Sunday, December 13, 2020

Third Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Psalm 126
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28

Yahweh has done great things for us, and we are glad.

This was such a strange year that I found myself doing new things, especially for the sake of the neighborhood children. We live on a street corner and many of the neighbors walk past our house, even more so this year as everyone was trying to get some exercise and a change of scenery. There is a garden bed right at the corner, and it came to be known as the “Kindness corner.”

I had different gifts or activities for anyone who wanted to participate. At one point we did a “vote” between a Luau and Christmas. The kids voted by taking either a Hawaiian lei or a Christmas light necklace. We did an activity around the book “A Very Hungry Caterpillar.” I bought a bunch of rocks that were about the size of a grapefruit and told the children to take the rocks home to paint them. They were to return the rocks so we could build a caterpillar with their rocks. At the end of the activity, I added a butterfly to each and told the children to take their own rocks home. I gave away coloring books, silk flowers, school supplies, and other fun items. I left paper and a pen and told the neighbors they could leave their prayer requests.

It was a double blessing because besides the opportunity to pray for my neighbors, the children sometimes left notes for me on those pieces of paper. One family made thank you cards. I was sad to stop, but I had run out of ideas and the children returned to school, so I gave away the last of my treats and left the corner empty.

It was empty until this week. I decided to do a special Kindness Corner for Christmas. We put some lights in that garden bed, but left a small holly bush empty. I covered it in Jingle Bells with a sign that said, “2020 has been a tough year but there are always silver linings. Take a Jingle Bell and think about the good things that have happened. Ring the bell to remember JOY. Merry Christmas.

Joy. It is hard to be joyful when our world seems so out of control.

The third Sunday of Advent is often called Gaudete Sunday because it focuses on joy. “Gaudete” means rejoice. Our scriptures for today speak of joy. In Isaiah, the people rejoice about the good things God has done. The psalmist sings about God restoring the fortunes of His people. Paul encourages the Christians to always rejoice. John the Baptist brings Good News.

We get confused, though, because we live in this time when joy or happiness is tied so closely to physical and material things. We talk about the joy of the season and we do what we can to create that joy, but we often fail. Unfortunately, there are many people who are dealing with troubles that joy is the last thing on their mind. They are worried about how they are going to pay the bills, whether they will have enough money to pay the rent so that they will have a roof over their head. They know that there will be no money for Christmas presents and that their kids will have to settle for baloney sandwiches rather than a meal with roast turkey and all the fixings. They aren’t planning parties, they are praying for a warm winter so that they don't have to turn up the heat.

And though most of us aren’t dealing with those problems, we have our own worries and frustrations this year. Friends can’t gather. Families can’t travel home for the holidays. Many shelves in the stores are empty. Though we love the idea of gift giving, we’ve come to appreciate the simpler things in life and Christmas presents seem so trivial when so many are struggling with life and death issues.

This isn’t about the usual question whether or not Christmas has gotten too commercial, though that can definitely be a problem. There is one commercial on television that drives me crazy. A woman approaches her husband and puts too fitness watches on the counter. “I bought one for both of us for Christmas.” The man says, “I bought something for both of us, too.” He directs her outside where there are two brand new vehicles in the driveway. I can’t imagine buying one car, let alone two cars, for Christmas. Yet, the world tries to make us feel guilty if we don’t spend enough money on those we love. We don’t have to feel guilty; we need to remember to approach the season with the right attitude.

Joy isn’t the same as happiness. The world tries to make us think that getting bigger and better presents will make us happy, but we are reminded that we aren’t meant to be chasing happiness as our Advent journey leads us toward Christmas. This is a time for joy.

Gift-giving is very much a part of Christmas. The first and most important gift is Jesus Christ, born for our sake and salvation. The nativity story also has examples of gift giving. Gift giving is a part of the ministry of Jesus and the early church. Consider the woman with the alabaster jar of perfume, Barnabas who gave the profit from the sale of property to the Apostles, and Dorcus who gave handmade robes and clothes to the poor. Our problem is not gift-giving, but rather the motivation of our gift giving.

We are reminded that the type of gifts that God gave were not material. In the passage from Isaiah we see the miraculous things God has done. Jesus came to accomplish these things for His people. Jesus came to preach good tidings to those humble enough to listen. The Gospel is the greatest gift because it is eternal life for those who believe. Jesus healed the sick, but dis-ease is more than just physical. Jesus heals our bodies and our souls. Jesus freed those who were imprisoned, not behind bars of iron but trapped by sin and death. Jesus brought grace. He comforted those who mourn. He gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and feet to the lame.

We may not be able to solve all the suffering in this world, but we can share Jesus. And we can consider our gifts more carefully. Instead of trying to get a gift that will impress, fulfill a duty or keep things fair, let us look more closely at those to whom we wish to give ourselves that we might touch their hearts honestly and deeply so that they will experience joy. Too much of the good feeling of this season come from what we place under the tree, yet the joy that God desires for us has nothing to do with the stuff we buy and wrap to give one another.

