Advent 3 - Gaudete Sunday
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (December 11, 2011)
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (December 11, 2011)
Readings:
Is. 40:1–11
Psalm 85
1 Cor. 4:1-5
Matthew 11:2-11
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Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen
The text for today is as recorded in Philemon the 4th chapter and Psalm 85 which we just read, and it is why this Day is called Gaudete:
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Let your forbearance be known to all, for the Lord is near at hand; have no anxiety about anything, but in all things, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God. Lord, you have blessed your land; you have turned away the captivity of Jacob."
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
For those of you not familiar with the church calendar, today is traditionally known as "Gaudete Sunday." Gaudete is Latin for "rejoice." Today we light the pink candle on the Advent wreath, reminding us that today is a little bit different from the rest of Advent. Advent is a season of repentance, not many know that but think of it this way, why would we need the babe in Bethlehem if we were already free from sin? Yes we say Jesus is the reason for the season, but too often we forget the reason why Jesus came to us—not to simply be a cute little baby in a manger, but to die for our sin. Yet, this is also why we take a little timeout in the midst of this penitential season to remember the joy of our salvation; the joy of God's grace, which is ours because of Christ alone. Now you can also see why it is ever so more special that the newest member in God’s forever family Easton Sonntag was baptized today and we rejoice.
But what exactly do we celebrate and rejoice over today? Do we rejoice over something that happened almost two-thousand years ago? Do we rejoice over something that happened just a few minutes ago with Easton? Well it is a bit difficult to be excited about something that happened long before we were around. It's hard to get excited about stuff that happened one year ago, let alone two thousand years ago. Much easier to get excited about a baptism today. Yet, do we rejoice over the fact that Christmas is less than two weeks away? Maybe that is true for some, but it also means that there's less than two weeks of Advent left. And nobody really enjoys the whole repentance thing. That's human nature. Being reminded of your sin and the fact that you're not as good or squeaky-clean as you think you are is kind of a drag. A whole month of it can really bring you down, especially when the rest of our culture is pushing consumer happiness, joy, and Christmas cheer. But John the Baptist preached repentance in the wilderness, and Jesus Christ’s first sermon spoke of repentance too.
So, Gaudete – Rejoice Sunday: What exactly are we to rejoice over today? New members, successful fund raisers, baptisms? The answer is found in Scripture, and it's amazingly simple and clear. We rejoice today because the reality of salvation through faith alone in God's grace alone because of Jesus Christ alone is an eternal, ever-present reality. It's our reality.
And what is reality? Have you seen the signs of Christmas? You know like; "Jesus is the reason for the season," "Keep Christ in Christmas," or “You are the reason Christ came into this season.” Or how about; "Christmas: The Birth of Jesus—When God came to earth." All of them okay, but really, none tell the whole story.
When did Jesus come to earth? It may seem like a trick question, but it's not, and that's the problem. You see, Jesus didn't just advent with mankind two thousand years ago in a little stable in some backwoods little village on the outskirts of the Roman Empire. He did come to be born, to die as an all-redeeming sacrifice. But again that’s not the whole story, Jesus will come again in all His glory. Christmas is also supposed to remind us of ALL this blessed news.
But wait…there's still more to the story. How is mankind saved during the time between Christ's first advent in a manger and His glorious return on Judgment Day? Has God left us to fend for ourselves? Absolutely not! Salvation has never, is never, and will never be about what man can do for himself. Salvation has always and will always be about what Christ does for us. Notice the order and tense of the wording, does for us, not did for us? Like He did for Easton baptism and salvation is what Christ does for us, we are baptized how comforting is the Word of God.
So, listen again to the words of our Old Testament lesson for this morning. "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” Is 40:1 Comfort. There are two ways of looking at comfort, one of them is all feelings and emotions, with nothing behind it but a good heart or good intentions. The other way to look at comfort is to actually do something about what is causing the discomfort, grief, fear, or pain, and make it better. Right now, we need the second sort of comfort. We need to know, and we need to see, and we need to feel comfort from the pressures and dangers around us.
But Jesus says to you, "Your sins are forgiven," and that is pure Gospel and Gospel means the Good News of Jesus Christ. That’s comfort worth rejoicing for. And this comfort doesn't rest upon us or our opinions it come from Christ Himself, a gift for you. And this gift isn't a fad or a fashion or some other time bound tradition. This is the Word of God. For Easton, for Bridgett and Ryan, for you and for me, this is the truth of God. This is the gift of God for you. This is the Gospel, and it is the power of God for salvation to all who believe!
Look around. The Word of God made flesh whose birth we anticipate is actively at work among you today in His Word and His Sacraments. Nothing has changed, we rejoice that Jesus Christ’s the Word is still actively working life and forgiveness and salvation to us.
That is comfort and joy. That is why we Gaudete (rejoice) this day and every day. Christ the Lord, the Word of God made flesh, continues to be faithful and true to His Word, "I am with you always, to the very end of the age." The reality of Immanuel—God with us—isn't just a past-tense or future-tense thing it is and will always continue to be. Christ the Lord continues to advent with us, presently and actively saving us from our sin, calling us to repentance and comforting us with His Gospel promise that "It is finished." Rejoice in Lord today Easton Sonntag, Rejoice today all who are here this day. Rejoice in the Lord always and be comforted, for the anticipated Christ did come into to this world for His people. For Jesus Christ brings us to His kingdom where we will all “rejoice in the Lord always,” and even forevermore. Amen
The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
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