Sermon for 12/4/22: Second Sunday in Advent

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The Word Is Present

Romans 15:4-13

 

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

 

Imagine that God promised to be at a certain time and place. He would take questions and give answers about those things important to our daily lives and salvation; He would tell all that He thought we needed to know here and now, all that was good for us to know at this time. There would likely be quite a line, running down the street, and wrapping around the block and more. Even people who had never given much thought to God before would be curious, at least, to hear what He had to say. After all, it’s not every day that one gets to listen to God. Or is it? Hear these words again: “Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

 

Why is it that we would be so eager to listen to Him speak if He were to show up at a shopping mall, for example, and yet we are so slow to attend to His Word in the Holy Scriptures? Why do we hesitate to listen to Him speak through His prophets and apostles, to read His Word and to hear it preached and taught? Why do we believe that God does not give His answers to our questions about those matters of life that are important to us? When was the last time you really dug into God’s Word with the determined expectation of hearing God speak there, of framing your life within its light, of finding His encouragement in the midst of the obstacles of life, His admonition with respect to your spiritual failures, His counsel for your strained relationships, His remedy for your sin? Why don’t you give it the attention you would give Him if He were standing here before you?

 

In just a short time, we will again listen as angels and shepherds find the infant God wrapped in swaddling clothes, resting in a manger—begotten of the Father from eternity but now born as Man in time. In heart and mind we will go to Bethlehem, seeking Him like the simple shepherds. We will find Jesus—and not just anywhere, but where He has said He will be found. And through the preaching and teaching of His Word, we should have no problem figuring where that is, for He is right here before us, already in this Advent season, wrapped not in swaddling clothes, but in the promises of God; resting not in a manger, but in His Word and blessed Sacrament. And yet, perhaps we should consider—what will we receive with more interest: the problems of an economy that seems unwilling to shake off its lethargy, or the promise of God to abide with and bless His people? The fears of an ever darkening world, or God’s promise, enshrined in His Word, that He will deliver His faithful people from all such fears?

God has delivered the entire feast of His Word to us. Why should we deprive ourselves of all the nourishment He would give us? Hear those words again: “Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

We are in the season of Advent, the season of watchfulness and preparation, the season of making straight the way of the Lord, of making ready our hearts to receive Him. And while lighting candles and putting out a wreath provide wonderful symbols and teaching tools for this season of the Church Year, ultimately the best and surest way to realize the purpose of Scripture is no more complicated than opening up your Bible and reading it; listening to the Word while that one God has sent for that purpose opens it up and gives us insight into it. We are children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, which means that we have been given birth through the Word of God: joined with the water of Holy Baptism, proclaimed to us in Holy Absolution, fed to us in the holy body and blood of Jesus received for the remission of sins.

The question that confronts us—not just in Advent, but always—is whether or not any of this matters. Does it really matter that Jesus came in the flesh? Does it really matter to us that Jesus is returning soon? If it does, then preparation is important, and now is the time to be prepared to receive Him when He returns. And God has given us His Word for that preparation so that, through diligent and faithful contemplation of that Word, through the daily return to our baptism, we will be ready when that day arrives.

 

No, God is not going to show up at the Carbondale mall to field our questions and instruct us, but that doesn’t mean He isn’t here for that purpose. He is no further away from us than His Holy Word and Sacrament. Jesus was born to die for your sins. As those forgiven through His birth, death, and resurrection, be eager to hear Him this Advent. Listen to Him as you would listen if He were standing before you…because He is present, right now: Jesus Christ, wrapped and resting in His Word. In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

The peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus always. Amen.