Third Sunday in Advent

“The Advent Proclamation”
Isaiah 61:1-4

INI

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

1. A couple of years ago, our congregation purchased blue altar paraments for the season of Advent. The custom of using blue for the season of Advent is one that comes out of the Scandanavian churches—so for all you Swedes and Norwegians who think that we’re all too German here in the LCMS, here’s a nod to you! Before using blue, we always used purple during Advent…much like we do during Lent. Now the color purple is to remind us of repentance. Just like Lent is a penitential season, Advent is historically that way too. Now I like using blue—the color of hope—for Advent, because it sets Advent apart from Lent, which I believe we should do. But we have a little remnant of purple in our Advent decorations and that’s on our Advent wreath: three purple candles and one rose-colored candle. It’s nice that you and I still have some purple in here during Advent so that you and I remember that our hearts should be repentant in this season of preparing for our coming Lord.

2. The reason for the rose-colored candle is that the Third Sunday in Advent in Latin was always called “Gaudete” Sunday, and Gaudete is a word that means “rejoice.” The one rose-colored candle in the midst of all the purple is a reminder that our repentance is not just sitting around wallowing all miserable and full of pity. You and I repent because you and I know that there is a reason for the repentant to rejoice! God does hear our repentant cries and he does forgive us all our sins. Now it doesn’t stand out as much today, but when the whole church would be decked out in purple, the one pink candle would stand out against everything else. Have you ever noticed something that stood out against its surroundings? A bright red cardinal sitting on a snow-filled tree…a single candlelight in total darkness…that’s the rose-colored candle.

3. That’s also Jesus. Jesus is the rose-colored candle in the purple world. Jesus is the lone light shining in a world of darkness. Jesus is the bright red of his shed blood for the entire world. Or, if you and I were to put in the words of today’s Old Testament reading, he is the one with “the Spirit of the Lord GOD” upon him. Now at a first glance through our readings, if you tend to be a bit of a pessimist, maybe you see a lot of things that aren’t so nice. Listen to some of the things mentioned in this text: the poor…the brokenhearted…the captives…those who are bound…the day of vengeance…all who mourn…ashes…a faint spirit…ancient ruins…former devastations …ruined cities…the devastations of many generations. It sounds like there’s a lot of gloom and doom going on in there, doesn’t it? Well, these words were written first and foremost to the exiles living in Babylon. If you had been pulled out of your home, watched your city and your place worship destroyed, and forced to live in a different nation, your outlook on things wouldn’t be very “rosy” either.

4. But these words in Isaiah have a different emphasis. You see, when the Bible wants to call attention to something, it likes to repeat things…often three times so that you will notice it. If you haven’t picked up on it, it’s right in those first two verses. Jesus, we mentioned, is the one with the “Spirit of the Lord GOD” upon him, anointed by the LORD…but for what? You and I read: “…to bring good news to the poor…to proclaim liberty to the captives…to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor.” Now even though this is an Old Testament text, those are some very big, important New Testament words. “Bring good news”…that’s to share the Gospel…to “evangelize.” “Proclaim”…that’s to “preach”…to speak to the hearts of the people. Remember all those negative words in the text? These words are the “rose-colored candle.” These words are the bright message of hope in the midst of down-trodden people.

5. Today a lot of people associate Jesus with people who think they are “high and mighty.” Some people think Jesus is for those full of themselves…the arrogant…the self-righteous. But Jesus is for the poor…the brokenhearted…the captives…the mourning…the devastated. He is for the lowest of the lows. He is for the poorest of the poor. One thing that Jesus most certainly did during his first Advent 2000 years ago is establish that he was not an “elitist.” He didn’t come to rub shoulders with the rich and famous. He didn’t come to win a popularity contest. He was found eating with what the Pharisees called “tax collectors and sinners.” He came to be with what he called “the sick who are in need of a doctor.” Even though he’s the one of whom John the Baptist said, “He who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie,” Jesus came with a proclamation for the poor…the brokenhearted…the captive.”

