Advent 4 – Rorate Coeli

Text: John 1:19-28

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Today, we heard again from John the Baptist. John is in the wilderness, preaching a message of preparation.

The wilderness is often thought of as an unfriendly place. The first part of the word "Wilderness" begins to define the wild characteristics of the environment; it's an untamed and uncontrolled location. A wilderness has an aspect of darkness, where things creep in the shadows, where animal instincts rule, and creatures are often pitted against creature. No one enjoys walking alone in this darkness, knowing that creatures are willing to pounce and attack when one’s guard is down.

But what are the wildernesses of this life?

Sure, the Shenandoahs are just west of here, but isn't the heart of man one of the most lonely and wild places of all?

This past week, I attended a Capitals game. It was fun, they lost to the team formally from Minnesota, but it was a close game. But what was most interesting to me wasn't the game itself but the conversations openly occurring around us. There was no guard over the door of the lips of fans. Instead, their words went beyond reflecting the desolate places not fit for the ears of children.

Sadly, these stories confessed hearts in distress and in need of help.

One person’s career was in shambles as they lost their job, while another confessed how they do the bare minimum of work to get by. Another couple discussed an illness that had seized the body of a friend, the grave was near, and how sad and hopeless they felt this Christmas. Yet, another could be seen arguing with the people they came with, people I'm only assuming were friends or family. Still, others simply didn't want to be home for Christmas this year among their family and friends (the political divide has become too great).

Can you relate with these, your neighbors, and the desolate places of life that have seized their hearts?

What has gone awry in your life?

What is in error?

What is crooked?

What needs straightening?

The message of John the Baptist is not only for the Pharisees and tax collectors but also for you this day, “Make straight the way of the Lord.”

But you can’t make the way straight, can you? Have you been able to fix or correct those things in your life that are broken?

Over the Advent season, the peace of Jesus has been spoken into your ears, but what have you done with this peace? How often have you said to Jesus, "No, thank you, I can fix this on my own. I need to do this on my own. I can find the peace I need, just give me time.”

Well, John comes to you today; his thunderous words go into the wilderness and desolate place of your life and heart and say the time is now, “straighten up.”

But why? Because your Lord is near. With each passing day, judgment is nearer.

So today, you are called to repent and make way for the Lord to proceed into the hostility of your rebellious heart.

John’s call is ultimately one of repentance, which means to confess your sin. I get it; it’s hard to stay on the nice list when we’re addressing our own sin. We are more comfortable putting on brave faces for the season, the façade of harmony, and dealing with our troubles after the family dinner in the silence of our own homes.

But sin doesn't go away if we ignore it. Instead, it means there is a problem that only takes greater root in your heart the longer it goes without help. The longer it goes without repentance.

The Collect of the day is another one of those Advent prayers that begin with, “Stir up Your power, O Lord.”

“Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come and help us by Your might, that the sins which weigh us down may be quickly lifted by Your grace and mercy.”

It's a beautiful prayer, especially as there is much that weighs us down in this life.

This prayer also directs us to realize that the help one needs, grace, and mercy, must come from outside us. It comes from Jesus, who John the Baptist will confess in the coming day, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

The message John the Baptist preached in the Gospel of John continues to call us to prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming again and to do so without delay.

In fact, it’s a reminder our whole life is one of repentance. Our whole life is one of turning back to Jesus and exercising our faith and dependence on Him, and it all begins with Baptism. 

While Jesus stood in the water of the Jordan River with sinners and was Baptized by John, He now stands in the Baptismal waters of the font, granting you new life.

Isn’t this a beautiful image of Baptism, that in it, Jesus calls us from our crooked ways, He calls us from the wildernesses of life, to turn back to Him?

In the waters of Holy Baptism, Jesus stands for you today and invites you to drown and kill the Old Adam so that a new man may come forth in Him.

This is all cause for hearing the words of the Apostle Paul again as he wrote:

Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious 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.

So, rejoice…

“Rejoice!” Because Jesus stands with sinners and gives you what you cannot secure in this life; His comfort and peace.

“Rejoice!” Because in Jesus - on the last day, there will be an end to repentance because there will be an end to all sin.

“Rejoice!” Because the Lord is at hand and He has conquered all your fears, He has defeated death and scattered the darkness of the untamed wilderness residing in your life.

The last two weeks of Advent focus on John the Baptist for a reason; before Christ comes to us again, the way must be prepared in our hearts by repentance. A repentance John preaches not only to Pharisees and tax collectors but also to you. May you hear the call of John the Baptist this day and prepare yourself, for your King is near, and you have life, salvation, and peace in Him. +INJ+

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Associate Pastor, Immanuel Evangelical-Lutheran Church
Alexandria, VA