chaff is burned. Luke closes this section positively, noting that John continued encouraging the people as he preached the Good News.

Daily Application

Courageously proclaiming the Gospel message can be frightening, especially in our modern world. The truth of the indissolubility of marriage, that he created them male and female, the life is sacred from conception to natural death, are not popular in modern society. Yet, we are called precisely to uphold the truth of the Gospel.

Consider some of the great saints, such as Saint Thomas Moore or Saint John Fisher. Both of these men laid down their lives instead of denying the truth. Just like these men, John the Baptist was also beheaded for speaking the truth. He refused to remain silent in the face of grave sin even when he knew that speaking the truth could place his life in grave danger.

Now, we are not called to seek our Martyrdom; to be clear, none of these Saints sought that out. However, we are called to speak the truth and defend it. Again, that does not mean we seek opportunities to speak the truth. We don’t run around looking for trouble. But when those opportunities present themselves, and they will, we must take the hard road and speak the truth. That is not an easy thing to do. It takes great courage. Most of all, it takes the grace of God. It takes knowing that no matter what happens to us in this world, there is nothing that anyone here can do to separate us from our Lord and eternity with him. Only we can do that. So do not be afraid to speak the truth.