Today is the third Sunday in Advent. It is Gaudete Sunday, and you’ll notice the pink, technically rose, candle is lit in the Advent Wreath. Gaudete is the Latin word for Rejoice, which you may remember from the Introit: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let yourreasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand.” (Philippians 4:4-5) We are passing the midway point of Advent and approaching the final turn before the Nativity of Our Lord. Advent is a penitential season, which is part of the reason we use purple paraments. But today, in the midst of this season, we are reminded always to rejoice.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I willsay, Rejoice.” These words were penned by Paul. He writes them while a prisoner. Paul has encountered the risen and ascended Christ sitting on his throne. He is a sinner. He is suffering for doing good. Yet he rejoices in hs Lord, for he had been forgiven and redeemed of hissins on account of Jesus.
Advent invites us to prepare for the coming of our Lord. Not only in his incarnation but in his Second Coming on the Last Day. We do well to think about what we do, what our hobbies are, what our vices may be, and then evaluate any changes we should make.
Advent is a good time to exercise discretion and perhaps bring into our life some exercise of piety or even fasting. It is, indeed, and penitential season. But there is also reason to rejoice. Your Lord, born in a manger, also hangs on a tree. He lives and dies for you. He forgives and redeems you. He washes away your iniquity. He keeps you in his Word and feeds your soul. This is a reason to rejoice!
Rev. Brent Keller Peace Lutheran Church Alcester, SD
The defining moment of the Old Testament was Israel’s deliverance out of Egypt. It had it all. The people witnessed the mighty hand of God passing judgment on the false gods of Egypt, including Pharaoh himself. A lamb was sacrificed and its blood placed on Israelite doors. That same lamb was eaten as the Passover meal was instituted. Just as it seemed the people were ‘home free,’ they found themselves at the Red Sea. And so God again works a miracle and delivered them through it on dry ground and the people have a sort of new birth on the other side.
The people were slaves no more. They were on their way to the land God had promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob centuries before. And so it is no wonder they spoke of the Lord as the one who “brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt.”
Yet maybe the Exodus isn’t the chief thing. In the days of Jeremiah, Israel was a lost nation. Her rulers were evil. Her heart was hard. Her eyes were blind and ears were unhearing. Because of this, exile came and, therefore, the throne of David would be emoty. Nonetheless, even with this awful news of exile, “the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’”
The Exodus points to this greatest event. It is a fulfillment of what would come. In the Exodus, God saved his people from the grips of a man who wanted to be God, from a slavery and bondage that they could not free themselves from. God supplied the delivery and the new life on the other side of the water. And he is the one who led the people through hardship in the wilderness to the land promised long before.
Israel in the time of Jeremiah would be exiled and removed from this Promised Land. Because of their sin, idolatry, and disregard for their God, he removed them from the land. They were unrighteous and broke the covenant God made with them. And so they suffered the consequences of it.
But like Adam and Eve in the Garden, they are given hope. Like the Israelites wandering in the wilderness, the faithful remnant was promised deliverance. And so after the appointed amount of time, the people of Judah would return and rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple. But even this return was not the chief event either. It is, however, another shadow of what ws to come. Because from the people who return, God would “raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.” And this one who the Lord will send will be called “The Lord is our righteousness.”
We know that this Righteous One is none other than Christ himself. It is he that the entire Old Testament points to. The signs, the shadows: they all point to Christ! The promises are fulfilled in Christ.
In the Advent season, we anticipate the celebration of his first coming. — the incarnation of our Lord. He is the answer to the sin of Adam and Eve. He is the redeemer who leads Israel from Egypt. He is the one who freed you from your sin, disobedience, and unfaithfulness. And the reason he comes is to be once and for all sacrifice for your sins. To be your righteousness. Jesus is the True Passover Lamb. He took your place when he ascended the cross, His blood flowed down the beam like the lamb’s did the doorpost. He feeds and nourishes you in His Holy Supper.
And in doing this we see that he is also the one who “brought up and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them. Then they shall dwell in their own land.” This is another shadow. As we mentioned, God does bring his people back to Jerusalem out of the north. But with the coming of Christ –- his life, his death, his burial and resurrection –- he brings all of his people, the True Israel to himself and the Father.
So as we begin a new church year with Advent, we consider how we should prepare for it. How should you prepare for the first coming of Christ? We prepare in the same way we prepare for his second coming. We Prepare for the Coming Christ by Receiving His Gifts in His Word and Sacraments.
Advent leads us to think about why Jesus was born. He is born in order to die. And so we reflect and give thanks for the Incarnation — for his taking on our flesh and becoming man, for his perfect keeping of God’s holy Law, for teaching us and revealing God’s will, for taking the throne of David and being the all-sufficient sacrifice to redeem us from our sins, for clothing us in His righteousness and for delivering us from sin and death and into life.
