The Lord is near… Rejoice!

This third Sunday in Advent is traditionally considered the Sunday of joy. It is one of the few times in the church year when you will see the color pink as a liturgical option. Here, we have one pink candle among the blue; it is the candle of joy.

In some liturgical settings, today is called Gaudete (Gow-day-tay) Sunday; Gaudete is Latin for rejoice. We may say we rejoice when we are full of joy.

We hear this word – rejoice – in the reading from Zephaniah – Sing aloud O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The context for this joy is the prophet’s trust in God’s promise of salvation for the people who have turned away from their sinful ways and turned back to put their faith and trust in the goodness of God to gather them, and bring them home, and restore their fortunes; because, no matter what else is going on in their lives, The Lord, (their) God, is in (their) midst. So, rejoice!

We hear this word – rejoice – in the second reading – from Philippians: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. The apostle Paul wrote this letter to the people in the church in Philippi (the first Christian church in Europe) while he (Paul) was in prison. He wrote the letter to encourage these new followers of Jesus to remain joyful and hopeful, trusting in God through their faith, content with what they have, at peace with God, as they waited for the coming of Christ (which Paul thought would happen soon); because, no matter what else is going on in their lives, The Lord is near. So, rejoice!

And, then, we come to the gospel reading and we hear these words from John the Baptist: You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Whoa, that’s a little harsh, don’t you think?

John speaks these words to the crowds who have found him in the wilderness. These are the people who have heard him proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (John 3:3; from last week’s gospel). Now they gather around him to be baptized by him.

And John calls the people vipers; i.e., snakes; poisonous, generic snakes.

Not a particularly warm welcome to the community, now, is it?

Not a very encouraging response; not a response that fills you with joy and makes you want to sing out and rejoice.

Remember – John is a prophet; a truth teller; honest and direct. He speaks the Word that God has spoken to him; sharing the truth of God’s love for all people, whom God has created in God’s own image.

John wants people to listen to him…as a prophet of God…who speaks the Word of God…so they will turn back to God and be changed and live freely…abundantly…with love for God and the people around them.

The crowd that gathers around John in the wilderness is listening to him.

These are people who are turning toward God; longing to be in relationship with God and to hear the truth of the Word of God.

These are people filled with expectation for the coming of the Messiah, God’s promised anointed one; they are waiting for the one who is coming among them to redeem and save them; the one to make them whole and well and at peace; the one who is coming to lead them into a life of righteousness and justice and joy.

These are people ready and willing to change their thinking and their behavior in response to that truth.

Instead of letting John’s harsh words turn them toward anger, they use them to turn toward God. The people ask John What, then, should we do? How shall we live?, they wonder; What do we need to change to bear fruits worthy of repentance – to be signs of God’s love and grace and forgiveness in the world?

John’s answer is straightforward – you must live differently, he tells them – and he tells us. If you have 2 coats, give one away; if you have enough food, share what you have with others; be honest in your business dealings; be content with what you have; use your resources wisely and justly for the good of all. Trust that God provides all you need. Trust that you are beloved by God and God has promised to be with you. God has promised to send Jesus, the Messiah, into your midst; to baptize you with the power of the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Here is God’s Word of truth and light and hope and love for us today.

It’s as if John is saying to us – No matter what else is going on in your life, The Lord is near. So, rejoice!

…turn back to God in love and faith and trust – and rejoice!

…turn back to God and follow Jesus with gentleness and love – and rejoice!

…turn back to God and let the fire of the Holy Spirit empower you and refine you and purify you – and rejoice!

…turn back to God and love your neighbors…all of them…those who are like you and those who are different from you – and rejoice!

…turn back to God and live your best life – and rejoice!

The good news that John proclaims to us today is this –

No matter what else is going on in your life, The Lord is near. So, rejoice!