Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:
Today, the Third Sunday in Advent, is known as Gaudete Sunday. We get this name “Gaudete” from the first word of our Introit: “Rejoice!” We spoke together: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).
To further signify this special day, the third Advent candle lit is set out from the rest. It’s pink. Pink signifies joy!
John the Baptist sure stuck out among his generation, much like today’s pink candle on the Advent wreath. He wore strange clothing: camel’s hair and a leather belt. He ate strange foods: locusts and wild honey.
John was very unusual. He preached boldly. He condemned all sinners alike, saying: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2) and “You brood of vipers!” (Matthew 3:7)
John didn’t care if people were offended by God’s truth. The religious leaders in his day as in our day, would say, “This is not the way to start off a successful ministry. How day you offend!” But as I said last week, people came from all the surrounding region to hear John preach, confess their sins, and be baptized.
We may not think this is the proper way to gain followers, but this is how God works. He does the unexpected. He calls us to repentance and faith!
John’s calling was to prepare the way for the coming Messiah. He was filling every valley and leveling every mountain by encouraging the repentant and condemning the proud. This is how God used John to prepare for the Messiah. This is how God’s people prepare for the Lord’s coming – through repentance, that is turning from their sins and believing in the good news of forgiveness.
But not every mountain wants to be leveled. There are so many prideful people who refuse to repent. Remember the Pharisees and Sadducees? They thought their so-called “good works” and just going through the liturgical motions were enough for God. Well, they weren’t alone. King Herod Antipas was one of those mountains who did not want to be leveled. He did not delight in John’s preaching of repentance, especially when John spoke to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her” (Matthew 14:4) regarding the king’s affair with his brother’s wife Herodias.
King Herod Antipas was breaking the Sixth Commandment and John wasn’t about to ignore it. So, the king locked up John in prison.
Today is Gaudete Sunday. Today is a day of rejoicing! But we see John locked up in prison. This doesn’t appear to be joyful. Where is the joy?
Those words “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice” were inspired by the Holy Spirit and penned by St. Paul. Paul wrote those very words while he was in prison for preaching the good news of Jesus. Paul rejoiced even while in prison. But what about John?
John certainly heard about the miracles and signs of Jesus. But he also had expectations. John preached of the winnowing fork who would clear the threshing floor of unrepentant sinners. He believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah, but now it appears that he may have doubts. Maybe he thought that the Messiah would rescue him? Yes, he’s hearing of the prophecies fulfilled and the miraculous healings, but he’s stuck in prison.
John knows he is the fiery prophet of the Lord, but he’s taken aback, since what he’s heard about Jesus did not match his end-time message that he preached and what he is currently experiencing.
So, John sent word by his disciples to Jesus: “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (Matthew 11:3) Has John lost faith? John was a real man, like you and me. Like us, he could easily be deceived by the devil’s lies, to insecurity, or even to doubt. Is John having second thoughts?
John once proclaimed of Jesus, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) He had great expectations, but now he is in prison. And prison is a depressing place.
Now, it is likely that you have struggled with unbelief. This struggle is always the case for every Christian until we are with Christ in heaven. Even though we have faith, there is still that old unbeliever in us – that “Old Adam” – which is our old sinful nature. And often in difficult situations, we may wonder if we are right to trust in Jesus. What John sees is that he is in prison, but what he doesn’t see is what Jesus is doing.
So, Jesus tells John’s disciples: “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by Me” (Matthew 11:4-6).
What Jesus is saying is this: “Yes, I am the promised Messiah. The very things the prophets said the Messiah would do, I am doing. Blessed is the one who trusts in Me to do things My way. Yes, evil men remain strong, but I will overthrow them in My time.”
Just imagine what John must have thought when he heard this. I’m sure he went from sorrow to joy; from doubt to faith! Now, we must not conclude that John lost all faith before Christ’s answer, but he, like us, so often need our faith strengthened by the only One who can do it: Jesus. John is like us. He had his moments of faith to doubt and back to faith again.
So, when you are in the prison of your fears, or of uncertainties, we can look to John for guidance. You can do what he did. You can reach out to Jesus and question Him: “Are you the one for me?” “Are you there for me when I need you?” He answers our questions in where He is found: in the Scriptures, in the Sacraments, and even in your sinful pastor, who suffers with you.
For John, Jesus spoke to the crowds concerning him. “What did they go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?” – That is, a weak and fickle ministry? “A man dressed in soft clothing?” – That is, a wealthy person who lives in a king’s palace? No, John is languishing in a king’s prison! “What did they go out to see?” – They came to see the Messenger who prepared the way for Me.
Unlike John in prison, we have seen God’s salvation. Christ took upon Himself our sins through John’s baptism all the way to the cross. Upon that cross, He suffered the punishment we each deserve for our sins. He suffered death. And He rose to life so we would not remain in our sins.
Jesus defeated the power of sin, death, and the devil for you upon the cross. Through His death, we have life! Today, we see the Lamb of God. He first came to you through the holy washing of Baptism, where you were marked as His own. We hear His all-sufficient Word and we receive heavenly nourishment in Christ’s body and blood, which forgives our sins and strengthens our weak faith.
The world will try to break our spirit, but remember, your Messiah has overcome the world! So, our prisons will have their end. Our pain will one day be removed. Our hope of eternal life will not end in disappointment.
Remember, the arrival of Jesus is the basis for our rejoicing! He is the Coming One who is Emmanuel, that is “God with us!” The prophecy about the preparation of the way for God is fulfilled in Jesus. So, never give up hope. Gaudete Sunday is celebrated in the midst of sadness and doubt, but also in watchfulness of His coming. Christ’s comfort to John in prison is also on your behalf. So, don’t waver. Your faith is built upon God’s Word and His Sacraments, where we always find comfort, peace, and joy! Amen.
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +
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