6. There may have been a time in your life…perhaps you are going through such a time right now…where you have felt as though you’ve reached the lowest of lows. There was a story in the Star-Tribune yesterday about a family in Thief River Falls that has three daughters. One of them has mysteriously gone missing, so the family has been working endlessly to locate her. Another daughter who had put together a benefit towards finding her sister, last week was killed when her vehicle went off of a snowy road and turned over. The husband of the third daughter told the newspaper, “The family is in agony. They feel they're being picked on—that God doesn't like them.” You don’t need to suffer the loss of two children to feel that way. Sin is separation from God…so when sin rears its ugly head in the form of death…of hurt…of pain, then that is precisely what is happening...we sense the separation from God that is very, very real.

7. But the proclamation of Advent that comes to you this morning is that no matter where you are at…no matter where you are in life or what you’ve been through…no matter what you are guilty of or what you have suffered…Jesus Christ has been anointed to be your Savior and to bring good news to you. He has come to proclaim liberty…freedom to you. He has come to tell you that this is the year of the LORD’s favor. Remember all those negative words?...poor… brokenhearted…captive…bound…mourning…ashes…faint spirit…ancient ruins…devastations. Well, if you look again at those verses, listen to what our Lord comes to give to all of them. Biding up…liberty…the opening of prison…the year of the Lord’s favor…comfort…a beautiful headdress…the oil of gladness…a garment of praise…oaks of righteousness…the planting of the Lord…building up…raising up…repair.

8. In Advent, we are taught to repent because repentance is a reminder that you and I are indeed the lowest of the low. You and I are the poor…the brokenhearted…the captive. But in our repentance is a rose-colored candle. In our recognition of poverty, brokenheartedness, and captivity, there is an Advent proclamation of hope…of rejoicing…of the Light who has come into the world. I do not care who you are, what you’ve done, there is no one who is incapable of being loved by God. There is no one whose sins are not covered by the blood of the Lamb who takes away our transgressions. There is no one so poor they cannot receive good news…so broken they cannot be bound up…so captive to despair and sin that they cannot be set free.

9. Paul Gerhardt was a 17th century German pastor who is regarded by many as the greatest hymn-writer who ever lived. He lived during the Thirty Years’ War in Germany when Catholic and Protestant armies were fighting against each other. It’s estimated that 30% of the population of Germany died during this war. One night during the war, he and his family were forced to leave their home and they stayed in a small village inn. It was there that his wife broke down in tears over their situation. In order to comfort her, he reminded her that God was with them and that he would provide for them. It is said that he then went out into the garden to be alone and broke down in tears himself.

10. Sometimes you and I are so accustomed to hearing the Gospel…to hearing the good news that Jesus has come to save us…that you and I tend to forget that the message applies to each and every one of us. Maybe there are times that you have heard God’s Word proclaimed to you clearly and you’ve forgotten that it’s really for you yourself. Maybe you’ve forgotten that Jesus came for you…that when you and I say the words of the “Gospel in a nutshell,” John 3:16, that you can replace the word “world” with your name. “For God loved the world in this way, he sent his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” God loved the world…he loved each of you. He loved Loren…he loved Marie…he loved Paul …he loved Avis…he loved Jim…he loved each and every one of you by sending his anointed one with the Spirit of the Lord to proclaim that you are free…you are set loose from the bondage of sin…you are enjoying the status of being God’s favored!

11. Soon after that garden encounter, Paul Gerhardt wrote a hymn, “Give to the winds thy fears; hope, and be undismayed; God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears; God shall lift up thy head. Through waves and clouds and storms He gently clears the way. Wait thou His time, so shall the night soon end in joyous day.” His words are a reminder that there is a proclamation of hope and peace and rejoicing for each and every one of us. In God’s time, all our sorrows will be taken away and the good news that has been proclaimed to us this Advent season and all throughout the year will come to fruit. The rose-colored candle is that reminder. Actually, the rose-colored candle is a sermon all by itself. When you look at it…when it gives its light…it serves to remind us that in the midst of everything that surrounds us, there is an Advent proclamation of good news for the poor…the brokenhearted…the captive among us. Amen.

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