Fourth Sunday in Advent - The Count Down
Fourth Sunday in Advent
Hebrews 10:5-10
Luke 1:39-56
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Amen.
The Church has created a number of ways to draw our attention away from the pressing concerns of work, community, and family for a brief time so that we can focus on the coming celebration of our Lord’s Incarnation. One of those ways is the lighting of the Advent candles. There are four Sundays in Advent. In years past, the candles were purple in order to emphasize the penitential nature of the season. These days, they are blue to emphasize the sense of hope that the season of Advent conveys. In addition to reflecting upon sinful thoughts, words, deeds, and habits, and repenting of them in order to bring about a positive change; we pray with anticipation and hope while we await the coming of the Christ who can forgive and heal us through His cross. The rose-colored candle alerts us that we are half-way there.
Some of our youngest members may not pay much attention to the clock or the calendar, but they will observe that a new candle is lit each Sunday. There is a marking of time, a progression toward a goal, and there is a sense of joy when the fourth candle is lit. Jesus is coming soon. And, perhaps, some presents will be shared too in honor of His birth.
Another method to capture our attention is the presence of the O-Antiphons. These special antiphons originated in the liturgy of Vespers between December 17-23. They are distinctive because they have an “O” in front of the verse, and they use Scriptural titles from the Old Testament that reference the coming Christ. If we were having Vespers tonight, we might incorporate the O-Antiphon for December 22 into worship. This particular antiphon is based on Isaiah 2:4 and 9:6-7.
O King of the Nations, the ruler they long for, the cornerstone uniting all people: Come and save us all, whom You formed out of clay.
While, we do not have Vespers planned for tonight, should you sing hymn number 357, today’s antiphon is found in verse 7 of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.
The prophet Micah is a contemporary of Isaiah. Isaiah was in the big city of Jerusalem. Micah was in the countryside. In Judah at that time, there was great concern about Judah’s immediate future. Assyria was still a problem. Babylon was on the rise and headed to Judah. God was in the process of allowing foreign powers to invade as a punishment for their leaders’ and much of the population’s stubborn refusal to turn away from their idols and return to God. All manner of sin was rampant. Political and business corruption was on full display. Yet, as God’s Word assures us, as God applies the Law, he also gives hope to those who are willing to hear it. The gift that God gives through the prophet Micah is hope for the future. Out of that little, insignificant clan in Bethlehem, shall arise the coming Christ. “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel.”
As the situation becomes even more dire, and the suffering associated with their divine punishment for their sin becomes more intense and disruptive, they are going to need the hope that Micah and Isaiah both give of the coming Christ. As the leaders and people find themselves in a foreign land, forced to labor for that which is not theirs, and they weep because they recognize the foolishness and short sidedness of their sinful thoughts, words, and behaviors, and they return to the Lord their God, they have the gift of hope to hang on to. This suffering, the present affliction, is not all that there is. It will not last forever. Their prayers are heard. God will remember them. God will bring them a Savior. This savior will give them peace.
As happens most often, Israel’s hope for the Savior’s peace does not match the grand scope and imagination of our God’s. Israel just wanted to go home. They wanted to reclaim their land and businesses and pick up their lives where they left them when they were invaded and exiled into Babylon. The Lord intends for the coming Savior to be much more comprehensive than that. He does not want the faithful to return to an old life. He wants to make life better, fuller, richer, more deeply textured. He wants to transform hearts and minds. He wants people to live in the fullness of His grace. He wants people immersed in His forgiveness and peace. What the coming savior brings is greater than what Israel experienced before.
The reading from Hebrews makes the point that the sacrifices of animals and the burnt offerings were merely a shadow of Christ’s sacrifice in behalf of the world. They point to the coming Savior. When Christ comes, his sacrifice will be the final and all sufficient sacrifice for the sake of the whole world. Once the Savior comes, there will be no need to return to the sacrifices and burn offerings. The Savior’s sacrifice with his own body upon the cross defeats the claims of sin, death, and the devil upon us once for all.
Elizabeth, moved by the Holy Spirit, proclaims “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” Her dear cousin Mary bears the coming savior. Her womb carries the savior whose sacrifice on the cross will bring peace to all the earth. Peace begins with Christ’s forgiveness conferred upon they who respond to His Good News with faith. Christ’s forgiveness leads to peace and hope. His ministry of mercy will reverse the normal course of worldly events. We are ever called to walk with faith that Jesus, Mary’s son, is the Savior long promised. On account of Him, we are reconciled to the Father and invited to walk in His love.
Just as the Church has ways of leading us into a kind of annual countdown until the celebration of Christ’s coming, the Lord made sure that he left traditions, words, phrases, titles, structures, and prophecies that point to the coming Savior. The prophet Isaiah prophesied about John the Baptist. John the Baptist pointed to Jesus. The prophet Micah tells us where Jesus will be born. The titles of Wisdom, Lord, Root of Jesse, Key of David, Dayspring, King of the Nations, and Emmanuel, point to one who is greater than any human leader could possibly be. The temple itself, and the sacrifices that were offered for the propitiation of sins were always understood as temporary. They pointed to a coming sacrifice that one day will make all other sacrifices pointless.
The one who will make that forthcoming sacrifice is growing within Mary’s womb. She is blessed to carry Jesus. Jesus will bless us all with his teaching, mercy, and sacrifice to take away the eternal impact of our sins.
All the Advent candles are lit. The O-Antiphons are nearly completed. We eagerly await the time when we can celebrate the Savior’s birth.
The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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