Homilies
Chopped down or Pruned for Growth?
Holy Spirit, take my words and speak to each of us according to our needs.
Today, we continue our journey through Advent, and we encounter again John the Baptist in Luke’s Gospel—This week, his solitary voice is crying out to the crowds with language that feels, at first glance, quite brutal. He calls them a brood of vipers and warns that “the axe is already at the root of the trees.” In this season when we expect messages of hope and joy, this might sound a little harsh and abrupt. But John’s words aren’t just about judgment; they are about preparation. And Advent, as we know, is a season of preparation.
John speaks to people who are waiting for something—something big, something holy. They’re waiting for the Messiah, just as we are waiting to celebrate Christ’s coming at Christmas and preparing for His return at the end of all things.
But John doesn’t let them wait passively. He tells them, in no uncertain terms, that the Kingdom of God demands change. It demands fruit—and good fruit at that.
So how are these things relevant to us today? What are the axe and the brood of vipers to us.
There is an old Turkish proverb that says “The forest was shrinking but the trees kept voting for the axe, for the axe was clever and convinced the trees that because his handle was made of wood, he was one of them!”
Although the image of the axe at the root of the tree can feel threatening, it’s also deeply hopeful. It’s a call to self-reflection. What parts of our lives aren’t bearing fruit? What habits, attitudes, or priorities might need to be “chopped down” so that something better can grow?
Think about the world we live in today. We’re surrounded by messages that tell us to accumulate possessions, to focus on ourselves, to put our own comfort above the needs of others. In other words, are we allowing ourselves to be convinced and cajoled by the axe with the wooden handle. Are today’s influencers really helping us to live better, easier, more convenient lives or is there a cost we cannot immediately see?
When we live like that—individually or as a society—we don’t bear the kind of fruit God calls us to. Instead, we end up like a tree that’s taking up space but giving nothing back. (and you might recall what Jesus did to the fig tree…..)
Maybe this Advent, we need to pick up the axe—not as a tool of destruction, but as a tool of renewal. What in our lives is holding us back from living fully into God’s call? Maybe it’s an unhealthy relationship with money or possessions. Maybe it’s a grudge we’ve been holding onto, or a fear that’s keeping us from stepping out in faith. Maybe it is social media pretending to show us lavish, successful lives acquired without effort. Advent gives us the time to ask these questions and space to reflect of how we should respond to them..
But what about the “brood of vipers” line? It’s a sharp insult, isn’t it? But John isn’t goading for the sake of it. He’s calling out hypocrisy. He’s warning people not to rely on their religious heritage or empty rituals to save them. He warns, “Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor,’”.
For us today, that might sound like, “Don’t think just showing up to church on Sundays is enough.” Or, “Don’t assume you’re off the hook because you call yourself a Christian.” John calls us to be authentic in our faith and intentional in our actions—to make sure our lives reflect our beliefs.
Advent, with all its busy preparations, can sometimes tempt us just to go through the motions. We light the candles, we sing the hymns, we wrap the gifts. But John reminds us: this season isn’t just about what we do; it’s about who we are.
Are we people who bear good fruit? Are we sharing our resources with those in need, as John instructs the crowds to do? Are we honest in our dealings, kind in our relationships, and faithful in our walk with God?
John’s message, however stark it may feel, isn’t all fire and brimstone. It’s also good news. He is pointing us to Jesus—the one who will baptise with the Holy Spirit and fire. That fire isn’t just about judgment; it’s about refinement. It’s the fire that burns away what is dead and lifeless in us so that we can be made new. And isn’t that the heart of Advent? Christ is coming not just to be born in a manger, but to transform us, to renew us, to make us into people who once again bear fruit.
This is where our hope lies. We aren’t called to bear good fruit on our own. Christ comes alongside us, fills us with His Spirit, and makes it possible for us to live lives that glorify God and bless others. So, as we look around at the world—at the conflicts, the inequalities, the suffering and pain—John’s message challenges us to ask: What fruit are we bearing in response? How can we be peacemakers in a world of division? How can we be givers in a world of need? What can we do to be voices of hope in a world of despair?
Advent invites us to take stock of our lives and to prepare—actively, intentionally, wholeheartedly—for the coming of Christ. That preparation isn’t just about trimming our trees or buying our gifts; it’s about trimming away the things that keep us from bearing fruit, its about refining and aligning our lives to God
So this week, as we continue through Advent, let us carry John’s words with us—not as a harsh warning, but as a loving call to renewal. Let us ask God to show us the difference between what needs to be chopped down and what needs to grow and to help us be intentional in doing so.
Because Christ is coming. And when He comes, may He find us ready—branches heavy with the fruit of faith and love.