I can’t help but wonder what Paul was thinking when he wrote his guide of faithful and faith-filled living suggestions in today’s epistle lesson.

“Rejoice always.” How is that possible? We have good times and we have bad times. Even Jesus wept. It is foolish and unhealthy to ignore those feelings which are opposite of joy. Sorrow is a natural part of life and can offer healing and growth.

“Pray without ceasing.” Paul must not have had a day job. How can we spend every minute of every day in prayer? Most of us have trouble coming up with five minutes a day to set aside to talk with our Father in heaven. Oh, many of us will pray while we are doing other things. I like to pray while I’m driving and doing the dishes. But is it enough to chit chat with God while we are doing other things? Don’t we get distracted by the other drivers on the road or that stubborn greasy stain on our pot?

“In everything give thanks.” Everything? Should I give thanks when the cats spit up a hairball on my newly cleaned carpet? How about when my checking account is near zero and I still have bills to pay? Should I be thankful when the storms flood my house or a drunk hits my car? How can I be thankful when I am afraid of what tomorrow holds?

“Quench not the Spirit,” Paul says. But do we really know when it is the Spirit talking? My church, along with many other churches, are dealing with the questions we face living in today’s world. Where do we go from here? Are those who want change speaking for the Spirit? Or is the Spirit speaking through those who believe that we should hold to traditional values? Is God speaking through that dirty, smelly stranger on the street corner preaching a message of repentance? Or is He speaking through the protesters who are marching on City Hall? Which message does He want us to hear? Should we allow those other voices continue to cause confusion in an already chaotic world?

“Despise not prophesyings.” I have to admit that I find this one especially difficult because I have experienced prophets who prophesy messages that fall far from God’s good and perfect word, and they love this text. Anyone who questions the authority of their words is labeled as an unbeliever and destined for hell. Paul says to “prove all things” and yet this is often difficult. How do we prove faith? How do we prove the things of faith when so much in the world seemingly disproves everything we believe?

“Hold fast to that which is good.” This sounds easy, and yet how often have we lost touch with the things that are really good? Even now, as we wander through Advent, are we really paying attention? We are spending so much of our time busy with Christmas preparations - shopping, decorating, baking and wrapping - that we forget to spend time in prayer and thanksgiving. We are so worried about whether or not we have picked the perfect presents that we forget that God first gave us the perfect gift: Jesus.

“Abstain from every form of evil.” This makes sense, and we try. But how many of us can honestly say that we can abstain from every form of evil, even for a day? Remembering, as so eloquently worded in Luther’s Small catechism, that every commandment is not only a message of what not to do, but what we should do to keep our neighbor from suffering. In other words, it is not enough to obey the ‘shall nots.’ We are expected to also do the things that will make life better for our neighbor. We shall not murder or endanger or harm our neighbors, but instead help and support our neighbors in all life’s needs. To keep food from the hungry is to do them harm.

This is too much to ask, but there is comfort in this passage. Paul writes, “He who calls you is faithful, who will also do it.” We cannot uphold all these expectations. We can’t rejoice always. We can’t pray without ceasing. We can’t, or don’t, give thanks in all circumstances. It is just beyond our ability. We will doubt what we hear, and we should question every word until we are sure that it comes from God. Our grasp is tenuous, and no matter how hard we try will we let go of what is good and we will fall into that which is evil. But through it all, the God who calls us is faithful, He will be with us, and will help us through. He will help us to rejoice, pray, give thanks, listen, accept, grasp and abstain. And He will forgive us when we fail and give us another chance to live faithfully according to His Word.

John the Baptist was a faithful one, and despite his oddness the people wanted to know him. They wanted to know who he was and from whence he came. They were so taken by his ministry that they even wondered if he was the one for whom they had been waiting. He quickly put that rumor to rest, saying that he was not the Christ. “Well,” the people asked, “if you aren’t the Messiah, are you Elijah?” Elijah was expected to return to announce the coming of the Christ. As a matter of fact, the Jewish people are still looking for Elijah’s return. They set a place for him at their Seder tables and hope that he will come soon. It was natural for them to think that perhaps John the Baptist was Elijah. John said, “No.”

If John wasn’t the Christ and he wasn’t Elijah, then perhaps he was the Prophet described in Deuteronomy 18:15, “Yahweh your God will raise up to you a prophet from among you, of your brothers, like me. You shall listen to him.” John emphatically denied being this Prophet, too. Jesus does refer to John the Baptist as Elijah in Matthew’s gospel and John seems to fulfill the description of the Prophet in Deuteronomy. Why would John deny being either? He wasn’t being unduly humble; John knew that if he had accepted the role of Elijah or the Prophet, the people would have put too much authority and power into his hands, authority and power that was not his to have. He denied those roles because it was never about him. It was always about Jesus. John was not the light.

