3rd Sunday in Advent
Vicar Michael Monterastelli
John 1:6-8, 19-28
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:3).
Brothers and sisters in Christ, before God appeared to us in the Flesh, He sent John “the locust eater.” He was a sight to see. A bit of a spectacle. Not like the other priest’s kids. His fellow Pharisees and Levites wondered, “Who do you think you are, John?” Though he prophesied, he was not The Prophet. He was more than a prophet. He was the last of the prophets. Jesus called him the greatest of men born of women. John came to prepare the way of the Lord. He is the Voice. He calls out to us to tell us the Lord is coming after him. The Lord is right behind him. Standing right there for all to see. He who has eyes to see, let him see.
The One of whom John preached was already standing there among them. And John couldn’t wait to point us to Him. Even in his mother Elizabeth’s womb, he leapt for joy at the sound of the virgin mother’s voice. Even as a pre-born infant John pointed people to Jesus as if to say, “Hey, that’s Him! That’s God in the flesh!” John ‘the aspiring locust eater’ leapt for joy, his mother Elizabeth shouted for joy, and mother Mary sang. (Luke 1:39ff)
John ‘the locust eater’ pointed. Rules of etiquette don’t apply to prophets. His life’s work also included eating locusts and wild honey, while wearing camel skins. He even waded in the muddy Jordan; and invited others to repent and join him. He was made a spectacle in order to get your attention and point you to Jesus.
John was not only a locust eater. He is the Voice crying out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord.” He was a witness of the Light from God. The locust eater baptized and preached repentance. That was his vocation – his ministry.
Like the stereotypical man, who at one time could be seen standing on sidewalks (a sort of concrete wilderness) wearing a sign instead of camel skins, crying out, “Repent! The end is near!”, so also is John-the-Voice crying out in the wilderness. John came to draw your attention away from things that don’t really matter so you would start paying attention to the one thing needful! To Jesus!
John beckons us from the desert to open our eyes and acknowledge the wilderness in which we live. In this world of choose-your-own-belief-system, John pleads with you to “Come out of your make-belief world. Come and face reality. You are vulnerable and weak. Who knows when your heart will beat its last. You cannot stop a bullet. Flu shots won’t protect everyone from every mutant virus. Stone houses look permanent compared to wooden ones or mud huts, but even stones can be thrown down and dashed to dusty pieces. You have no safety in yourself or in man-made contraptions. These things only offer false comfort. All of your life is fragile. If the twin towers can be brought down in a single act of hateful violence, how much more the things of your life.
Still, even in desperate times, we are all prone to sell our birth rite for a bowl of soup. You turn in on yourself, away from God. We all do it. We are too easily consumed with our own desires and earthly fears. So consumed, you neglect your spouse and children, students neglect their fellow students and teachers, and all of us have neglected our parents and co-workers. We’ve all neglected that proverbial man robbed, beaten and lying in the ditch. When our desires are not met, we are likely to be broken-hearted or feel sorry for ourselves. Our sinful desires for fame, entertainment and ease imprison our hearts and minds. Wake up. Repent. You are in danger of losing everything. Repent before it is too late. Repent for there is joyous Hope.
There is One whose sandal straps we are all unworthy to untie. He is not filthy like we are. He is pure, clean, and righteous. He is the God of Moses and Elijah in our Flesh. He gives Himself for and to you, to make you safe and free, wholly alive again. He baptizes with the fire of the Holy Spirit in the waters with His Name.
He bestows righteousness. He forgives, restores, and renews without checking your transcripts or credit history, without a payment schedule, without references or oaths, without any cost or demand or restrictions! He forgives. He loves. He is the Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
He removes every single one of your sins: small and large, calculated and plotting, or passionate stupidity. He fixes it all. He makes it better. He overcomes your lust, your anger, your past, your laziness. He gives you a future again. And that is what matters. Not who John was, some locust eating preacher destined to die alone in prison; not who you are, but who Jesus is. He is the Christ! The long-expected Lover of your soul who wants you despite your flaws and rebellion, who restores you to the kingdom. That is the one thing needful, who He is, and who He calls you to be in Him: His beloved Bride.
