Third Sunday in Advent "year C"

1. If tomorrow you heard on the CNN, that Donald Rumsfeld or Dick Cheney saying that War is not a good way of running things, that we should have talks and diplomacy, most people would have a double take. On reading the prophet Zephaniah saying: Rejoice O people of Jerusalem - we should also do a double take. Zephaniah was a prophet during the good King Josiah. Josiah followed almost 50 years of rule of the wicked King Mannasseh. Mannasseh promoted corruption, immorality and a godless reign. It would take several generations to get back on track. The good King Josiah was making an attempt. It was to these people that Zephaniah would preach. It was a proclamation of doom and destruction. It was a call to turn away from wicked ways - or else ! Hence the proclamation of Rejoice O people of Jerusalem was the furthest thing from Zephaniah's mind. Beat your breasts and turn away from your wicked ways would be his most likely tone. Scholars have generally agreed that these few verses were written by later editors of the Book of Zephaniah. However, they are included here because they keep the spirit of the anticipated joy of Christmas. It is a message preached by Paul in the second letter.

2. Paul writing to the Philippians was writing from prison. We are not sure which of the three prison terms he was serving. It could have been Ephesus (56) or Caesarea (58‑-60) or even when he was in Rome for the next two years. Being in Prison would hardly be a place to tell people to rejoice. Good message but from a wrong place. Many Christians would rejoice in suffering, but often for confused theological reasons: some from would glorify suffering: I suffer because Jesus suffered. Therefore I must rejoice. We miss the point here. Jesus constantly cured people who were suffering. He himself did not want to suffer: "Let this chalice pass me by." Suffering is not good in itself.

Some would deny suffering: This is not really suffering ‑-we must rejoice. This is only a passing phase. True suffering is passing, but it is real, people experience it and people want relief, not rejoicing in it.

Some would advocate stoicism. We will face it. We will not be bowed down. After all we can keep a stiff upper lip. After all we are British or German, or French ‑- we never give in.

3. Paul calls us to rejoice, because the Lord is near. We do not despair in suffering, because it will not overcome us. The Lord is with us till the end of time ‑- and we have every confidence that no matter how great it is, we can face it with the Lord's help. We rejoice, because we can see the Light at the end of the tunnel.

We do not deny the suffering,

We do not glory in the suffering.

We do not even endure suffering.

But with God's grace we use suffering as a pole vaulter uses a pole to rise to the heights God invites us. We acknowledge our weakness in its face, and as Psalm 91 says: You have made God your defender - no violence will come near your home

A certain grandfather and grandson were going out for a walk. "Well, Philip," said the Grandfather teasingly, "do you know how far we are from home?"

"No grandpa," replied Philip.

"Do you know what street we are on?" Said Grandad.

"No grandpa," replied Philip.

Well concluded Grandad, "I guess then, you are lost."

Philip looked up and smiled, "No I am not. I am with you."

And so we heed Paul's message: Rejoice in the Lord always, against I say rejoice, because even if like sheep we are scattered, we go astray, we do not know how far we are from home, or on what street we are currently walking... we are not lost because we are with God. And like Philip with his Grandad ‑- we can always rely on strength of our God.

4. Like the grandson Philip, the people listening to John in the Gospel are not sure about the way, or where they are. What must we do? They ask. We listen eagerly to John because we might a clue in our journey. However the two groups that ask John "What must we do?" are not groups you would find in our every day congregation: Tax collectors and professional soldiers - mercenaries. I wonder how many tax collectors or mercenaries are in the church this morning.

The tax collectors were given a quota of money to be gathered from villages.

They could collect as much as they wanted as long as they got their quota. They could charge three times as much and pocket all the extra. They could throw people out of their houses, sell the house and all it contained to meet the tax requirements. We probable do not have ruthless landlords here who would throw tenants out in the cold for not paying the rent. But perhaps the story of Fiorello LaGuardia would help us to examine our relations to the needy.

A certain woman was brought before LaGuardia who was the justice of peace.

She was accused of shoplifting bread because she had no food for her children and she was unemployed. LaGuardia said, "lady I cannot let you go because ‑- I do not want to encourage shoplifting. So I fine you $10" then he proceeded to open his wallet and pay the fine out of his own pocket. And furthermore he said, I fine every one in this court $5 because such a situation has been permitted to exist in our fair city of New York. He proceeded to collect the fines himself and gave the money to the lady.

5. We have to do our chores, our duties, obey the laws... but we have to go beyond that to make this world a place where the little Child in Bethlehem should never ever hear those words: "there is no room in the Inn." It is the very walking of the extra mile - that we find our joy and happiness. A joy that the world cannot take away, no robber can break in and steal. And moths and time cannot destroy. Isn't that good enough reason TO REJOICE? AGAIN I SAY REJOICE.