Reverend Nancy Gill’s Sermon
Sunday, December 17, 2023
Third Sunday of Advent – Year B
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Claremore
Is. 61:1-4, 8-11 & Ps. 126 / 1 Thes. 5:16-24 / John 1:6-8, 19-28
The Rev. Nancy Gill
Advent III: Joy (I Hope, II Peace, IV Love)
“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,” John the Baptist declared in our Gospel lesson today, “‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’” (v23)
Have you ever been in a wilderness? Sometimes translated “desert,” the wilderness is by definition “an uncultivated, uninhabited, and inhospitable region; a neglected or abandoned area; or, a position of disfavor.” (wilderness) Perhaps you have been physically present in a geographical wilderness; and perhaps you have dwelt for a time in a metaphorical wilderness – I would venture to say that we have all had this experience.
According to statistics found in my research, it is estimated that approximately 300 million individuals suffer from depression. And would you believe that, even
for folks who don’t normally suffer from this affliction, the holidays can be a particularly difficult time of year? That’s right, it’s not ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ for everyone. I certainly have, periodically, spent great chunks of time in spiritual and emotional deserts, even – maybe especially – during the holidays. I have gritted my teeth upon being reminded, as the writer of 1 Thessalonians exhorts us, to “rejoice always.” (5:16) I have actually shaken my fists and cried out to God, “I don’t feel grateful right now; but because you desire it, I’m saying ‘thank you’ anyway.”
Maybe this is a little bit of what John the Baptist was feeling when he claimed to be ‘the voice of one crying out in the wilderness.’ As Fr. Bill reminded us last week, JB was not your typical prophet. He dressed funny and ate strange food, and he was generally misunderstood by the religious leaders who should have been the ones to ‘get it,’ if anyone was going to recognize him for who he was.
But maybe there is a little clue for us in what he said: “Make straight the way of the Lord.”
What is this “way of the Lord?” Let us look to our Advent wreath for some possible explanations.
1. Two weeks ago, we lit the first candle, and we were reminded that the way of the Lord is a journey of Hope. We recall that throughout history God remains faithful. No matter what life’s circumstances may hold, God is with us.
2. Last week, we lit the second candle which reminds us that the way of the Lord is Peace. Scripture tells us that this peace surpasses all understanding, for we can access it at all times, no matter what our circumstances.
3. Today, we lit the pink candle, a reminder that the way of the Lord is Joy. This is not a toxic joy – the ‘in your face,’ ‘smile, it’s not that bad,’ kind of fake and fleeting happiness. This is a deep sense of God’s goodness, faithfulness, and care. God is our
source of joy and delight. Like peace, we can tap into this source at all times.
4. Next week, we will light the fourth candle, symbolizing Love. During this season of Advent, don’t we wait with anticipation for the coming of the Christ child? And didn’t that child ultimately give his life as proof of how much God loves us?
Sometimes, when I pray, I like to go to a quiet little niche in my bedroom which I have set up especially for the purpose of spending time with God. When I sit in that chair, I imagine that I am leaning into God’s loving embrace. Perhaps I repeat a soothing mantra, such as God’s promise from the book of Jeremiah: “I know the plans I have for you…to give you a hope.” Or perhaps, I simply breathe, and focus on each inhalation and exhalation. I close my eyes and allow myself to feel how much I am loved by the God of eternity, by the God of all creation; and I remember that this same God desires personal relationship with me.
And that is the key to accessing genuine Hope, Peace, and Joy. When you find yourself in the midst of the wilderness, be intentional about spending time in God’s loving embrace. Better yet, develop a habit of spending time with God before you wander into the desert and see how much better you are able to cope the next time life seems barren.
Finally, remember that, like John the Baptist, yours may be ‘the voice of one crying in the wilderness’ for others to hear. You are God’s messenger. I encourage you to be so grounded in ‘the way of the Lord’ – in God’s Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love – that you cannot help but ‘make straight’ this path for those around you.
I invite you to pray with me the words of this well-known prayer:
Lord, make [us] an instrument[s] of your peace. Where there is hatred, let [us] sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.
Amen.