Advent 4 + Rorate Coeli
Text: John 1:19-28
The date on the calendar says December 24th, but believe it or not, Christmas has not yet arrived for the Church. According to Jewish timekeeping, a new day begins with sundown, hence one of the reasons for the tradition of Christmas Eve services. But for now, on this morning of December 24th, we observe the 4th Sunday of Advent. We continue preparing for Christmas; we continue preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ.
Are you ready, though?
Well, today, we hear again from John the Baptist. John is in the wilderness, preaching this message of preparation. The wilderness is often thought of as an unfriendly place. The first part of the word “Wilderness” defines the environment’s wild characteristics; it’s an untamed and uncontrolled place.
A wilderness has an aspect of darkness, where things creep in the shadows. It’s a place where animal instincts rule, and creature is often pitted against creature. No one enjoys walking alone in the darkness of the wilderness, knowing that in it, there are creatures also willing to pounce and attack you when one’s guard is down.
Now, we desire to point to specific locations and call them a wilderness. We see tree lines and say, beyond, there is a wilderness. We look out over cranberry bogs toward the Necedah Wildlife Refuge and say ah, “There is a wilderness.”
But the reality is that the wilderness of this life is everywhere and in every place.
What is the darkness you fear? Where is the place where the untamed and wild things of life roam within your heart and mind?
Are you a child who finds yourself drifting into an abyss as you return home for Christmas, struggling and striving for parental approval? Are you a parent overwhelmed by the unrealistic expectations you feel to fulfill a child’s every wish for Christmas? Has strife entered your home and made everyone cross? Or is there a deep grief that persists as you stare into the darkness of your Christmas tree?
Thus, in today's Gospel, John the Baptist is preaching not only to the Pharisees and tax collectors but also to you. He says, “Make straight the way of the Lord.”
Quite simply, what has gone awry in your life? Where is there darkness or a wilderness? What is crooked? What needs straightening?
A significant challenge is that we don’t believe we need help with the challenges and tribulations of life.
Over the Advent season, Jesus's peace has been spoken to you, but what have you done with this peace? Have you told Jesus, “No, thank you, I can fix this on my own? I can find peace. I just need a little more time.”
If this is you, then repent.
Today, John stands in the wilderness; John the Baptist comes to you; his words come into the wildernesses of your life and call you to straighten up and “Bear fruits worthy of repentance.” In other words, repent, confess, and turn away from sin.
Now, this is what it means to repent, to confess, to literally stop sinning, to turn away from the ill that you are doing.
So, if your tongue causes division within your home, turn away and speak kindly the words of Jesus. If the devil has entered thoughts of dread and contempt for one another, confess your anger and distrust and turn your hearts to one another in forgiveness and peace. If grief and depression weigh on your heart, turn to the Light of your Christ; turn to His Word of hope and salvation.
These are the ways of “bearing fruit worthy of repentance.” In other words, turn to Jesus.
Did you notice how the words of John the Baptist did exactly this as he said, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know?”
You see, the day after John the Baptist's little party and discussion with the Jews, John proclaims the beautiful words of the Agnus Dei as we sing right before we receive the flesh and blood of Jesus in the Lord’s Supper, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
What a gift for us; John’s words and ministry point us to Jesus.
Jesus is the One who enters not only into the darkness of this world but also the dark and murky water of the Jordan River for you.
And this is a beautiful thing: Jesus comes, not as a sinner, but receives a baptism with sinners. In doing so, Jesus takes upon Himself, your sin and mine. He steps out of His place in the Kingly throne room of His Father and now takes His place among you and me in the wilderness of this life.
In the waters of Holy Baptism, Jesus stands for you today and invites you to drown and kill the Old Adam, the sinful nature that clings to you through daily contrition and repentance so that in Jesus, a new man may come forth.
Through this pattern of daily contrition and repentance, of daily drowning and rising in Christ then transforms your heart and molds you in the image of your Savior. It confesses that your life is not lived for yourself, but rather a life lived in God. For this reason, it is a life lived in service to your neighbor, supplying them with the greatest gift of Christ’s forgiveness, comfort, and peace.
As we enter these waning hours of Advent, examine your hearts. If your heart is caught in a thicket of sin within your home, bear fruit in confessing your sin. If you have fallen short this Christmas, look up to Christ, who died upon the cross for you. If grief consumes your heart, see the child in the manger who not only entered this world to die for you but rose again, ensuring we and all the faithful would receive eternal life.
For this reason, we can join the Apostle Paul as he wrote in the epistle, “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say rejoice!”
The Lord is near, and He has conquered all your foes; he has defeated death and scattered the darkness of the wildernesses in your life.
So hear the words of John the Baptist again this day, sing them as you journey to this altar with all that ails you, rejoicing as you sing, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
The last two weeks of Advent focus on John the Baptist for a reason; before Christ comes to us at Christmas, the way must be prepared in our hearts by repentance, repentance John preaches not only to Pharisees and tax collectors but also to you and me. May you hear the call of John the Baptist this day, repent, and prepare yourself, for your King is near. And then let us come back as night falls this day and rejoice with all the Church in heaven and on earth, for the Christ child comes, and in Him you have life, salvation, and peace. +INJ+