Here in the wilderness it is hard to believe that is what matters. It seems at times like what matters is remembering to send every friend and relative a Christmas card, or realizing your potential, or getting all A’s, or getting the honor and respect you crave from your brothers and sisters and parents. It seems like what matters is never being bored for an instant or having every craving and desire fulfilled, never waiting for anything that you want. It even seems at times like what matters most is justice, that life would be fair, that you and your loved ones would never be shorted or suffer in anyway.
But that stuff doesn’t matter on the Last Day. What matters then, is that the virgin’s Son went to the cross to redeem you, body and soul. What matters then, is that He comes to you in flesh & blood. As John pointed people to Jesus, so also the Holy Spirit of our Lord continues to point us to Jesus in word & water, in bread & wine. He rose from the dead. He ascended into heaven. He is the Christ, the Messiah. He is the One anointed to be your Savior. He loves you even when no one else does or can. That is what drove John. It drives us as well.
Fact is, you already do what Paul told the Thessalonians: ‘Rejoice and give thanks in all circumstances because He who calls you is faithful; and He does it.’ God-pleasing rejoicing is found no where else than in the midst of repentance and hope in God’s mercy.
Leaping and singing and boasting in the Lord. This is what it can mean to rejoice in the Lord always. To give thanks in all circumstances. And Jesus does it. He does it all. He does it perfectly. He does it for you. He who calls you is faithful.
People get ready. Jesus is coming. The end approaches. What you endure now is almost over. Jesus is coming! Believers, Rejoice!
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon you. The Lord brings good news to the poor. He binds up the broken-hearted. He proclaims liberty to the captives and opens the prison. Those who mourn, He comforts and gives a beautiful head-dress instead of ashes. He exchanges your faint spirit with His garment of praise and oil of gladness. With mourners transformed into oaks of righteousness He builds up and repairs what was ruined and raises up what was devastated. The Lord who loves justice has clothed you with garments of salvation; He has covered you with His robe of righteousness.
Go in Peace. You stand forgiven.
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
John 1:6-8, 19-28
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:3).
Brothers and sisters in Christ, before God appeared to us in the Flesh, He sent John “the locust eater.” He was a sight to see. A bit of a spectacle. Not like the other priest’s kids. His fellow Pharisees and Levites wondered, “Who do you think you are, John?” Though he prophesied, he was not The Prophet. He was more than a prophet. He was the last of the prophets. Jesus called him the greatest of men born of women. John came to prepare the way of the Lord. He is the Voice. He calls out to us to tell us the Lord is coming after him. The Lord is right behind him. Standing right there for all to see. He who has eyes to see, let him see.
The One of whom John preached was already standing there among them. And John couldn’t wait to point us to Him. Even in his mother Elizabeth’s womb, he leapt for joy at the sound of the virgin mother’s voice. Even as a pre-born infant John pointed people to Jesus as if to say, “Hey, that’s Him! That’s God in the flesh!” John ‘the aspiring locust eater’ leapt for joy, his mother Elizabeth shouted for joy, and mother Mary sang. (Luke 1:39ff)
John ‘the locust eater’ pointed. Rules of etiquette don’t apply to prophets. His life’s work also included eating locusts and wild honey, while wearing camel skins. He even waded in the muddy Jordan; and invited others to repent and join him. He was made a spectacle in order to get your attention and point you to Jesus.
John was not only a locust eater. He is the Voice crying out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord.” He was a witness of the Light from God. The locust eater baptized and preached repentance. That was his vocation – his ministry.
Like the stereotypical man, who at one time could be seen standing on sidewalks (a sort of concrete wilderness) wearing a sign instead of camel skins, crying out, “Repent! The end is near!”, so also is John-the-Voice crying out in the wilderness. John came to draw your attention away from things that don’t really matter so you would start paying attention to the one thing needful! To Jesus!
