Advent
December 3, 2016

Scripture Reading: Matthew 3:1-12

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe 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. –Matthew 3:7-10

What is the distinction between righteousness and self-righteousness? The first is inclusive the second is exclusive. Righteousness deals with justice which assumes a community accommodating both diversity and similarity. Self-righteousness builds walls keeping community out unless it feeds the individual’s desires. The gospels tell a story of religious leaders caught up in fulfilling individual desires to the detriment of the people they shepherded. John the Baptist confronts the leaders asserting that they are not reflecting the ways of their ancestor Abraham but were defining what is right for all by what was right for themselves.

I have a friend who seems to have perfect pitch. He can sing any note, and it will match the sound of the same note played on a well-tuned piano. I do not have this gift. I work at matching the notes I hear. His is a natural gift; for me singing the correct note takes lots of practice and focused listening. For some justice and righteousness comes naturally. For most of the rest of us, we must practice it every day, holding our concepts of righteousness next to Christ’s and adjusting our justice to match his. To do that, we must possess a good understanding of God’s justice and righteousness. Bible study is a key element in broadening understand of God’s justice, and we must accompany Bible study with total surrender to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Anyone can flip through the Bible, find a verse or two that supports their viewpoint, and declare it God’s justice. Why do you think John was calling those Pharisees and Sadducees to task?

During this Advent season as we examine ourselves, let us explore what is righteous about our lives and what may be self-righteous. Let the Holy Spirit help us ferret out the truth.

Prayer: Lord, make us whole so that we do not try to fill the gaps in our self-concepts with our own creation of righteousness. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.