Loving God, you call us to set aside fear and worry for trust and to rejoice in your love.  Renew us by your Spirit as we gather together today, and teach us to trust in your power; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

    The third Sunday of Advent is sometimes called “Rejoice” Sunday.  There is actually plenty of joy to be found in the readings for today.  And then, standing as a contrast, there is the preaching of John the Baptist, referred to as “good news” in spite of the “brood of vipers” (Lk. 3:7, 18).  It is the same sort of contrast that most of us experience in our lives, where our faith calls us to joy and to rejoicing, and yet all around us we see troubles and poverty and things that quite simply are not as they should be.

    Actually, it is frightfully easy to become discouraged and depressed and cynical as we strive to live out our faith here in this world.  And so, what should we do?  Just as people asked John the Baptist, what should we do?  There are a number of possible answers that come out of today’s Scripture readings.

    The first answer emerges simply because there are so many good, positive verses in today’s readings.  “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and will not be afraid” (Isa. 12:2).  God “will renew you in his love” (Zeph. 3:17).  “The Lord...is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory” (Zeph. 3:17).  “The Lord is near.  Do not worry about anything” (Phil. 4:5-6).  “The Lord God is my strength and my might, and has become my salvation” (Isa. 12:2).  All of these are verses out of today’s readings.

    Now, I am well aware that Scripture is far more than simply verses here and there taken out of context.  However, what difference would it make if we were to actually take verses like these and repeat them to ourselves and to others over and over again?  This is a concept that I hadn’t really thought about too much until my cousin gave me a book by Joel Osteen this summer (Your Best Life Now).  While I do disagree with Joel’s approach in a number of areas, at the same time he tells some amazing stories of faith.

    One of the stories that he shares is how his mother was diagnosed with metastatic cancer of the liver and given just a few weeks to live.  However, his mother refused to accept death as an option.  She went through her Bible and found every verse she could that talked about healing and life.  One of those verses is, “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord” (Ps. 118:17, KJV).  Joel tells about how his mother would walk around the house, emphatically saying these verses out loud.  She claimed every promise she could think of that focussed on life and healing.

    For Joel’s mother, there was great power in doing this.  She quite literally talked herself out of having cancer.  Ever so gradually, she started feeling stronger and better, and eventually all signs of cancer disappeared.  She has continued to live for over twenty years, and continues to declare God’s Word.  It is an amazing story of the power of faith, the power of prayer, and the power that is to be found in the words of Scripture.  It is also a reminder for us that what we tell ourselves makes a huge difference.

    Consider the following questions: “Why don’t parents look out for the welfare of their children?  Why can’t all the different churches just get along?  What are we going to do to find enough council members?  Why don’t people teach their children what’s really important?  Where are the youth?  How are people supposed to give when they’re losing their jobs?  How come the same people always end up doing all the work?  Why can’t we sing the music that I like?  Why don’t things ever go right for me?”

    Whether we are asking ourselves these things or telling ourselves, the result is the same: Despair, resignation, discouragement, tiredness and irritability.  When we continue to focus on these things it drags us down.  This is an observation that is used by many counsellors in treating depression.  The messages that we are telling ourselves totally affect our mood.  And so, what difference would it make if we started to focus our attention on words of hope and faith and trust and rejoicing?  What difference would it make if we were to believe that God is in our midst, as today’s readings proclaim?

    It is true that “God with us” is both already and not yet.  The kingdom of God is not yet here in all its fulness.  Yet, at the same time, the presence of Christ among us and within us is real.  The power of the Holy Spirit and the presence of God can be witnessed, even now, while at the same time we continue to expect Christ’s final appearing.  And so, we are invited to rejoice, for the Lord is near (Phil. 4:4-5).

    However, the question of what we should do is not answered simply by the thoughts and the words on which we focus our attention.  Today’s gospel also includes some very concrete examples of what it means to turn to God and live.  And so, what should we do?

    John the Baptist is direct and to the point.  If you have two coats and you meet somebody else who doesn’t have a coat at all, give them one of your coats!  If you have food and somebody else doesn’t have enough, share.  If you have a whole closet full of clothes and only wear half of them, then give a bunch away!  These are simple things that anybody can do to share God’s love with others.

    The tax collectors come and say, “What should we do?”, and John basically tells them to do away with greed.  “Collect what you’re supposed to, and stop taking extra to feather your own nest!”  Do you want to turn to God and live?  Be honest.  Show some integrity.  Don’t make yourself rich at the expense of others.  Think about more than just yourself.

    John’s message to the soldiers is similar, telling them to stay away from greed.  Don’t use your position of authority in order to threaten people and extort money from them.  Don’t bring false accusations against people.  Be satisfied with your wages and don’t use your position to try and get more and more.  Do your job, and do it honourably.  People are more valuable than money.

    We can look around us and despair, or we can do something.  We may not be able to solve all of the problems that we see, but we can do those things that are within our capabilities to make it better.  There are going to be things that are outside of our power,  but that’s where the power of God comes in.  We can worry, or we can pray with thanksgiving for all that is needed.

    We are able to see all the problems, and what should we do?  Set aside greed and care for the people around us.  Focus on the God who is in our midst rather than on everything that is wrong.  Talk ourselves into rejoicing!  Believe in the power and the presence of God, and speak the words and the promises of Scripture.

    “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and will not be afraid” (Isa. 12:2).  God “will renew you in his love” (Zeph. 3:17).  “The Lord...is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory” (Zeph. 3:17).  “The Lord is near.  Do not worry about anything” (Phil. 4:5-6).  “The Lord God is my strength and my might, and has become my salvation” (Isa. 12:2).  “Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak” (Zeph. 3:16).  Our God is able to do so much more than we could either ask or imagine.  Let us then trust, and act, and rejoice.  Amen.

Advent 3(C)                                    Zephaniah 3:14-20
December 13, 2009                            Isaiah 12:2-6
St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church                        Philippians 4:4-7
Pastor Lynne Hutchison                            Luke 3:7-18

© 2009 Lynne Hutchison  All Rights Reserved