Preparing for Worship - December 12, 2021

This is the 3rd Sunday in Advent and is called “Rejoicing Sunday,” (Gaudete Sunday) when the pink candle is lit on an Advent wreath. In the midst of a time of repentance in preparation for Christmas, and even in times of trouble,  there is also joy in God’s love and mercy in Christ our Savior.

In the Psalm, Psalm 85, God’s people are grateful that the Lord has forgiven them and restored their fortunes; but troubles and setbacks continue, and they pray that the Lord would “revive them again” and “speak peace” to them and renew their joy in Him.

The Old Testament lesson is Zephaniah 3:14-20. God had sent many strong warning to the people of Judah and other nations; but now the prophet Zephaniah calls for rejoicing, because God will be with His “humble and lowly” people in mercy, to “quiet them by His love and save” them. Even the “lame” and “outcasts” and people “shamed” by others will be blessed by the Lord and Savior.

In the Gospel lesson, Luke 7:18-28 (29-35), John the Baptist is suffering in prison for doing the right things and needs reassurance from Jesus that He, Jesus, is the promised Savior. Jesus points to all the ways that He is fulfilling prophecy and helping both the physically and spiritual poor and needy people with His mercy and Good News. “Blessed is the one who is not offended by Me,” Jesus says to John. He calls him simply to trust God’s ways and plans, even if he cannot fully understand them.

In the Epistle lesson, Philippians 4:4-7, Paul is in prison for the faith, but still has joy and calls upon us, too, even in difficult times, to “rejoice in the Lord always.” We can turn all of our anxieties and fears and questions over to the Lord in prayer and trust that He will bring us “peace which surpasses all understanding” and will “guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”