The Third Sunday of Advent, 13 December 2015
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Canticle 9: The First Song of
Isaiah
Philippians 4:4-7
St. Luke 3:7-18
Background: The Gospel
of Luke, Part Three
In
the birth narratives, Luke already begins to signal his theological stance
regarding Jesus’ status. The list of titles used in the narratives gives us
ample clues as to his stance: a) “Lord” (1:17, 43, 76, 2:11), b) “Son of God”
or “Son of the Most High” (1:32, 35, 2:49), c) “Messiah” (2:11,26), d) “King”
(1:32-33), and e) “Savior” (1:69, 2:11).
Luke looks back from the mighty acts at Calvary and the Tomb to see
Jesus in a new guise. He also looks back into the Hebrew Scriptures (which are
seldom cited by him) to see Jesus as the fulfillment of promises. Thus he sees
Jesus as the “Son of David” and in Simeon’s song, “A light for revelation to
the gentiles,” and “glory to the people Israel.” The role of David is
especially seen in Luke’s genealogy, different from Matthew’s both in number of
generations and details, where Jesus is seen as a descendent of David on
Joseph’s side. Also in this genealogy, Jesus is traced from Adam – a glimpse at
the ministry to the gentiles, which Luke will promote in his double work of
Luke/Acts. Of equal importance is the focus of the ministry of Jesus, and
Luke’s theological vision, namely, the Anawim,
the “poor ones.” In this focus we see the fulfillment of many prophetic
writings that urged the care of widows, orphans, the oppressed, and those who
were ill. Mary’s song, the Magnificat,
is full of these emphases.
Next
Week: Mary in the Lucan Birth Narrative.
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Sing aloud, O daughter Zion;
shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
The LORD has taken away the judgments against you,
he has turned away your enemies.
The king of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst;
you shall fear disaster no more.
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Do not fear, O Zion;
do not let your hands grow weak.
The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a warrior who gives victory;
he will rejoice over you with gladness,
he will renew you in his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing
as on a day of festival.
I will remove disaster from you,
so that you will not bear reproach for it.
I will deal with all your oppressors
at that time.
And I will save the lame
and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
and renown in all the earth.
At that time I will bring you home,
at the time when I gather you;
for I will make you renowned and praised
among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes
before your eyes, says the LORD.
Zephaniah functions as a
southern counterpart to the North’s Amos. The bulk of the book consists of
oracles and judgments against Creation, God’s People, and the Nations. It is
only that verse of the final chapter that give any grace or hope, and that is
where our pericope falls in a “Promise of Deliverance”. What is left out of our
reading for today is not only promises of deliverance for Judah, but also
promises for the nations (3:9-10):
For then I will make pure
the speech of the peoples,
That they all may call upon the name of
the LORD,
to serve him with one accord;
From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia
and as far as the recesses of the North,
they shall bring me offerings.
What also
appears is an element that we have seen (or will see) in Isaiah, Micah, and
Jeremiah, namely the notion of the “remnant”, those who survive the turmoil of
God’s judgment, those who return from exile into the land of their fathers and
mothers. Indeed, in our pericope for this day, there are “quotes” from both Joel 3 and Micah 4:6-7, promising a
gathering of the peoples again, and a restoration of their fortunes. Hidden in this text is a “mighty warrior”,
who is none other than the God who has judged them and then freed and led them
into the place that they had known as home. With Advent eyes, we look at
Zephaniah’s promise and see something once seen in a manger.
Breaking open Zephaniah:
- Are your images of God about might or gentleness?
- Around what does your faith community gather?
- How has God been a “mighy Warrior” for you?
Canticle 9: The First
Song of Isaiah Ecce Deus
Surely, it is God who saves
me; *
I will trust in him and not
be afraid.
For the Lord is my
stronghold and my sure defense, *
and he will be my Savior.
Therefore you shall draw
water with rejoicing *
from the springs of
salvation.
