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Sermon: Luke 3:7-20
I don't know about you, but part of me loves John the Baptist.
There is something about him that appeals to me. I especially like
that line "You brood of Vipers!" What a line! I can just
imagine him challenging the authorities; the government "You
brood of Vipers!" Challenging the organized religion of his
time "You brood of Vipers!" Challenging the rich folks
of his time "You brood of Vipers!".
Although I like John's spunk, I really don't like John the Baptist
calling me a "Viper" a "Snake in the grass"
as well. For that is what he is doing. He's naming the truth about
the state of the human condition. To those who came to be baptised
by him, he said, "You brood of Vipers. Who warned you of the
wrath to come? Don't think that because you go to church you'll
escape God's judgement." Then he goes on to talk about trees
being cut down and wheat and chaff being burned by unquenchable
fire. This seems like scary stuff. Stuff that is not very Christmassy.
Because of this, part of me wants to "do a John the Baptist"
myself and call up the committee that chooses the scripture readings
for this Sunday and say, "You brood of Vipers ... don't you
know it is Christmas time! This is just a little too heavy. Choose
something a little lighter for Christmas time!. Let's get onto the
part about the baby and the Shepherds and joy to the world!"
Amid the trouble of the world, we want to get to the joy! But
the story of John does not seem to hold much Joy. If you ask me,
John sounds like trouble; this John who brings us judgement and
wants to expose us as we really are. John who with scary talk calls
us to take off our masks; to show our real selves. And, the truth
be told, that is something most don't want to do.
And maybe that is because it is what we most fear. That we will
be seen as we really are. This is something scary for most people.
We get so good at putting on the masks and creating facades. Not
just persons, but families. "Don't let others know about the
trouble in our family!" And not just families but nations;
look at any official history book and you'll find that the government
leaves a lot of horrible stuff out. "The kids don't want to
know about all that evil we did to the aboriginal people! The kids
don't want to know about those war atrocities. We want our children
to be proud of their country!"
Behind the nicely painted pictures of serene and upstanding lives,
we hide valleys of suffering, mountains of addictions, struggles,
and concerns. Behind the model families in the congregation is conflict,
resentment, and failures. And amid all the flag waving, patriotic
speeches are the voices crying in the wilderness "The emporer
isn't wearing any clothes!"
At the root of all this self deception is the fear that we are
not good enough, not worthy enough, that our lives are not righteous
enough for God. We fear this truth, because it is the truth. We
are not good enough for God. You see, whereas other religions say
that they are the path to God, or that there are many paths to God.
We protestant Christians believe that there is NO path to God. Despite
our best laid plans, despite all our good intentions, despite all
our best human efforts, we CAN NOT make a path to God. Humanity
is in big trouble ... lost in the desert!
But then amid the desert we hear John bellowing on , "Prepare
the way of the Lord". God is coming and the valleys will be
filled and the mountains will be levelled. Things are going to change.
The crooked is going to be made straight. The rough ways are going
to be made smooth."
And he goes on;"Don't think that surface stuff is enough,
I may name the facade, but one is coming who is going to separate
the wheat from the chaff and will burn up the chaff. One who is
going to Baptise us with the Holy Spirit and fire. AND, I am not
even fit to untie his shoe laces! I am not even fit to be his slave!
Wait a second, where is the Good News here? This fire talk sounds
kind of scary to me. Especially this part about one coming who is
going to burn up the chaff! One who is going to Baptise us with
the Holy Spirit and fire.
Oh, and how scary the real truth can be! The truth of ourselves!
Some of us long to have the yuck of our lives burned up but others
of us wish to hold onto it, to denial that the chaff is there. We
want to call the chaff something else and hold onto the false security
it gives us. We try in vain to cover up the mountains of chaff that
spill out behind the facade! We pretend it is not there even though
it is clear to us or others that it is there.
It is certainly clear to God that it is there, that is why this
One who is coming is so much more than John the Baptist. More than
just a mere prophet, calling the people to faithfulness. But one
who is faithfulness itself. One is coming who is more than a mere
priest, asking for God's forgiveness. No, one is coming who is forgiveness
itself. One is coming who is more than a mere king, one who will
bring justice and peace to the nation. No, one is coming who is
justice and peace itself. He is our justification, our redemption,
true hope for humanity.
