Third Sunday of Advent

Pastor Matt Rawle insists that the Gospel writer Luke holds our
attention as we move toward Christmas and that, as we read his
Gospel account, we find that his account is saturated with joy. Hear
Luke’s story about the priest Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth who
yearned so desperately to have a child:
Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section
was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of
the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer
incense. Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole
assembly of the people was praying outside. Then there
appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side
of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was
terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him,
“Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard.
Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name
him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will
rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.
He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth
he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the
 people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and
power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of
parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of
the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know that this is so?
For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.” The
angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God,
and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good
news. But now, because you did not believe my words, which
will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to
speak, until the day these things occur.”

“You will have joy and gladness” is the first promise offered in
these words. But this great promise of joy is met with disbelief,
causing Zechariah to become mute and unable to speak “until the
day these things occur.” At first it seems that Zechariah’s inability
to speak is a punishment or a curse, but maybe we could all do
with more silence leading up to Christmas Eve. Slowing down to
leave room for joy often takes more listening than speaking.
Perhaps Zechariah’s silence was a gift rather than a curse, an
opportunity given by the angel for Zechariah to experience joy as
he looked forward to his son’s birth.

LIGHT THE PINK CANDLE

Today we light the Candle of Joy and anticipate receiving this
marvelous gift that God has for us. Receiving joy often means we
have to get out of the way and allow the Holy Spirit to move. An
almost joy is something we can produce. Through presents under
the tree, gathering together around the dinner table, and singing
carols we love, we can create an, environment where we see a
glimmer of joy. Yet often, hours after the presents have been
opened and family has returned home we feel that something is
missing, which means that the joy we felt was not complete. But
an altogether joy can only be received by God’s grace. It remains
even when the Christmas tree has been hauled to the curb. It stays
with us even when familiar faces are no longer present.

Christ in the manger is the manifestation of this joy. Not only is

God with us, but God has put on flesh and surprisingly entered the
world as a baby. Joy now has hands that will be outstretched to
bless comfort, and welcome. These hands also will be outstretched
and nailed to the cross because we wanted joy on our own shallow
and selfish terms. Joy now has feet that will walk with flawed
disciples, feet that will be washed with tears, feet that traverse into
Samaritan land. These feet will also be bound together in an
attempt to stop the scandalous work of God’s grace, justice, and
forgiveness. The presence of God now has a body — a body that
will hunger and thirst, heal and feed. This body will be crucified
and raised, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, this body will defy
time to become those gathered together, from generation to
generation, in mutual and shared adoration of God. This joy is
timeless.

Let us pray:
Loving God, we open ourselves to you, trusting that this is how
you made us: you created us for joy-filled hearts and lives. Show
us the creative power of hope. Teach us the peace that comes from
justice. Fill us with the kind of joy that cannot be contained, but
must be shared. Prepare our hearts to be transformed by you, that
we may walk in the light of Christ. Amen.