William Claude Dukenfield was born in 1880. Better known as W.C. Fields, he became a popular comedian and actor in the early 20th century. Most notably, he starred with Mae West in "My Little Chickadee," a Western parody. Legend has it that in his old age, Fields was found by an aide reading the Bible. When asked what prompted this unusual (for him) behavior, Fields simply answered, "Looking for loopholes." As clever as the answer was, it certainly cast doubts on the sincerity of his "conversion." The call to sincere conversion is at the heart of today's Gospel.
The scene is set -- John comes out of the desert. His clothing, his behavior, and his message all indicate someone deeply convinced of the message he has to proclaim. He was determined to make Jesus known and calling others to follow him with all their being. He's baptizing those who come to him and inviting them to acknowledge their sins for forgiveness, but to know that they must then follow the Lord. This baptism was their way to "prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths" to their hearts and lives for the Lord's love, which they, in turn, would pass on to others. Into this zealous scene of repentance and conversion enter the Pharisees and Sadducees, budding opponents of Christ's teaching.
St. Matthew simply writes, "When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, 'You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.' " His challenge to them is very clear, but why did they approach him at all? Matthew clearly says yhey were "coming to his baptism." But why?
He was attracting crowds -- Were they curious? He was preaching with an energy they had not seen before -- Were they suspicious? He was talking about making straight the paths for One who was to come -- Did they want to be prepared for whatever that would mean for them? Or could it be that they had a sense that there was something in John's preaching they needed to pay attention to? Were they coming with a rudimentary faith or, as with W.C. Fields, were they "looking for loopholes," ways to maintain their status without making any commitments?
In my 44-plus years as a priest, I have had the opportunity to celebrate the sacrament of baptism many times. The experience of witnessing the baptism of a child whose parents are faithful, active members of a community who intend to be thoroughly involved in their child's progress in the faith is far different from the experience of being with a family where the pictures are more important than the sacrament and it is OK to be late for Church as long as you make it to lunch on time, As with the Pharisees and Sadducees, it is the sincerity of the commitment that comes into question.
John preaches with all his heart. His message is simple: It is not about me; one mightier than I is coming. He will gather the wheat into his barn and will burn the chaff. To be counted among the wheat, John calls for a sincere conversion, a genuine disposition of wanting to live as Jesus taught. John led by his example of zealous dedication and won many disciples for Christ. They were the "good fruit" he gave as evidence of his faith.
John's determination challenges all of us, saints and sinners alike. As we continue this journey towards Christmas, may we use the opportunities for reconciliation and recommitment it provides.
May the good fruit of the love we share in celebration of the birth of the "shoot [that sprouted] from the stump of Jesse" (as Isaiah prophesied) attest to our sincerity of heart.