Who is this one? Jesus, the way, the truth and the life, no one
comes to the Father but through him. You see, the Good News that
the Church is called to proclaim is not that Jesus is coming to
help humanity which is a little bit off track. NO! The Good News
we are called to proclaim is not that Jesus is coming to help give
us some tips on moral direction, NO! The Good News that John proclaims
starts with the truth, "You brood of vipers." You lost
and sorry people, you who walk in darkness, blind, corrupt, failed,
and separated from God. For all our efforts, for all your paths
to God, you are walking 180 degrees from God. But Good News, one
is coming who will make the path to God for you. His name shall
be called "Emmanuel" God with us.
And this year again we will recount the story, it begins with a
baby in a manger, and it ends with him hanging on a cross outside
the holy city. And this is Good News for us, for humanity and for
the world. For this Jesus is the son of God, who has made God's
path to us, He is the highway in the desert, come to reign among
us. And most of all, for a lost people, his coming is the source
of real joy for the world!
THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT: WHITE GIFT SUNDAY - JOY
Every Sunday of Advent the candle lighting is preceded by the Call
to Worship, and the Introit: "O Come, O Come Emmanuel".
Please come forward during the singing of the Introit. The candle
lighting litany includes the prayer of Approach for the day - and
is followed by the singing of "A Candle Is Burning" by
the congregation. When the verse is over the candle lighting group
may return to their seats. The "voices" can be assigned
as you, the readers, see fit.
VOICE - Last Sunday we lit the candle of peace. We light it
and the candle of hope again as we remember that Christ,
who was born in Bethlehem, will come again to judge the
world and bring it everlasting peace. (a person lights
the candles of hope, and peace.)
VOICE - The third candle of Advent is the Candle of Joy. When
the angel Gabriel told Mary that a special child would be
born to her she was filled with joy. She sang a song
that began with the words: "My soul magnifies the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my saviour.
VOICE - Just as the birth of Jesus gave great joy to his
mother, so his presence in the world gave joy to those
who had none before. He healed them and gave them hope
and peace when they believed in him. From hope, peace,
and love grows joy.
VOICE - We light the candle of joy to remind us that when Jesus
is born in us we have joy and that through him there will
be everlasting joy on earth. (a person lights the candle
of joy)
VOICE - Joy is like a light shining in a dark place. As we
look at this candle we celebrate the joy we find in Jesus
Christ.
VOICE - Let us pray: Thank you God for the joy you give us. We
ask that as we wait for all your promises to come true,
and for Christ to come again, that you would remain
present with us. Help us today, and everyday to worship
you, to hear your word, and to do your will by sharing
your joy with each other. We ask it in the name of the
one who was born in Bethlehem. Amen.
SONG A candle is burning, a candle of joy.
A candle to welcome brave Mary's new boy.
Our hearts fill with wonder, and eyes light and glow
as joy brightens winter like sunshine on snow.
RETURN TO YOUR SEATS AS SONG IS SUNG
copyright - Rev. Richard J. Fairchild 1997, 2000
use only with proper acknowledgement
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Scriptures:
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Luke 3:7-18
Hymns
VU#7 Hope is a Star
VU#585 Jesus bids us shine
VU#9 People Look East
Call to Worship
"Rejoice, in the name of the Lord always;
again I say rejoice. Rejoice the Lord is near!" - Philippians
4:4-6
Confession
We need your gentle power, Lord. We confess our worries which draw
us into forgetting about You, forgetting about our relationships,
and even neglecting our own care. Guard our hearts and minds that
we might always turn to you in hope and expectation. We need your
help to be able to live honourably, justly, purely, and commendably.
We confess our fraility and our failures to live with gentle spirits,
and turn to You seeking forgiveness and wisdom.
Assurance
Psalm 51 says that "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."
The mystery of the incarnation, God coming in Christ, is the revelation
that God does not come to condemn humanity for its failures, but
rather to heal the broken hearted, to gather in the lost, to welcome
the outcast. If you turn to God with the truth of your life, you
will not find rejection, but rather new life.
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