And on that day you shall
say, *
Give thanks to the Lord and
call upon his Name;
Make his deeds known among
the peoples; *
see that they remember that
his Name is exalted.
Sing the praises of the
Lord, for he has done great things, *
and this is known in all
the world.
Cry aloud, inhabitants of
Zion, ring out your joy, *
for the great one in the
midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.
Glory to the Father, and to
the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Otto Kaiser, in his
commentary[1],
calls this poem “The Hymn of Thanksgiving for the Redeemed.” Kaiser sees this
passage coming during the period of the Second Temple[2]
where the editor wants to comfort the people in time of trial. He paints a
picture of the “Holy One of Israel” assuring the daily life of the people, “Therefore you shall draw water with
rejoicing from the springs of salvation.” One wonders if even the common
daily tasks that were done each day were done under the duress of trouble and
oppression? The editor wants the people to realize that “on that day” (a new kind of Day of the Lord?) things will be new,
and that God will once again be in their midst. More likely, or in addition,
this passage may refer to the Feast of Tabernacles when water from the spring
of Gihon was poured out as a libation before the altar in the temple. These are
the trials that strengthen the people, so that they once again have a vision of
the God who leads them and of the future into which they are called.
Breaking open the Ecce Deus:
- During what ordinary daily tasks do you think about God?
- Do you think about yourself during those times?
- What does the water symbolize for your?
Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about
anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let
your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
In this closing to the
letter to the Philippians, Paul gives some final instruction to the
congregation that he loves. Here is his list of virtues: rejoicing, gentleness,
and prayerfulness. Though in the midst of life and its difficulties, Paul urges
them not “to worry about anything.” Life
is to be made up of a relationship with God that is seen in a daily life of
prayer and thanksgiving. From these behaviors, and attitudes will flow a life
of understanding, peace, and security. Given Paul’s present situation, in
chains in a prison, his urging of this life speaks to what he has already
undergone and is willing to urge for the peace of mind of others.
Breaking open Philippians:
- In what have you rejoiced lately?
- What has made you truly happy?
- How do you gain peace of mind?
St. Luke 3:7-18
John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized
by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to
come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We
have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to
raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the
trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and
thrown into the fire."
And the crowds asked him, "What then should we
do?" In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with
anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." Even tax
collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should
we do?" He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed
for you." Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?"
He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false
accusation, and be satisfied with your wages."
As the people were filled with expectation, and all
were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the
Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water;
but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the
thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His
winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the
wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable
fire."
So, with many other exhortations, he
proclaimed the good news to the people.
Luke prefaces the appearance
of Jesus for Baptism with a description of John’s prophetic ministry. Last
Sunday he tied it down to a specific time and place, and uses Isaiah to
describe the ministry that John is to offer. That Luke should be specific about
time and place makes for a reasonable extension of the urgency of the
situation, “Even now the ax is lying at
the root of the trees.” We wonder, along with the crowd, what must be taken
away? What must be set aside for the sake of my salvation? The whole panoply of
the people is present: the elect (who should put no importance to their
standing), the crowd, the tax collectors, and the soldiers. All of them wonder
as to what they should do. They are all looking into the future, or as Luke
puts it, “as the people were filled with
expectation.” What was to come, and from whence? John points to an unknown
person who has yet to arrive. John is full of expectation. He sees in this
coming one a level of judgment and “winnowing”.
There needs to be a metanoia, a
turning around, and a facing back to God. All of this sounds troublesome and
difficult, and yet Luke summarizes it as “good
news to the people.”
Breaking open the Gospel:
- What would your question to the Baptist be?
- What are your expectations about the coming Jesus?
- What are your expectations of yourself during this coming season?
After breaking open the Word,
you might want to pray the Collect for Sunday:
Stir up your power, O Lord,
and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our
sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through
Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and
glory, now and for ever. Amen.
Questions
and comments copyright © 2015, Michael T. Hiller
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