First reading: Isaiah 11:1-10
Psalm: Ps 72:1-2,7-8,12-13,17
Epistle: Romans 15:4-9
Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12

May the God of endurance and encouragement
grant you to think in harmony with one another

Harmony by Law:

In 1992 the government of Singapore enacted the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act. This Act gives the government the right to decide when a religionist is speaking in a way that is contrary to religious harmony; and the power to censor or censure such persons.  That religionist, so censured, has no recourse to the court. The Act says:

(1) The Minister may make a restraining order against any priest, monk, pastor, imam, elder, office-bearer or any other person who is in a position of authority in any religious group or institution or any member thereof for the purposes specified in subsection (2) where the Minister is satisfied that that person has committed or is attempting to commit any of the following acts:

(a) causing feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility between different religious groups;
(b) carrying out activities to promote a political cause, or a cause of any political party while, or under the guise of, propagating or practicing any religious belief;
(c) carrying out subversive activities under the guise of propagating or practicing any religious belief; or
(d) exciting disaffection against the President or the Government while, or under the guise of, propagating or practicing any religious belief.

Our first reaction as citizens of the United States is to say this is wrong, it denies freedom of speech and religion. We view such laws as intimidating. Here are some of the penalties for violating the Act:

(1) Any person who contravenes any provision of an order made under this Part shall be guilty of an offense and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both and, in the case of a second or subsequent offense, to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.

Hearing this we fear that religious people, priests, ministers, rabbis, and imams will be silenced. We fear that we will not be able to speak out as we feel we should.

Perhaps this law is right in promoting harmony, more right than some Christians may be. We might take this opportunity to consider whether this law is teaching us an important lesson we have somehow missed.

The Church in Rome:

In Romans 14-15 Paul is writing to the Church, discussing the necessity of harmony and peace within the community. The Church in Rome was made up of Gentiles and Jewish converts. They all had their take on how things should be run. Paul exhorts them to live in peace with each other, refraining from judgment, and living their faith. He is telling them and us that we must live in peace with our co-religionists; that we must build each other up and encourage a strong and unified faith in Christ amidst disagreement and differences in practice. Listen again to what he says:

May the God of endurance and encouragement
grant you to think in harmony with one another, 
that with one accord you may with one voice 
glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, 
for the glory of God.

That sounds exactly like an exhortation to harmony within the Christian community. Be in harmony, of accord and one voice in glorifying God, and welcome each other.

Paul tells us that Christians are not exactly alike. We are not a worldly army, were everyone looks and acts the same, but the army of God which is an army of harmony. We proclaim Christ, even among some diversity. Christians are not exactly alike, but we are required to be Christian in our witness to the world.

Even the Prophets:

When we look at the prophets we often think of strong, forceful messages that foretell the doom of Israel for its disobedience. Today Isaiah proclaims a message of harmony.

Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
the calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,
together their young shall rest;
the lion shall eat hay like the ox.
The baby shall play by the cobra’s den,
and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair.
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain


Isaiah’s vision, particularly in Isaiah 11, is one in which the coming Messiah will reign in a kingdom of perfect peace — in harmony. Man and nature will live in harmony. Nations will be brought together in harmony. God will be praised in harmonious voice.

What are we asked?

When we look at Jesus’ teachings we recognize His call to holiness and a right way of life. He did not shy away from calling people on hypocrisy and wrongdoing. We can point to countless examples where Jesus spoke to the sinner about their sin. He didn’t speak to the rest of the world about their sin. Recall that when the prostitute who was to be stoned was brought to Him He did not stand there enumerating her sins and how she had broken the law. He kept is simple, and private:

…only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Yes, leave your life of sin, do right not wrong. I do not condemn you, I free you from your sinful life. Jesus did not seek confrontation. We know that confrontation came to Him, chiefly from the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes. They got in His face, but He consistently answered them in a way that would have caused them to reflect inwardly; to reflect on their life and whether they held God, or their power, more sacred.

We are asked to proclaim the truth in the same way. Sacred Scripture and the Fathers teach us to practice witness that is both effective and non-offensive.  The Bible teaches non-offensive witness because it is effective. This is the better and more powerful way given to us, to witness to Christ and His Holy Church from a community in harmony, without condemnation, but with the message of the freedom and harmony found in Jesus Christ. Our world so needs that message, particularly in this season.

