There is a refrain throughout today's Gospel composed of various sections of the crowd asking of John the Baptist: "What should we do?" (Luke 3: 10, 12 and 14) What is interesting is that he does not ask anything extreme of them even though he lives an austere and rigorous lifestyle himself. We can compare this to St Paul who wrote to the Corinthians: "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." (1 Cor 11: 1) The distinctive aspect of Christianity is that it is not primarily a moral code but a participation in the mission and risen power of our Lord Jesus Christ. This means that our imitation of Christ is not motivated by typically religious concerns or rules but by obedience to and love of the Father. Jesus points out to his critics that the austerity of John the Baptist had them saying that the Baptist had a demon while they said of him: "Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!" (Luke 7: 34) He goes on to say: "Nevertheless, wisdom is vindicated by all her children." (Luke 7: 35) Let us vindicate wisdom, therefore, in all we do and say this Christmas.
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