The first hearing of these words of John the Baptist may evoke fear, trembling and terror in the hearts of listeners. Images of being “cut down” or “never-ending fire” are frightening and may cause our body to brace and constrict. Pastors, preachers, parents and teachers have sometimes joined the chorus to scare us into submission and obedience.
Yet fear bonds do not create trust or devotion.
Only love can do that.
So how might we hear the voice of Love in these prophetic and stark images evoked in John’s message?
As I, Kim, stayed with the feelings of frustration rising in me as listened to the text, the Holy Spirit brought this to me:
God has planted seeds in each of us.
We are the seed.
Souls are not chaff.
Our protective shells and coverings are the chaff.
The seeds are separated from the protective coverings and kept for food to nourish both now or at an eternal celebratory wedding feast. Not a seed – soul – is lost.
The protective covering of the seed will no longer be needed because the seeds will no longer need external protection. Perfect love – the Kingdom of Heaven – so very near to us – will dispel all fear. We will no longer need to live in conscious or unconscious self-protection mode.
The chaff is burned, not because it is bad but because it’s no longer needed.
The farmer will burn the chaff, creating ash which will nourish the soil.
Nothing is wasted.
Come Jesus. Root us in your perfect love. Amen
Matthew 3:1-12 NLT
In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said,
“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’”
John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.
But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God! Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.
“I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”
For Reflection and Prayer:
As you listened to the text, was there a word, phrase or image which caught your attention? Gently allow it to linger, giving it room to form and settle deeply in your body and heart.
Reflect on what you heard. Relish the words. Notice how the word or words affected you. Which emotions are stirring within you? Notice what is happening in your body as you linger with how the text is affecting you. You might begin to describe that and choose to journal about what you are experiencing.
Respond to what you noticed and reflected on in your prayer with God. Might there a prayer that rises within you?
Rest in God as you simply be and entrust yourself to God in the quiet.
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