Over the past several weeks, we keep hearing about terrorist attacks, bombing, shootings and other forms of violence. You can’t pick up the newspaper or turn on the TV without hearing about people being investigated and connections with ISIS. There seems to be a real heaviness around us in our world.
Then we come into church today and listen to the first scripture reading that encourages us to “Shout for joy; sing joyfully; be glad and exult with all your heart;” And the second reading from Paul’s Letter to the Philippians begins “ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice”. It would almost seem as if the readings were completely out of touch with reality; how can one possibly rejoice in the face of violence and such suffering?
But if we look at the times in which these readings were written we see that they too knew great violence and suffering. So why rejoice at all?
The answer comes in the hope and the promise of this Advent Season. John the Baptist in our Gospel reading fires the people up, heightens their expectation and longing, and promises them that the long awaited Savior is about to appear in their midst. This savior who is coming is more powerful than all the violence people can create; this savior is coming to create a better world where there is no more pain and sorrow; where all will be made whole in His love.
Today we celebrate the Third Sunday in Advent and we light the pink candle on our wreath. This is called Gaudete Sunday, the Sunday to rejoice.
We are glad and happy, not because of the terrors of life or the pain they cause but because as a people of faith we know there is more to life. The coming of the Savior changes everything and gives us hope and promise even on the darkest of days.
Let us prepare our hearts for the Lord’s coming and rejoice in that presence among us.