Advent 3C
December 12, 2021
Good Shepherd, Wells, MN
Luke 3.7-18
Several years ago, while listening to a Christian radio broadcast, the speaker related a true story. I know it’s true because the speaker was there when it happened. The speaker was the best man at his best friend’s wedding, and they were standing together at the altar railing waiting for the bride. Just before the bride was to walk down the aisle, the speaker leaned over to his friend. He whispered, “Wouldn’t it be great if Jesus came back right now?” The horrified and panicked look on his friend’s face spoke volumes: he did not want to be denied his matrimonial joy, even for the coming of Jesus. That was not a joyful thought.
It’s hard to find joyful thoughts at the coming of Jesus in today’s Gospel reading. Today is the Third Sunday of Advent and so we reflect on the theme of the third candle of the Advent wreath: joy. Down through the years as the Advent tradition has evolved, church folk decided that the reflective and ofttimes somber mood of Advent, along with the diminishing light of December, warranted a break on the third Sunday. Thus the theme of joy was attached to the third candle and some Advent wreaths have a pink candle to set it apart and note its distinctive character. Now, our readings from Zephaniah and Philippians ooze joy, but what about the Gospel from Luke?
It’s hard to see how the message from John the Baptist of Jesus’ coming is good news. John the Baptist calls the people a “brood of vipers” and talks about the “wrath to come.” Then there’s the image of fire, often a sign of judgment. John also tells them that their identity as descendants of Abraham will not help them at all in their predicament. Yet remarkably, Luke tells us that John is proclaiming good news to the people, and they agree! So, what is it about John’s message of Jesus’ coming that makes this joyful news to them and to us?
It helps to remember that John the Baptist was offering a baptism of repentance, but that repentance means more than admitting our brokenness and saying we’re sorry. The Greek word for repentance literally means to change your mind. Thus it came to have the sense of turning around and going the other way. It stands for a change of direction in life. In other words, repentance means there is a transformation that takes place in you and in your life. The chaff John talks about that gets separated from the wheat can refer to the parts of ourselves that need healing. That transformation, however painful it might be, ultimately provides joy at the “new you” that is more in line with who God wants you to be.
It is helpful to remember that most of the book of Zephaniah is an oracle of judgment for sin and that Paul is writing to the Philippians while he is sitting in prison. In spite of those circumstances, we have these words of joy. The prophet Zephaniah assures the people that God’s salvation is at hand in their repentance. And Paul urges the Philippians to trust God with their worries and gives them a blessing of peace and joy. Again we are reminded that joy is different from happiness. As Frederick Buechner reminds us, happiness is generally where we expect it to be, but joy comes in those unexpected places where God shows up.
We also need to remember that Christmas is more than a cute baby, a vulnerable God with Us, though it is that. Advent is a time to remember why we need Jesus to come in the first place. We admit that we are broken, fallible creatures who cannot, no matter how hard they try, make our lives right. I trust that the young groom who was horrified at the thought of Jesus’ coming came to realize Jesus’ coming into his marriage as joyful, no matter the circumstances. So, I pray that all of you, God’s Beloved, experience the transforming joy of Jesus this Advent and beyond. Amen.
My written sermons often preach differently "live," but today's was more so than usual. To watch the video, click here.
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