Have you ever gone visited a cave? That’s one of my favorite touristy things to do. There is something fascinating and beautiful about the formations. The stalactites and stalagmites are formed by dripping water leaving behind miniscule amounts of calcium; drop by drop the water leaves behind delicate structures like soda straws, cave bacon and even crystal in the shape of fish tails. Flowstones and cave popcorn are formed when water runs another way. Some caves have miles of tunnels and rooms of dripping water and beautiful ‘living’ stone.

One typical activity during a cave tour usually happens at a spot where the group can sit for a moment. The tour guide explains that the visitors will learn why it was so dangerous for the first explorers to be in the cave and help the group to understand what might have happened if they lost their light source. Then the tour guide turns off the light, leaving the visitors in absolute darkness; it is so dark that you cannot even see your hands in front of your face. We live in a world where there is always some source of light, even if we turn out all the lights. The moon and stars provide some light. Streetlights, clocks, computer screens, even the thermostat that regulates the temperature. Light sneaks through the cracks or under doors into windowless rooms. We do not really know what it is like to be in total darkness. It can be a frightening experience to sit there in the darkened cave, but the visitors know they are safe. Imagine what it might have been for those first explorers, crawling through the dark, through puddles and mud.

After a few moments, perhaps just when the tour guide senses our extreme discomfort, he or she turns on the light again. Sometimes they will begin with just a flashlight, and we can see how hard it would have been for those explorers with so little light. The light of a flashlight only reaches so far, making it difficult to decide which direction to go or to see what else might be in the cave. Then the wired lights are turned on to give a full view of the cave again. The visitors can see the little nooks and crannies and that there is nothing dangerous sharing the cave with us. They can see the way out. The tour guide is not the light, but provides access to the light.

John was not the light, but John was a witness to the light. He pointed the way. He pointed at Jesus. There were those who thought they knew who John was, but he told them from the beginning about the one who would come after him. This week’s Gospel lesson echoes what we heard last week: John was the one crying out in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord. John knew that he was not worthy to be called the Messiah. He did not even think he was worthy to serve Him. Yet, that did not stop John from doing what He was called to do: prepare the way of the Lord.

His task, besides preaching, was to baptize the people for the remittance of sin. The priests and Levites were offended by his boldness. John answered that his baptism was nothing. “I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don’t know. He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to loosen.” The baptism to come would be far greater than anything John could do. Even now, though, John warned them that they would not even recognize the Messiah. The Messiah was in their midst. He was standing with them on that shore, and they did not know it. John could only turn on the flashlight: the Light would shine by God’s power.

The words of Paul to the Thessalonians seem like an impossible expectation to which we’ve been called. Yet, we are reminded of John the Baptist who was given the most extraordinary task of paving the way for Christ the Lord, pointing to the Light. Were the people ready? Too many came looking for baptism without truly understanding what Jesus was coming to do. They were ready to lift up John to be something he wasn’t. When Jesus came, they did the same to Him, expecting an earthly king rather than an eternal Savior. We are like John, sent to share the Light of Christ. We are not the light; we bear witness to the light.

The psalmist returns our thoughts to the joy of God’s people when He has showered His grace upon them. This was a hymn sung by the returning exiles. They were happy that God was restoring them to their home; they would once again dwell in the shadow of His temple. Can you imagine the scene? These people had been in captivity for much too long and they were traveling on the road back home. They were laughing and singing, a stream of people bubbling with joy along the path. They proclaimed the Good News: God set them free! It was tough to be carried away into captivity, the tears must have run strong, but God stopped the tears as He took them home, restoring their fortunes and removing their captivity. The desert filled with life.

The psalmist recognized that the great works of God in and through His people reveal His presence in this world. When we praise God for His goodness, the nations see His mercy and His grace. “Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, ‘Yahweh has done great things for them.’” In our joy we are witnesses to the Lord.

It is said that laughter is the best medicine. I think that may be true, but even more so, joyful laughter shows the world the condition of our hearts. Joy comes from God, and we feel the joy of His salvation when we know He loves us. The people of God had been through tough times. They were returning to home after exile, and though that home needed to be rebuilt after tragic destruction they rejoiced because they remembered the saving grace of God rather than the heartache of the past. They looked to the future, to the chance to make a difference in their world. They remembered that they were God’s chosen people and they laughed.

God has a sense of humor. Jesus often joked when he preached about God’s Kingdom, though often the humor is lost in today’s understanding. Jesus and the disciples are often found around a table with a meal. These were social events with friends. I’m sure they often laughed and enjoyed each other’s company. It is impossible not to laugh when you know the joy of the Lord. The world sees the great things God has done for us when we rejoice and praise Him. We are journeying through Advent to the beginning of that great thing when Jesus Christ was born to die for our sake, to save us from everything that keeps us from real joy now and forever.