But he comes not only in the reading and preaching of his Word, for you know he also comes in his Supper. And so we receive his gift of forgiveness in the Supper. In Egypt, the Passover lamb was sacrificed in place of the firstborn. It was cooked and the family ate it in a meal. It was a shadow of Christ. He is the sacrifice that saves you from your sin and the wrath of God. You are fed and nourished by this Lamb and have your faith strengthened by him.
Finally, we remember the Collect for the first Sunday in Advent. In it, we ask for protection and deliverance. This means we are looking for God to be present and among us. We seek his power and protection now. Because Christ has come, you can be sure that he answers this prayer. He protects you through his Word and his Sacraments. He equips you to live a Christian life. He forgives you when you fail. And he delivers you from evil.
Rev. Brent Keller Peace Lutheran Church Alcester, SD
Marriage customs during the earthly ministry of Jesus were much different than today. The bride waited for the bridegroom in her home, accompanied by her young companions. The groom would come with his own friends and pick her up to lead her to the ceremony. As he approached, the maidens would go out to meet him. A joyful procession would then wind its way through the streets and end up at the place where the marriage feast was prepared. The young women would enter the hall with the rest of the bridal company. Since weddings in those days were celebrated in the evening, the maidens would carry lamps to light their way in the darkness.
In Jesus’ Parable of the Ten Bride’s Maids, the bridegroom was on his way, and the bride’s maids assembled with their lamps. They seek. They wait. They get drowsy. They fall asleep as he is delayed. But then, there’s a clamor. The bridegroom approaches! The ten bride’s maids awake from their slumber. They grab their lamps, trim their wicks, and go to refill the oil which keeps the lamp burning bright. And that’s when the problems start. Five have plenty of oil. They are able to manage their lamps and have them brightly shine like designed. But five have no oil. They are able to prepare their lamps, but can’t use them. Their lights will not shine.
And so these foolish bride’s maids turn to the wise to ask for oil. But the wise bride’s maids brought an extra supply for themselves. They don’t have any to spare. And so the foolish bride’s maids are told to go to the market to buy more. And, despite being the middle of the night and having no merchant to buy from, they go off.
Unsurprisingly, the bridegroom comes while they are away. The wise bride’s maids meet him and process with him to the place the feast has been prepared. They go into the feast, the doors are shut, and the feast commences. Sometime later, the foolish bride’s maids return. They find the door locked and call out, “Lord. Lord, open to us.” But they hear a surprising response: We aren’t told their reaction, but I am sure it was one of total shock.
Jesus’ commentary after the parable should draw our attention today: “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” This parable is spoken to those who are disciples of Jesus. He says, essentially, “Keep your eyes peeled.” We are to be aware of what’s going on around us.
When Christ returns, it will be a surprise. Even to those waiting on him. And this is why we are warned. How easy is it for us to think to ourselves that we have all the time in the world? That we will, without doubt, have next year or next decade? How easy it is to become complacent! And when we do, we present to ourselves a very real danger.
Remember that all ten bride’s maids knew about the bridegroom. They all came, seemingly prepared for the wedding. But as things were delayed and drug out, all ten also began to get tired. They did not stand watch or keep vigil. They all slept. And as they slept, the oil burned. As they awoke, some lacked what was essential for light to continue.
The oil of the wise bride’s maids is that of faith. A faith that is continually sustained by the Means of Grace. And with this faith being sustained by what God has given us, Word and Sacrament, the oil of faith endures. Even as we await the return of our Lord, so has every generation of Christians for over 2,000 years. All have waited. All have sat and heard the word and partook of the Sacraments. And each generation has fallen asleep.
But one day,
whenever it is, there will be a cry. All who have fallen asleep will awake. And
those with oil, those with faith, will trim their lamps and shine brightly as
they process to the wedding banquet. But on the other hand, those who awake
without the oil of faith will know what they lack and seek it.
But that’s the
rub. One’s ‘oil’ is only useable by the one who has it. It cannot be loaned or
transferred. Faith can’t be infused to another, no matter how much I would like
it to be so. And so in this morning’s parable, we are warned against growing
weary of waiting for the return of our Lord. We are warned against growing complacent
and being distracted. We are warned against neglecting our faith and being
endangered with the loss of our faith.
Jesus Christ, our bridegroom, is coming. We have all been invited to be a part of the wedding party. We gather in anticipation of his arrival. And while he comes soon, we do not know when that is. And so we strive to remain prepared. Being washed clean in Holy Baptism, we sit and hear his word. We eat and drink his body and blood. In doing so, our Lord fills our horn of oil. And we await his arrival, that we may walk with him along the way to the eternal marriage feast between our Lord and his bride: Us. The Church.
