SERMON PREACHED BY FR

JOYFUL ANTICIPATION

SERMON PREACHED BY FR. TONY NOBLE ON DECEMBER 17, 2006

Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice."

Here we are on what is known as Gaudane Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent, that bids us 'rejoice'.

In the first reading the prophet Zephaniah says: "Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion. Rejoice and exult with all your heart." And in the Epistle to the Philippians St. Paul says: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice."

And we realize that in just one week it will be Christmas Eve. Advent's message is one of joyful anticipation. And both readings are especially relevant with their notes of joy. You might not have heard of Zephaniah - one of the Minor Prophets - but he was a prophet of doom and gloom. This is the only passage in his book that is hopeful and joyful. We have moved today from Jesus' second coming and the end of the world, to the anticipation of the first coming of Jesus.

The Old Testament is full of references to the coming of the Messiah as something to be welcomed with gladness. ”The Lord is in your midst”, says Zephaniah, “He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will renew you in his love."

This is Advent - a time when we rejoice at the coming of Jesus, and are renewed in his love.

St. Paul’s words to the Philippians are also Advent words. Last week we had the beginning of the letter to the Philippians, in which St. Paul encouraged the Philippians in their faith with urgency, because the 'Day of Christ' is near.

Today in chapter 4 he says: "Rejoice in the Lord always, the Lord is at hand." And he goes on to say those words which are now part of the blessing at every Mass: "the peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

However, when we come to the Gospel we are taken back to the urgency and seriousness of preparing for Christ's coming, in the figure of John the Baptist. We tend to think of John the Baptist as the one who prepared the way for the Messiah, but he is more than that. In fact he is the link between the old covenant and the new covenant. And look at his language: "You brood of vipers”, he says, “who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" Not exactly words of rejoicing. No wonder he lost his head! And he goes on: "Now the axe is laid to the root of the trees." And in images of a harvest bonfire, he reminds us of the fires of hell! He got the response he wanted. “What then shall we do?” they asked him.

His response is not subtle - like a Rector stating that he will hear confessions next Friday and Saturday morning! No he has a program for social justice.

Share your clothes with the homeless
And your food.
Don't cheat at work
Stop your violence
And be content with what you have in your wages.

Words said 2,000 years ago which are always relevant - perhaps even more so.

And notice that in his words he is challenging each group, and in particular to their circumstances: the soldiers, the learned ones, the ordinary people. Just like Jesus did when he responded to the various people who came to him. So if we take John the Baptist seriously, then the reign of God means working for a society that is fair and just to everyone, where there is both freedom and equality. That is no doubt what John the Baptist meant when he described the Messiah as the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. At first you might think he is referring to the Holy Spirit of Pentecost, the one who is visible in flames. But then we have to remember that the fire he is talking about today is not a gentle little flame, but the fire of a bonfire. The fire that is the fire of the rotten tress …….the fire of hell!

Look at what he says: "His winnowing fork is in his hands but the chafe he will burn with unquenchable fire." Tough words. St. Luke obviously has a sense of humor - because immediately after that he says: "So with many other exhortations, he preached good news to the people." If that’s the good news, what's the bad?

We have to realize that John the Baptist is on a mission and it's not all about gentleness, but it's about changing things - and a fiery Messiah who is going whip everyone into order.

Later John the Baptist wasn't sure if Jesus was the promised Messiah, the one who he said would be mightier than he. John, like Judas Iscariot, wanted a fiery Messiah who would solve all the problems, get rid of evil, sort out everyone, establish the kingdom of justice and overthrow the Romans. And Jesus wasn't exactly like that. John was looking for a different sort of savior - not a redeemer. Perhaps, like all the Jews, he wasn't expecting the Messiah actually to be the son of God in human form. Let alone to be the sacrifice for sin - even though he said later those implicit words: "Behold the Lamb of God", with all their significance of sacrifice for sin.

It seems that John the Baptist wasn't expecting Jesus to be exactly who he was. Perhaps he thought that his baptism of repentance was enough. That there wouldn't be any need for a further baptism. At the end when he was in prison he began to question not only Jesus, but even to doubt his own ministry. It is a good and important lesson for all of us - because who amongst us hasn't doubted our ministry as Christians - even perhaps our faith?

It is important to understand that John the Baptist was the Elijah who was to come. The one who straddles the old and new testaments. A very important figure who understood that the one who is coming, the Messiah, was far mightier than he.

This is partly why Jesus often used the additional term: Son of Man in reference to himself. He wanted people to understand that he was the man sent by God to fulfill all the Old Testament prophesies. That he was the son of man - and as a man he would save us all from sin. Because the Son of Man is also the Son of God.

Emmanuel. God with us.

So in this week leading up to our Christmas celebrations the words ever in our minds, hearts and prayers must be: O come, O come, Emmanuel!