John beckons us from the desert to open our eyes and acknowledge the wilderness in which we live. In this world of choose-your-own-belief-system, John pleads with you to “Come out of your make-belief world. Come and face reality. You are vulnerable and weak. Who knows when your heart will beat its last. You cannot stop a bullet. Flu shots won’t protect everyone from every mutant virus. Stone houses look permanent compared to wooden ones or mud huts, but even stones can be thrown down and dashed to dusty pieces. You have no safety in yourself or in man-made contraptions. These things only offer false comfort. All of your life is fragile. If the twin towers can be brought down in a single act of hateful violence, how much more the things of your life.
Still, even in desperate times, we are all prone to sell our birth rite for a bowl of soup. You turn in on yourself, away from God. We all do it. We are too easily consumed with our own desires and earthly fears. So consumed, you neglect your spouse and children, students neglect their fellow students and teachers, and all of us have neglected our parents and co-workers. We’ve all neglected that proverbial man robbed, beaten and lying in the ditch. When our desires are not met, we are likely to be broken-hearted or feel sorry for ourselves. Our sinful desires for fame, entertainment and ease imprison our hearts and minds. Wake up. Repent. You are in danger of losing everything. Repent before it is too late. Repent for there is joyous Hope.
There is One whose sandal straps we are all unworthy to untie. He is not filthy like we are. He is pure, clean, and righteous. He is the God of Moses and Elijah in our Flesh. He gives Himself for and to you, to make you safe and free, wholly alive again. He baptizes with the fire of the Holy Spirit in the waters with His Name.
He bestows righteousness. He forgives, restores, and renews without checking your transcripts or credit history, without a payment schedule, without references or oaths, without any cost or demand or restrictions! He forgives. He loves. He is the Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
He removes every single one of your sins: small and large, calculated and plotting, or passionate stupidity. He fixes it all. He makes it better. He overcomes your lust, your anger, your past, your laziness. He gives you a future again. And that is what matters. Not who John was, some locust eating preacher destined to die alone in prison; not who you are, but who Jesus is. He is the Christ! The long-expected Lover of your soul who wants you despite your flaws and rebellion, who restores you to the kingdom. That is the one thing needful, who He is, and who He calls you to be in Him: His beloved Bride.
Here in the wilderness it is hard to believe that is what matters. It seems at times like what matters is remembering to send every friend and relative a Christmas card, or realizing your potential, or getting all A’s, or getting the honor and respect you crave from your brothers and sisters and parents. It seems like what matters is never being bored for an instant or having every craving and desire fulfilled, never waiting for anything that you want. It even seems at times like what matters most is justice, that life would be fair, that you and your loved ones would never be shorted or suffer in anyway.
But that stuff doesn’t matter on the Last Day. What matters then, is that the virgin’s Son went to the cross to redeem you, body and soul. What matters then, is that He comes to you in flesh & blood. As John pointed people to Jesus, so also the Holy Spirit of our Lord continues to point us to Jesus in word & water, in bread & wine. He rose from the dead. He ascended into heaven. He is the Christ, the Messiah. He is the One anointed to be your Savior. He loves you even when no one else does or can. That is what drove John. It drives us as well.
Fact is, you already do what Paul told the Thessalonians: ‘Rejoice and give thanks in all circumstances because He who calls you is faithful; and He does it.’ God-pleasing rejoicing is found no where else than in the midst of repentance and hope in God’s mercy.
Leaping and singing and boasting in the Lord. This is what it can mean to rejoice in the Lord always. To give thanks in all circumstances. And Jesus does it. He does it all. He does it perfectly. He does it for you. He who calls you is faithful.
People get ready. Jesus is coming. The end approaches. What you endure now is almost over. Jesus is coming! Believers, Rejoice!
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon you. The Lord brings good news to the poor. He binds up the broken-hearted. He proclaims liberty to the captives and opens the prison. Those who mourn, He comforts and gives a beautiful head-dress instead of ashes. He exchanges your faint spirit with His garment of praise and oil of gladness. With mourners transformed into oaks of righteousness He builds up and repairs what was ruined and raises up what was devastated. The Lord who loves justice has clothed you with garments of salvation; He has covered you with His robe of righteousness.
Go in Peace. You stand forgiven.
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
posted by Luther Memorial Chapel at
12/12/2005