Rev. Brent Keller Peace Lutheran Church Alcester, SD
Jesus teaches his disciples about forgiveness with a parable about a king who decided to settle the accounts of his servants. One of the servants was brought before the master. he owed Ten thousand talents. A talent was about 20 years’ worth of wages.The math works out to a debt of $11.2 billion. Obviously, he can’t pay it back. And since he can’t, the king decides to sell the man, his family, and all he has. He and his family shall be slaves until they die.
The man throws himself at the feet of the king. He begs for patience and promises that he will pay back this insurmountable debt. Hearing the cry of this servant, the king has compassion. He cancels the debt. Imagine being this forgiven man! What joy you must feel! Surely you would go and rejoice with your family, maybe even have a feast in the honor of your king to extol his mercy, his grace, his salvation for you and your family!
Yet, the man in the parable doesn’t do any of that. In fact, he immediately goes and finds one of his fellow servants who happened to owe him money. The debt? One hundred denarii — about $15,000, so a substantial amount of money. But nowhere near a single talent of the 10,000 he owed his king. And like the servant did before his king, this fellow servant falls on his face and pleads, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you.”
Instead, the forgiven man throws his debtor into debtor’s prison. The news quickly gets to the benevolent king. The forgiven servant is again summoned before the king. The king said: “You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?”
In his anger, the king delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debts. The jailers here aren’t the jailers we think of today. They aren’t just making sure you don’t escape. These jailers are oppressive and often torture their prisoners. Their job is to exact torture and pain. And this man will be under them until all – every cent – of his debt is repaid. He will never get out.
We, too, are God’s debtors. Our debt is sin. We constantly and continually wrack up our debt of sin. A debt that we are hopeless to pay. We also find ourselves before our King, before God. Our debt of sin warrants being thrown into prision. It warrants oppressive jailers who exact pain and torture until every sin is paid for. Being helpless to pay anything back and knowing what we deserve, we plead for mercy.
Christ our king has compassion for us, his Creation. He forgives every sin and debt that we have wracked up against him. Our Lord and Savior bears a great cost of suffering by dying in our place. And in doing so, our sin is forgiven. Our debt is erased because of the cruel oppression and torture exacted on Jesus Christ. We stand before our God and Father forgiven and cleansed from our sin. And knowing what it took to cleanse us of our iniquities, we fear, love, and trust in him above all things. And part of that fear, love, and trust is to forgive those who trespass against us.
Now, we who are forgiven much are to love much. In the Lord’s Prayer, we pray: “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” We get to show the mercy we have received to others. It is why we freely forgive and do good for those who sin against us. And why, as we prayed, our faithful Lord grants that what we ask in faith we obtain.
Rev. Brent Keller Peace Lutheran Church Alcester, SD
Encore Post: Today we enter the second half of the church calendar. We have spent about six months in what is called the Festival Half of the year. We experience from a distance our Lord’s life as we move through Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week, the Resurrection, Ascension, and Pentecost. Throughout the festivals, we see the hand of God working out all that was necessary for man to become his own and be what God had intended us to be in time and in eternity.
This morning we celebrate The Holy Trinity. In it, we are not commemorating and remembering some act of God for our salvation. Rather we consider and marvel the great doctrine and truth that our God is a mysterious God: Three distinct Persons in one Divine Essence. This doctrine is at the center of our faith. It is the foundation of Christianity. We do not confess ‘a god’ or ‘one god in multiple modes.’ No, we confess that we ‘believe in God the Father, and in His Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit.’ ‘One God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity.’
In the Festival Half of the year, we have seen our Triune God at work. The Holy Spirit overshadows the Virgin Mary at the Incarnation of Jesus as the Father sends our Savior into the world. At the Baptism of Jesus, we hear the Father speak as the Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus. At the Transfiguration, we again hear the Father when he tells Peter, James, and John that Jesus is his beloved son and to “listen to him.” On the cross, Jesus cries out and hands over the Spirit. And at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit comes in power to convict those who hear the preached word of God of their sins. And the people who believe are baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit into the forgiveness of sins and so that they, too, would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
So today we
enter the Non-Festival half of the church year. The half that tells the story
of the Church which our Triune God has called to himself. We see the kingdom as
the Kingdom of Grace. We hear of his kingdom’s righteousness. We come to know
what New Life in the kingdom is like. Finally, we are prepared for the Last Day
and entrance into the Heavenly Kingdom.
And then? Then we get to do it again and again. Year after year. Hearing, believing, and rejoicing in what our gracious God has done for us: Redeeming us and making on his own beloved children.
Rev. Brent Keller Trinity Lutheran Church Guttenberg, Iowa and St. Paul Lutheran Church
McGregor, Iowa
