Advent 3 – Gaudete Sunday
Prayers of Approach
Empowering God, the Advent candles shine out the light of your love; in that light we bring to you our hopes and worries, our gifts and our burdens. The Advent candles shine out the light of your strength; in that light we bring you those we love and those we miss. The Advent candles shine out the light of your promises; in that light we bring you our lives and our dreams for your blessing.
God of life, in a world prone to despair, we thank you for the joy of hope. In a world wracked by uncertainty, we thank you for the joy of your promises. In a world tempted by greed, we thank you for the joy of your goodness. In a world of so much loneliness, we thank you for the joy of your presence.
God of all, we praise you for your life-giving promises; for your life-changing word; for the joy of knowing you are in our midst; for the joy of knowing you love us, and for the joy of knowing you will never let us go, not today, not ever! Amen.
Hymn How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him (MP 249)
Readings: Zephaniah 3:14-20
Luke 3:7-18
Introduction
The prophet Zephaniah calls for rejoicing and singing at the removal of God’s judgement on his people and the turning away of their enemies. God is in their midst, the outcast will be gathered in and their previous shame changed into praise.
On this third Sunday in Advent, we also join John the Baptist in preparing for the joyful news to be brought by Jesus. But what kind of joy do we expect? And does it come with some surprises and the need for action? John tells those who have come to be baptized that their faith needs to make a difference to their everyday living. He shares three kinds of teaching: a warning to the crowds not to rely on their religious pedigree; advice on some simple ways to live justly; and a prophetic promise about the greatness of the one who is to come.
Hymn On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry (R&S 134)
Sermon
Today, the 3rd Sunday of Advent, is sometimes referred to as Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete in Latin is an exhortation to ‘Rejoice!’ and in some churches the third candle of the Advent ring is pink, symbolising joy, instead of the deep purple (of penitence) of the other candles. Our readings for today however seem a bit ambivalent or even contradictory. It is easy to see reasons to rejoice in the reading from Zephaniah as he calls for celebration because God’s people are no longer in exile, but it is much harder to reconcile that with John’s stark warnings about repentance. There doesn’t appear to be much joy there!
Repentance i.e. being sorry and changing accordingly, isn’t necessarily associated with joy. But saying sorry, meaning it and showing it by our actions, can bring healing and joy to all sides. Looked at from the angle of the wronged person, it is much easier to forgive someone who has admitted they are in the wrong. And forgiveness can bring healing. At first sight, the message of John the Baptist sounds harsh and joyless, but true change and repentance bring joy. Moreover, John models the repentance he preaches. He is humble enough to shun his own privileges as he looks beyond himself to ‘one who is more powerful than I’, the exalted messianic figure for whom his ministry is preparing God’s people. There is joy in refusing to allow status and privilege to feed delusions of self-importance, in release from the habits of prejudice and extortion, and in rejecting a life of greed.
The crowd that came to John for baptism thought ancestry was enough, and they didn’t need to do any more than that. John’s response however is not without cost to the individual. The repentance that brings joy leads to hope. For both John and Zephaniah joy renews confidence, removes fear and shame, and holds out the
prospect of national renewal. This is good news, especially for those who feel particularly excluded, such as the lame and the outcast, who can now believe that they too have a future. John speaks directly to the situations of those asking the question, ‘what must we do?’ – and speaks of how they can relate to others. And it is still relevant to us today. Perhaps we think that calling ourselves Christian, or attending church, is enough. But it isn’t. We are called to ‘bear good fruit’, and the responsibility for that lies with us. In today’s Gospel reading John teaches us to be content with what we have; to live simply, to share any surplus and to be grateful. It is a counter-cultural message that requires a change of mindset, which is what the word repentance is all about. But it is the way of God’s kingdom and contentment; true whether we have a little or a lot.
A few years ago Roots told the story of Thea Bristow who worked in a Devon souvenir factory. She earned a modest income, went to church, helped her husband, Paul, run a Cub Scout group and was quite content. In 2004 Thea won £15 million on the National Lottery. She went to church the following day, made a roast dinner for her family and then told Paul what they had won. After a pause, Paul replied, ‘Oh, good! We can take the cubs away.’ They hired a jet to take the youngsters and parents and helpers to Canada. After further generous gifts to their church and their beloved Torquay United Football Club, they bought a local wood to protect it from development and to preserve it as a community space of beauty and reflection. Thea allowed herself one indulgence, a new Ford KA, which she still owned over 10 years on. The millions made no difference to Thea, who knew the secrets of contentment that John the Baptist taught: simplicity, sharing and gratitude in a life lived following Jesus. Can we live our lives likewise?
Hymn Come thou long expected Jesus (R&S 138)
Prayers of Intercession
Lord Jesus, we praise and adore you, for your birth transcends all time and unites heaven and earth. As you call to us, may we reach out beyond our comforts and privileges, and embrace the needs of all people. Help us to make this Christmas a time of prayer and action for the world’s poor and vulnerable, in whom your love was fully revealed at Bethlehem.
We pray for those living in war zones, in refugee camps, in cardboard boxes, We pray for children who go to bed hungry, who wake up afraid, who live without hope, We pray for your world where it is indifferent, complacent, sinful, We pray for those who have lost their way, those who are searching, those who are asking ‘What can we do?’
God of judgement and of mercy, we pray for those entrusted with great wealth, that they would see where they could make changes and enrich others; for those entrusted with great power, that they would make changes for the good of those they serve; for those entrusted with great influence, that they would make changes that would inspire others.
We pray for ourselves, that we too might change, and become more approachable, more open, more generous, and more like your Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Gracious God, bring them, and us, and all creation back to you, and embrace us afresh in your Son Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen.
Hymn Joy to the world, the Lord is come (R&S 135)
Blessing
Lord, help us to go into the world in peace; to be of good courage; to hold fast to that which is good; to strengthen the fainthearted; to support the weak; to honour everyone; and to love and serve the Lord;
Be within us and among us, and remain with us always.
Amen.
Prayers and other material (adapted) © Roots for Churches Ltd. Used by permission.
