Sermon for 12/18/22: Fourth Sunday in Advent

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“The Lord is at hand…”

Philippians 4:4-7

 

Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

 

Last Sunday, the Gospel introduced John the Baptist to us, but not as the bold confessor. Instead he is shown in the throes of weakness and doubt. And then last Sunday’s Introit, like today’s Epistle, called on us to rejoice. It may seem like a strange combination, but life often seems like a bundle of contradictions. Telling us to rejoice is like telling children to eat candy: it is usually an unnecessary command. We are quick to rejoice. We certainly prefer that to mourning. But the problem is—and here is where the contradiction arises—we pervert rejoicing. In the same way we turn love into lust and gratitude into pride, we turn joy into self-exaltation. We rejoice in ourselves, in the pleasures of the flesh, in the defeat of an enemy, in the sound of our own voice. The fact that this command to rejoice finds itself in the season of Advent lets us in on what is proper and godly rejoicing. God-pleasing rejoicing is found in the midst of repentance. It is made in being emptied of self, turning from sin, and trusting in the goodness of God to make all things right.

 

St. Paul would not want us to be confused. He is quite explicit. We are to rejoice in the Lord, in the One who was and is and will be forever, the One who led His people out of slavery in Egypt, who spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, who forgave King David’s great iniquity, who provides the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. St. Paul would have you rejoice in Him always—not just when things are going your way; not just when things look promising—always! At all times, and in all places, no matter what: rejoice in the Lord! For that is what faith does. Faith believes God is good and rejoices in Him at all times, in all places, under all circumstances. This is quite a message for those who, like John, are enslaved or wrongly imprisoned, for those who suffer insults and all kinds of difficulties for the sake of the truth, for those who are misused and abused simply because they would have all people know the love of God in Jesus Christ. 

 

But let us not forget the one who delivers this exhortation. St. Paul himself knew well of injustice, both as persecutor and persecuted. And before he would be called to his heavenly reward, he would know the injustice of false imprisonment and, as tradition has it, he would feel the axe upon his neck. But by the grace of God, he would not be moved. He would not pray alongside of those who gave their worship to Caesar. He would not dishonor the Gospel by participating in pagan ceremonies.

 

St. Paul never offers shallow cliches. When he says, “Rejoice!” he means it. Nor is this just an attempt to stir up some nice feelings. He is offering sound Biblical insight. Our joy and rejoicing comes from and is found in Jesus. He is the source of all joy. And if the fullness of joy is found in His presence, then the only place we should ever seek joy is in Him. There is no other. He is merciful and gracious even as we are pathetic and needy. He is patient and longsuffering. He is quick to forgive. He loves you. He carried your guilt at His cross until full payment was made, until Justice was satisfied, until He ended your open rebellion by declaring you His own child, a member of the royal household, an heir of the eternal Kingdom.

 

Never changing, older than creation itself, is God’s love for you in Christ, His desire to have you for His very own, His promise to give you all the good things of creation. And still, His love is ever new, ever fresh and wonderful, ever filling you with joy, causing you to rejoice. Telling you to rejoice is like telling you to breathe. What else could you do when so much has been given to you in such great mercy?

But what does this rejoicing look like? Paul combines joy in the Lord with gentleness. This word “gentleness” means “gentleness in spirit and temper,” which takes its cue from the nearness of our Lord’s return. It means setting aside our focus on material wealth because the end is so near when all such things will lose their value. It means patience in the presence of insults and persecution, because all will soon be forgotten. It means gentleness in word and deed because He who knows all things perfectly is so near. It means being ready to turn away from this world’s joys and ambitions because, when He arrives, this poor world will vanish. It means being gentle in spirit because He who is coming is the very Prince of Peace!

The Lord is at hand! He is here in the indwelling of His Spirit first implanted in you when you were baptized. He lives in you, and still He draws near to you. He draws near in a even fuller and greater presence in His holy body and blood, to purge you of all guilt, to unite you to Himself. And now He draws near in the fulfillment of all things, the end of sin and rebellion, the end of sorrow and shame, the end of doubt and fear. Your warfare with God is ended. So also shall your warfare with men end. Until then, the peace of God will keep you through Christ Jesus. In the name of the Father and of the Son (†) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

And yes, the peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus always. Amen.