On the Road Together
Reflection for the 3rd Sunday of Advent 2024
Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Who would think that asking hard things of people could be received as “good news,” but indeed, it is the case for John the Baptist in the Gospel today, from Luke 3:10-18. Not only is it good news, but it is a source of joy for all those who hear him and respond, thus the choice of this reading for Gaudete Sunday. And interestingly enough, social science research reflects the same result: asking for deeper commitment and more responsibility has the opposite effect one might expect. Instead of driving people away, under the right conditions, obligation, commitment, and responsibility are shown to increase engagement, strengthen bonds of trust and cooperation, and a sense of collective agency to accomplish challenging tasks. John the Baptist was on to something, and as leaders we might want to pay attention.
When people arrive at the Jordan to hear John preach, they come as we do, with our basic needs, values and biases, our temptations and attachments, our hopes and fears. They come with a vision of themselves as decent people, but also with some self knowledge about their weaknesses and impediments, and their longings to offer something of themselves for others, to belong to something and someone greater than themselves. They come with loneliness and even despair for their current circumstances. They come with curiosity and a sense that life might promise more for them than they are now experiencing, perhaps more intimacy, purpose, meaning, and satisfaction. No one goes out to the Jordan to hear John unless they have perceived in themselves that something might be missing, even those who arrive with self-righteousness and resistance.
John, for his part, has attended with openness and fidelity to the voice of God calling him to his prophetic mission, and even for his ascetic style and sometimes harsh tone, it was impossible for him to fulfill his mission without also having deep love for people, a profound intuition of the better life, the better world that God had instilled in his heart. Yes, some people change their lives for the better out of fear of the consequences if they remain on their current path. But most people respond better to a combination of loving support and high expectations in the right proportion. John communicates this proportion of high support and high expectation by honestly and openly assessing the people and the situation of their lives and calling them to be their better selves.
He denounces the sin that erodes people’s sense of their own decency: greed, exploitation, grasping ambition… and he gives them a realistic, hopeful vision of what they could become as disciples of the Good News. They hear the truth of what John says and it feels good to those who hear him when they leave their former ways behind and start to act with unselfish generosity, integrity, and a sense of compassion for their neighbors. It feels good to be a giver rather than a taker. This shift of direction, this conversion, draws us more deeply into community, and orients our lives with purpose and a sense of satisfaction.
What can we as leaders learn from this example and witness of John the Baptist? First, if we genuinely love the people we serve through our responsibilities and roles, we can express high expectations and ask of them demanding tasks that sometimes stretch their own sense of what is possible. Why does this work? Because by recognizing and tapping potential in people, we tap their innate desire to learn, grow, and contribute. By balancing how we support others with the ways we challenge them, we can create conditions for others to mature in both their capacity and their competence. And if we do the opposite, holding low expectations and not asking for commitment or demanding tasks, we subtly convey our doubts in their ability and foster tentativeness and ambivalence about their work.
As we consider where we are in our Advent journey, perhaps we might reflect on times we have been recognized for our potential and given challenging assignments. How did it feel to be trusted this way? How do we balance our loving support and our high expectations in ways that bring the best out in people?
With you on the road,
