A synopsis of the sermon delivered by the Rev. David L. Hicks at St. Paul’s Reformed Episcopal Church at the 10:30am service on Sunday, Advent III, December 12, 2004. Please read Isaiah 35.
The Third Sunday in Advent adds the theme of joy to the other themes of the season. In many churches, such as ours, the third candle in the advent wreath is pink rather than purple to symbolize this joy that comes from God. Our Scripture lessons, likewise, tell us about the joy that should be characteristic of God’s people. In the book of Isaiah, God gives words of encouragement to the people of Israel who are facing exile from their homeland: “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Is. 35:10). Similarly, Saint Paul writes to the church at Thessalonica, “Rejoice always” (I Thess. 5:16) and to the church at Philippi, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say rejoice!” (Php. 4:4).
Although the joy that we speak of comes from God’s grace, that does not remove the necessity of the human will to embrace his joy. The exhortations from Paul, mentioned above, assume that human volition is involved in being joyful – “Rejoice always!” he says. Joy is, therefore, a matter of the will and not a passive state. Joy comes from the manner in which we view the world and the degree to which we give thanks to God for his graciousness to us. Joy comes from knowing and appreciating what God has done for us in Jesus Christ and the great salvation that has been secured by him. When we are tempted to complain about the circumstances that have come our way, we should first begin our prayer to God with thanksgiving for what he has done for us. I am certain that if we sincerely meditate upon what God has already given us in the benefits that come from our baptism into Jesus Christ, we will be ashamed to complain about what we think God should be doing or not doing at any particular moment.
On the eve of his crucifixion, our Lord knew that his disciples would be sorrowful at his death. They did not yet understand the connection between the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, and so there was no joy in their hearts. “You now have sorrow,” he says, “but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you” (John 16:22). Once the disciples understood what God had done through Jesus, they obtained a joy that could in no wise be taken from them. We too may have the joy that comes from knowing Jesus Christ, and it remains a joy that no human plan or effort can take from us. However, that joy is the result of a purposeful communion with Christ. It does not come from listening to the negativity and despair of the world, but rather through the fellowship and nurture of the Body of Christ. May the Spirit of Christ dwell in your hearts by faith in this Advent season, that you may live in the joy that we celebrate this day – a joy that cannot be taken away.
Amen.
