A recipe for Advent

 This Sunday's reading is from Matthew 3:1-12,

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,

‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:

“Prepare the way of the Lord,

   make his paths straight.” ’

Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

 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.

 ‘I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’

That part about burning the chaff with unquenchable fire probably really chafes most revisionist preachers. They may not even notice since they usually focus their attention on how antiestablishment and countercultural John the Baptist was for his time. 

It is also possible that the revisionists will ignore John the Baptist because he was too far out there. I mean, who eats locusts anyway? 

Maybe locusts aren't all that bad. 

According to the internet,

"Locusts have a mild, meaty flavor that is often compared to shrimp or nuts. They can be cooked in various ways, such as frying or coating in chocolate, to enhance their taste."

Yummmm! 

Serve some up at coffee hour after church!