The Importance of Llama Spit! - Advent 3

Philippians 4: 4-7 and Luke 3: 7-18 

While on my internship in Sault Ste Marie, ON, a parishioner invited me to spend a Sunday afternoon with her. She took me to a local animal rescue and farm just outside the city. It was jacket weather and an overcast day.  I chose to wear my flannel lined slicker… and am I ever glad I did!

In an open farmyard, people were invited to walk around with the animals – goats, chickens, geese, cats, dogs, and llamas.  How very exciting! I made friends with a llama, well I thought I had. I approached slowly, hand out. The llama looked so soft and woolly; I really wanted to pet it, hug it around the neck.   I drew close, turned, and smiled at the woman who had brought me, then turned back to the llama …. as it sneezed… well that is being kind; it spat on me.  I was so thankful to have the slicker on, as green grassy goo ran down my front.  And SMELL!

Llama spit stinks!

As I was preparing to preach, this story came to my mind. John the Baptist reminds me of a llama – he was said to be dressed in a hair garment after all.  I think connect John to a llama because what comes out of his mouth is unexpectedly hurled at the crowd.  If words could smell, -John’s words-, John’s spit-  stinks!

 

Brood of vipers!  Brood of snakes! he points at the crowd who has come to the river in the desert. Every bit a prophet, he warns them that the current path of the people – the path they are on- is destructive leading nowhere but to judgement and death.  John's harsh words call the people to return to the ways of God. But there is something behind the venom in the voice, the heavy speech -it is not just llama spit in the desert. Surprisingly the crowd is intrigued, engaged, and wanting more; they ask what then should we do?

Unless one was prepared to repent and change by following the direct instruction given by John- would his message not “leave a bad taste in the mouth.” And yet, that is not what the Gospel of Luke records.  The crowd is not disgusted or put-off. The crowd is expectant wondering if John is the Messiah.

The gospel notes that John’s words gave strength and heart to the crowd.

The Message! The Good News! was proclaimed.

 

Texts like this have me seconding guessing my tendencies and nature.  I am not a spitting llama – that actually kind of grosses me out!  Every so often a pastor will have someone ask them, usually in a tongue and cheek manner, “Isn’t it time for a little fire and brimstone from the pulpit?”  When I have been asked this, I am not sure what the person is asking or half-joking about. Is it a need to be drawn in by a charisma? A need to be told what to do? A wanting to be shocked or emotionally riled up – to feel something? To hear passion and stated truth? To not have to invest time in considering one’s part in the coming kindom of God, rather be given a check list to follow? Is it a feeling of wanting to be scolded to assuage guilt, or a need to be challenged? I don’t know.

Perhaps people are challenging the pastor to be direct and shepherd a community with proactive leadership; llama spit – where leadership passionately infuses the crowd – the church community- with words and actions that to some will leave a bad taste in their mouth. This is work we are all called to, to preach the message, the good news, and to do it without thought to the consequences or acceptance by those who come to the desert.

What if the venom, the ‘you brood of vipers’ speech, is each of us confronting the crowd that is in the wilderness? When I say crowd I think neighbours, family, friends, or perhaps a bold announcement in the centre of the food court at the mall---  you brood of vipers, snakes, telling people bluntly to get their butts to a faith community.

Go to church. Go to synagogue. Go to mosque.  That would be llama spit!

 

Why does that approach sound uncomfortable and drastic? It should be easy enough. Go to church.

In today’s world, consider that the church is the wilderness, the unknown- to the people, a desert where prophets like John proclaim the good news. It is a place that offers water and baptism, a call to repentance and change… and points to the One whose power working among us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.

 

As I read the story of the crowd around John the Baptist, I wonder why they did not turn away, why they were not disgusted?  What was it in his words that gave strength to their hearts.  The people were interested and engaged. Interested –because in all his venom, John admitted  ‘it is not about me’- it is about One who is greater than me; greater than you; greater than us; the One who is coming will (as Eugene Petersen translates the passage into language of this time) ignite the kingdom life, a fire, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out. … The One will place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false will be put out with the trash to be burned.

 

A crowd focused on the One greater than itself, is a crowd expectantly waiting for the One.  A crowd of individuals each with their own specific task to do … if fortune has given you 2 coats give one away, share your food; to others with good pay be satisfied with your wage; in matters of business take only what you are to take. These actions as described by John for each person don’t bring the One or draw the kindom closer.  It takes the individual actions of a wholly engaged expectant crowd to bring the kindom near.

As the coming of the One draws near, may we be bold in assembling in this wilderness, an expectant crowd. The bigger the crowd, the sooner the One will appear and the coming of the kindom will follow.