[Propertalk] Quotables - 2 Advent Gospel - Luke 3:1-6 - Part 5

[Joe Parrish]

Tiede: Return...return to God seems better. This is a prophetic call to change how one
lives. But verse 3 has repentance for the forgiveness of sins. On second thought, changing sides
is not a bad way to put it. In Peter's sermon (Acts 2:38) we have it too: "Repent, and be
baptized...for the forgiveness of your sins." Christian repentance has that intent of changing
sides. You were on the side of those who killed Jesus, now turn back, turn. You were at enmity
with God; now repent, get with it, wake up and smell the coffee.

http://www.luthersem.edu/word&world/Archives/8-4_Feminism/8-4_Grindal.pdf

Gracia Grindal, 1988
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When I began my own formal 'ministry', I remember those who were the then equivalents of Tiberius, Pilate, Caiaphas, etc., well enough not to have any illusions about power brokers. They don't change their spots. 

http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/laterallyluke/LLK316ADV2.html

Brian McGowan
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It is necessary to BE where you are and to know where you are before you can move to a better place. John the Baptist stands out in the scriptures as a person who knew where he was and where he wanted to go.
Many people use prayer as a way of denying who and where they are. They pray that God will take away their painful situations like a bad dream. They pray for deliverance from suffering rather than for deliverance through suffering.

http://www.bible.claret.org/liturgy/daily/sundays_pierse/cycleC/C_2ndSunAdv.htm

Gerry Pierse
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In the sixth year of the reign of President W. ... the high priesthood of James Dobson and Joel Osteen ..., etc. (you fill in the rest) there is still a need for the proclaiming of repentance/justice and forgiveness/righteousness.

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2006/12/second-sunday-of-advent-c4.html

Wesley White, 2006
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Humor and advertising have something in common. Both rely on contradiction to make a point. The humorist will take a commonly shared experience and will look at it in a new way. Voila. The contradictory nature of the experience is laid bare. Everyone laughs because they see the absurdity though the eyes of the humorist.
Ditto, advertisements. Place two contradictory images together, according to the logic of the advertiser, and the public will stop to look. (Whether this works or not is a matter of opinion. But look around. The logic is still in effect).
Before the public appearance of Jesus, a hermit preached in the desert. The preaching and the place created a sign of contradiction. And a way to catch the imagination of the people.
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Writing for a non-Jewish audience, Luke appealed to that tradition. Possibly Luke knew the young Christian movement needed the legitimacy of tradition. He might have even reported the rhetoric of the Baptist movement that Christians adopted as their own. No matter. Luke gave his audience (and possible converts) a sense of place. 

http://www.word-sunday.com/Files/c/2Advent-c/A-2Advent-c.html

Larry Broding
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The irony of John's life is that while he is passionately proclaiming his message of judgment on his own society, we come to realize what a magnificent human being he is. It may be that he remains significant for us because he is the preparer--as he called himself--for Jesus' appearance on the scene. But John is far from being--to use a phrase from pop culture--the band that warms up the audience for the main act. He brings the music of his great humanity, his courage, his generosity of spirit, his unaffected humility, his faithfulness in the face of suffering and even of death itself. No wonder Jesus thought the world of him.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1058/is_24_120/ai_111531687/

Herbert O'Driscoll, 2003
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