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Asking
the Question
December
16-17, 2006
Luke
3:10-18
Questions
are sometimes more important than answers. We often use questions
to find answers. We ask a question when we are looking for
some information. Therefore when we find that information,
we sometimes imagine that question is no longer necessary,
that it can be discarded and set aside. But that is not always
the case.
Look
at today's gospel. There are plenty of questions. All kinds
of people come up to John the Baptist and they ask the same
question: what should we do? Because of all of these questions,
on first hearing we imagine that the focus of the gospel is
going to be on John's answers. But the answers that John gives
are disappointing, even comical, in their simplicity. He tells
people to do what they certainly knew they needed to do already.
He tells the crowds that they should share their clothes and
food with the poor. He tells tax collectors they should not
cheat their clients. He tells soldiers not to abuse their
power. John's answers are neither new nor penetrating. He
basically tells them to do what any decent person would already
be doing.
So
it does not appear that the emphasis of this gospel passage
is on the answers. This opens the possibility that the real
point of the passage is the question, that this gospel is
calling us to ask the question, “Lord, what should I do?”
It suggests that asking the question might be more important
than knowing the answer. How is this possible? It is possible
because that question, “Lord, what should I do?” is a question
for which 95% of the time we already know the answer. We know
what are supposed to do. We are supposed to be more patient
with our spouse, more affirming of our children, more just
in our dealing with others, less judgmental, more thankful
for our blessings. We know all the answers. Yet the gospel
suggests it is still important for us to find some quiet moment
and sincerely ask the Lord, “What should I do?” Because in
asking that question, two things happen. We are able to identify
a particular action, and we are able to personalize it.
When
we take a few moments and sincerely ask, “Lord, what should
I do?” that question helps us to identify a specific action.
Our minds are filled with things that we are supposed to do.
But when we take a few moments and sincerely ask the question,
nine times out of ten, one specific thing will rise to the
surface. That one thing becomes the action that God is asking
us to do today. It might be something at work or at home or
at school, but whatever that action is, we can know that it
is God's will for us today.
The
question identifies the action. It also personalizes it. Because
when an action flows from prayer, it becomes a part of our
personal relationship with God. For example, if we are moved
to give some of resources to the poor, if that action flows
from prayer, it is not an action resulting from a command
or obligation. It is a response to a personal request from
Christ. When we pick up the phone to talk to our Aunt Louise
in an attempt to make peace with her, if that action comes
from prayer, we do not act because two thousand years ago
Jesus taught us that we should be reconciled to one another,
but because today Jesus has asked us, “Make peace with Aunt
Louise.” When we ask the question, the actions that flow from
it are more significant and powerful because we see them as
a response to a personal request from the Lord.
So
the gospel today is not really about the answers, but about
the question. It invites us to ask, “Lord, what should I do?”
If we really take the time to pose that question, the answer
might surprise us. But it is more likely that it will not.
It will probably be something that we already know we should
do. But asking the question will identify it and will give
us strength and energy to do it, because it comes out of a
dialogue with the Lord who loves us.
But
none of this will happen unless we ask the question. So let's
ask the question, and let's do it now. In every liturgy after
the homily there is a moment of silence. I would suggest that
each person here this morning should use that silence to ask
the question. Close your eyes. Remember that God is here.
In the presence of the Lord, set aside all the things we need
to do in the next few days, and ask the question, “Lord, what
should I do? What do you ask me to do today?”
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