Examples of harmony and truth:

How should we speak in harmony and without conflict? Saint Paul gives us from his engagement with other religions and the Roman imperial administration. He used words that conveyed absolute truth without being offensive.

When Paul went to Athens he stood up in the Areopagus (Acts 17:22-31) and told the people, who had built idols and altars of every sort:

I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.

In saying that the Athenians were extremely religious Paul used the Greek term for “God fearing.” He indicated his respect for their accomplishment, knowledge, and religious attitude, and particularly that they were “God fearing.” He did not curse their gods or their altars. He didn’t say that they were stupid or ignorant, or foolish, or going to hell. He took what was positive and directed it toward their finding the one true God.

When Paul was called before the court of King Agrippa and Bernice (Acts 26:23-29) as part of his trial before Festus the Roman official he only focused on one thing.

Now a fact, Bernice was not Agrippa’s wife, but she was his queen. She was his sister and they lived in every way as a married couple. Prior to taking up with her brother, Bernice lived with General Titus who later became emperor of Rome.

Was Paul’s one focus on condemning Agrippa and Bernice, on cursing Rome, Generals, armies, or bad morality? No, this is what happened:

Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?”   And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am…”

Paul’s one focus was on bringing Agrippa and all in his court to Christ. He brought the good news of forgiveness of sin to people high and low.  Paul saw all people as in need of the redemption provided in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Paul was not awed by Agrippa as king and was not repulsed by Agrippa and Bernice as perverts.

These are just a few examples of the way Paul gave effective and non-offensive witness for Christ and His Church. These are examples we can use and apply; which depend on harmony.

Our Advent Path:

The great Forerunner, Saint John the Baptist, reminds us of what we are called to do. He reminds us that this is a time of repentance. Repent, the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repentance calls us to have a change of heart and to make a new start. Today’s gospel reminds us that Saint John gave it to the Pharisees and Sadducees who showed up for baptism with out having a change of heart. John wasn’t known for his sense of harmony I expect, but pause to think of all who came with repentant hearts, who he baptized without criticism or condemnation…as they acknowledged their sins.

Next week we will come here to acknowledge our sins, to repent, make a new start, and face the coming of Christ with changed hearts. In doing that let us regain the harmony we need as Christians so that we may make effective and non-offensive witness for Christ.

Our choice:

Paul strove to be effective in proclaiming the Gospel to all. He did not give offense to other religions; and limited his interaction with political leaders to the most important task at hand, that they would enjoy the redemption found in Christ.  Because of that, Paul’s ministry and witness was effective and inoffensive.

We sin when we take pride in efforts that show how right we are with Christ and how wrong everyone else may be, when we want conversion by force of will, and sometimes even by the sword.

We can go to politicians offices and recount every wrong vote, every bad act, every appearance of impropriety, But wouldn’t it be better if we simply went and told them how Jesus wiped our sin away, how He gave us eternal life, and how their call to public service is the real way in which Christ is already active in their lives?

We can go to war over wrongs, country against country, family against family, neighbor against neighbor. We can write Facebook posts about how wrong the next person is, but wouldn’t it be better if we simply went and told them how Jesus wiped our sin away, how He gave us eternal life, how that particular thing they do in their lives is the real way in which Christ is already active in them?

We will never bring people to Jesus by court conflicts and protests, by enumerating the sins of others, or by war, but through harmonious lives committed to teaching in a ways that are effective and inoffensive, that are focused on our objective.

If we cannot do what we are called to do, if we cannot live as Christians, if we cannot live in harmony, holding true witness without being offensive, then we may end up with civil laws focused on some social norm of conflict avoidance, and the disdain of the world. We should rightly fear the power of government to have absolute say over religion and moreover fear for lost souls.

As Christians we must refocus on calling the world’s attention to the birth of Christ. Like the early Christians, our objective is to share the good news; and to do so in a way that is harmonious – effective and inoffensive.

Let us do whatever is necessary to bring harmony among God’s people and to bring knowledge of God’s forgiveness of sin: His promise of everlasting life to all. Amen.

A special thanks to Peter Eng from Grace For The Day and his post: Does Religious Harmony Affect Our Witness? which, with the Scripture of the day, inspired this homily.