The crowds asked John the Baptist, “What should we do?” He said to them in reply, “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He answered them, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” Soldiers also asked him, “And what is it that we should do?” He told them, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.”
Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people.
Gospel Trivia:
"What should we do?" Note that this is asked three times in this gospel passage. This suggests that John the Baptist was treated like one of the Old Testament prophets, who were asked this question and responded with a message from Yahweh. John the Baptist is, however, quick to qualify himself as simply a prelude to Jesus.
When asked this question, he proposes certain things which requires a major conversion, but pales in comparison with the radical transformation that Jesus would require:
- John prescribes that those who have two cloaks should share one with the person who has none. In the Sermon on the Mount (Luke 6:29), Jesus requires that "from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your coat as well." (The cloak is the very basic garment; it is one's undershirt and is never given up even in payment of a fine or debt; beggars use it to gather alms for lack of any other thing).
- John prescribes that people do the right thing within their profession: tax collectors (who are often abusive of fellow Jews) should collect the right taxes; and soldiers should remain as soldiers but not extort. Jesus, on the other hand, asked his disciples to leave everything (even their profession as fishermen) to come follow him.
This is not to say that only those who leave their professions are disciples. It means that being a disciple within your profession is simply a basic requirement.
Reference:
- Nil Guillemette, SJ, A Kingdom for All (Manila: St. Paul Publications, 1988), pp. 294-295.
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