Rejoicing springs from a deep well of gratitude, yet it
cannot be forced. The Third Sunday of
Advent is all about receiving the joy God offers.
The prophet
Zephaniah ben Cushi, writing in the late 7th century, sounds the
theme of the coming Day of the Lord, which would bring both judgment and
salvation. In studying the passage, I
noticed something new. While the prophet
exhorts Israel to “rejoice and exult with all your heart,” (3:14), the accent
of the text is more on the disposition of God as one who “will rejoice over you
with gladness . . . and “will renew you in [God’s own] love,” and “will exult
over you with loud singing” (v. 17).
Clearly, God delights in the redemption to be wrought.
Placed at
the conclusion of a section on promised salvation, Isaiah 12:2-6 echoes this
palpable joy of the Holy One. By being in the midst of the people of covenant,
they are able to trust, which makes possible rejoicing song. A lovely image is found within this
liturgical framework: “With joy, you will draw water from the wells of
salvation.” What could be more joyful in
an arid land than abundant watering?
A few years
ago, the Passport camping organization, dreamed of “watering Malawi.” Through the fundraising efforts of
adolescents and their leaders, workers were able to dig new wells to provide
for those vulnerable to disease for lack of access to clean water. The tangible results of this ministry have
prompted rejoicing by youth—and dare I say, by God.
The epistle
extends this theme: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice”
(Philippians 4:4). When Paul uses the
phrase, “in the Lord,” he is reminding his readers that being grounded in God
makes possible right attitude and right behavior. In addition to his exhortation to rejoice,
the apostle enjoins the Philippian community to demonstrate generosity toward
others (epieikes). Rejoicing and generosity surely go together;
while there is a forgetfulness of self in generous giving, we can remember the
glow of the occasion in retrospect.
Finally,
the Gospel lesson narrates John’s bracing proclamation to those seeking him out
for baptism (Luke 3:7-18). For the
desert preacher, repentance looks like this: share food and clothing; be just
in business dealings; live simply and be satisfied with your wages. There is no call for rejoicing, only actions
that prepare for the baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire. Yet, Luke calls this searing sermon “good
news.” God will beckon rejoicing when we “bear fruits worthy of repentance,”
and do not presume it comes without preparation. God will rejoice then, too.
Molly T.
Marshall
To learn
more about Central as a formative, creative, and progressive seminary, please
visit our website at www.cbts.edu
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