12th December 2021 third Sunday in Advent
Luke 3: 7-18
7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9 Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.’ 10 And the crowds asked him, ‘What then should we do?’ 11 In reply he said to them, ‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.’ 12 Even tax-collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, ‘Teacher, what should we do?’ 13 He said to them, ‘Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.’ 14 Soldiers also asked him, ‘And we, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.’ 15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16 John answered all of them by saying, ‘I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing-fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’ 18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
Reflection:
I don’t know about you, but Advent can be a really hard season for me. On one hand we have the excitement and anticipation of Christmas coming. The joy of family and celebrations, the festivities the world advertises and the glitz of the ‘season’ seem all around. And then there is the reality of the season, for it can be a time when families feel incredible financial pressure and strain, and people can feel great sadness because of life’s circumstances.
The pressures of the season …. My list of things to do is far too long right now. That which needs to be accomplished between now and December 25th leaves little room for an awareness of how I am experiencing or should be experiencing these days of expectation. Choosing, being over doing, continues to be something that which demands a daily decision. And, the consciousness of seeing salvation continues to escape me.
Perhaps being rather than doing is the fundamental essence of Advent. Being is essential to incarnation. It’s almost as if Advent is the necessary time to prepare us for the being of God. Because God incarnate is a commitment to the human experience in all of its fullness. God came amongst us and through him we see the salvation of God. This is important, God came amongst us - This is life-changing, this transforms our very being if we let it.
Advent should not be something to hurry along. Our endless attempts, accomplishing tasks, writing cards, cooking, shopping let alone spring cleaning etc so that everything will be ready when the day arrives! Yet, our desire to do can sometimes take away from our time to be. Advent should be a time to help us see the things of importance, the things of God’s salvation.
Advent suggests that God seems to want us to wait. God seems to expect expectation. God seems to want us to experience the fullness of life in the coming of his Son. And so, we wait for the time when all flesh; all flesh will see the salvation of God. We live in the moment that anticipates such a promise, which believes such promise is possible. That, is the true essence of Advent.
But, what if God barged into the midst of our daily lives, if God made His presence known in a definitive way. I wonder, how would you feel? How would you respond? What change would God’s presence bring?
The prophet Zephaniah wrestles with these very questions. In his visions the presence of God brings both judgement and joy. The day of the Lord brings with it a calling to account, a humility before God’s mighty judgement. I suggest that we don’t often want to think about the judgement of God, it’s much easier to skip to the good news that brings peace and joy. God’s entry into the world brings celebration, restoration and new life.
However, Zephaniah addresses Israel at a time in which they had experienced great shame on the world stage. The nation had been desolated by conquering armies of foreign nations. Its people scattered, Israel lived in fear and uncertainty. To this hurting people, God promises a new world: Zephaniah says ‘The Lord has taken away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more’…. Jerusalem, which earlier in the book was described as a violent and unfaithful city, is here personalised as a woman rejoicing in song.
‘Sing aloud, O daughter Zion! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!’
Not only does God’s presence bring a joy that casts out fear, but it also brings the restoration of justice and aid to the poor. His presence brings a new way of life in which the way that people relate to Him and to one another is profoundly different. God’s presence brings a renewed hope and a joy that the world cannot give.
In the local hospital a volunteer program of musicians in the hospital has just recently been reintroduced. Musicians come and play guitar, ukulele etc and sing in the foyer and other key areas to lift the spirit of people as they pass by. And so, it was that I was at the hospital the other day when a lady was singing jingles. Jingles such as ‘You’d better be good, Santa Clause is coming to town’ and ‘It's the most wonderful time of the year’. and so it went on. But I’m not so sure about the message of these jingles. Perhaps we have been so wrapped up in anticipation and preparation for the ‘wonderful season’, the worldly expectations of what Christmas will bring, that we can't seem to find the joy. We know there are so many people in need. We have friends and family members who are suffering from illnesses, loss, alienation. We see misery on our televisions every day and also need in the community if we are out and about. Ultimately, we want people to be happy, but we can't make that happen.
We pray and we bring the names of people to God, for healing, mercy and rest, in the assurance of His loving presence with them. But we also stand in need of God’s healing restoration for ourselves. Perhaps you are feeling depleted, fearful, discouraged, and exhausted. It’s been a big couple of years. Not only have we had droughts, fires, floods, virus and other to contend with, but also life goes on. Many people are anxious of whatever might happen next. And then in the midst of this life is often too busy and it is hard to keep up with all the demands. Perhaps there are things in your life that need attention, need transformation. Certainly, this may not be your experience but I have a sense that we all could ask God to - Slow us down. To help us be more desiring of a deeper relationship with Him. To help us be more aware of his will and his presence with us.
We need help to feel the joy of God’s love from the ‘inside out’. I’m reminded this week of the hymn The Lord is my Shepherd and I want to follow. The chorus says – I want to go and meet him there, to lay myself down in his love. Advent is a time to intentionally return to the Lord. To repent of our way of living if it is not in line with how God requires us to live.
God’s gift of love is freely given to us so that we may be restored and healed and be a blessing to someone else. Except, we cannot fully bless others for God if we are not walking in the way of the Lord ourselves. So, as we ask God to take us and use us, may he touch our hearts and our spirits. Then like the daughter of Zion, may the joy of the Lord spring from our lips and our lives. Amen.