remember as a child December was the longest month of the year. It seemed to take

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1 Advent Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio Pastor Kevin Jud December 14, 2014 Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, John 1:6-8, Three candles are lit on the advent wreath; we are getting closer to Christmas. I remember as a child December was the longest month of the year. It seemed to take forever to get all four candles lit on the advent wreath and finally get to Christmas Eve and light the center candle. Now it doesn t seem as slow. But there is still a lot of waiting. There is a lot of anticipation of the season. And it s not just about the gifts. We do look forward to getting gifts and giving gifts, but it is so much more than that. There is a sense of expectancy this time of year for all the traditions and celebrations and services that surround Christmas. Sometimes we get our expectations so high that there is no level of traditions and celebrations that can rise to the level of what we expect them to be. We think that somehow, just somehow, a perfect Christmas will solve all of our personal and family troubles and we are generally disappointed. Not everyone looks forward to Christmas. It can be a difficult season of the year for those who have lost loved ones and this will be the first, or fifteenth, Christmas without them and it can be a blue Christmas; a time of dreading the pain of loss. For those locked up it is a lonely time of year. While the outside world is in a frenzy of preparation trying to get everything just right, those in detention, jail or prison can only create a few makeshift decorations and know that this will be a Christmas alone; away from family.

2 2 For those members of the armed forces and support personnel who are deployed far from home, Christmas can be a depressing time as the heart longs for loved ones far away. This season can bring a mixture of reactions as we get all twisted up inside about the trappings and expectations and sentiments of this time of year. So many different emotions all swirling around in this gloomy season and then here in the middle of the darkness we light the pink candle of joy and receive this instruction, Rejoice always. The third Sunday of Advent is traditionally called Gaudete (Gow-day-tay) Sunday. Gaudete means rejoice in Latin and traditionally it is the first word of the introit for this Sunday from the words from Philippians 4:4 (ESV) 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 1 This is a parallel to our Epistle Lesson today from 1 Thessalonians. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Rejoice! Life is so difficult and yet you are told that it is God s will for you to rejoice, pray and give thanks. How is this possible? With all the trouble in the world, all the evil, all the sickness and violence and hatred and death? With all the sin in yourself and in the world? How is it possible to rejoice? How are you supposed to conjure up permanent joy? Are you supposed to paste a smile on your face despite the pain and just pretend that everything is just hunky dory? Are you supposed to walk around acting like everything is always wonderful? Because in this life there is so much trouble and struggle. 1 The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

3 3 Is this some kind of admonition about the power of positive thinking? Just whistle while you work? Is this saying that true Christians will never experience grief or sadness? Not at all. Christians certainly do grieve, but not without hope. Rejoicing always is only possible if the joy is not originating from within yourself; if the joy is not from this world; if the joy is from outside. You can rejoice always when the joy flows from God to you. The joy comes from knowing that even though it would seem that you are an insignificant speck in this vast universe, the creator of the universe loves you. The creator loves you so much that He sent His only begotten son to be the sacrifice for your sins. The joy comes from knowing that all the shame and guilt from your darkest, secret sin has been taken away by Jesus. The joy comes from knowing that Jesus went to the cross to take away all your sins. The joy comes from knowing this is all done as a gift to you and it is not something you have to earn. You have been baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The Lord chose you to be His child. The Kingdom of Heaven has come in Jesus and you are in the Kingdom of Heaven. You are in the Reign of Heaven. Right now you have eternal life with God. Even though you die, yet shall you live. In Jesus, death has lost its power over you. Despite the pain and difficulty of this life, nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus the Lord. This is the source of joy in the midst of sorrow. Jesus is the source of joy in the midst of pain. Jesus is the source of joy in the midst of struggle.

4 4 You live in Christ and so rejoice always with the joy of knowing God will not leave you or forsake you. And do not stop praying. The ESV translates this as pray without ceasing which we might try to understand to mean we should be in some kind of constant state of prayer. But that seems kind of silly. How can you do that? While working, sleeping, talking with family or friends. This would reduce prayer to some type of vague, almost mystical awarenessish praying to God. But the Bible never speaks about prayer in this way. The Bible tells us that prayer is about thinking about God and asking for things for yourself and for others as you do in the Lord s Prayer. You are in Christ; you are a child of God, rejoice and pray. As a dear child asks her dear father so you can go to your heavenly Father. Keep on talking to your Father in heaven. If you stop talking to your father it means something is wrong. So keep on talking to God. Do not stop praying. Rejoice always, prayer without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances. How many times have you watched an NFL player score a great touchdown and then spike the ball and point up in thanksgiving to God? How great would it be if after the quarterback gets sacked he lays on the ground with turf hanging from his facemask and then points up in thanksgiving to God. Thank you that it wasn t worse. Thank you that I have the opportunity to be sacked in an NFL game. Thank you that despite what just happened, I am still a baptized child of God. It is easy to be thankful when things are going well but we can also be thankful in difficult times. When the car breaks down be thankful for having a car and a mechanic. When you find yourself in the hospital give thanks for the hospital and doctors and nurses and medicine. And, above all, be thankful because no matter what happens, nothing can

5 5 separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. You are a child of God. You have eternal life in Christ. That is something to be thankful for no matter what else is happening in life. Perhaps, in the busyness of life, with the illusion of control and independence you can forget the truly amazing truth, Jesus died for you. At this time of year as you look forward to celebrating Jesus birth at Christmas and year round as you look forward to Jesus return on the last day, live your life according to the will of God. Live in the joy of your salvation. Live in prayer; bringing your desires to the Lord. Live in thanksgiving no matter the circumstances. Because you are a redeemed child of God bought back from sin, death and the devil by the holy, precious blood of Jesus. So abstain from every form of evil; and there are so many forms of evil. Do not go with the flow of the world because you are no longer part of this world. You live in the world, but you are not of the world. You are in the kingdom of heaven. You are a child of God. You have eternal life in Christ. Christian, remember who you are. Begin each day with the sign of the cross and the words of your baptism, In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Remember that while you still struggle with sin your have already been made a saint in the cleansing blood of Jesus. Remember that you are one with Christ and one with His Church on earth. You feast on the very Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. You are His forever. Rejoice in the Lord! Amen.