Christmas Eve 2018- Luke 2:10

 As we worship together on Christmas Eve, let us pause to meditate on the meaning of our celebration by looking to Luke 2. To do that, let us focus on the announcement of the angel to the shepherds. St. Luke 2:10 says, “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” (KJV).

The angel’s message “I bring you good tidings” translates two Greek words which could also be translated as “I announce good news to you” or “I proclaim the gospel to you.” So the announcement of Christ’s Birth is the beginning of the preaching of the Gospel. His Nativity is not an isolated event. It is an integral part of the whole story, the entire Christian message. This birth cannot be separated from all that Jesus Christ means.

This good news is “of great joy.” There are hardships in the story. Joseph and Mary are not rich and influential. They have to make a rough journey of several days at the whim of the Roman oppressor. They have to take shelter in a rock formation used as an animal barn. Mary’s labor is real, and there are evil forces that would destroy the child. But despite all the humility and suffering that are part of the story, it brings a deep and lasting happiness, an inner blessedness. And this joy is open to all people. The lowly shepherds are merely the first chosen to hear. They are humble representatives of all God’s people through the ages.

So regardless of our circumstances, let us focus on the source of true joy. The Gospel, the good tidings, is about God's gracious offer of redemption for sinners through the Birth, the Incarnation, of His only begotten Son who comes to save us. Glory to God in the highest!

Advent I (C)- Jeremiah 33:14-18- Longing for Redemption

Anticipating Christ’s coming is a great part of the life of the chosen people throughout history. And although we should consider our preparations, the real focus should be on what God does. Especially during Advent, we often hear this in our Old Testament lessons.

In Jeremiah 33:14-15 (ESV), we are reminded, “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David….”

Jeremiah speaks about God’s promises of old and the continued longings of His people for redemption. A new leader, “a righteous Branch” (Jer. 33:15), would come from the house of the great king David. He would bring justice, righteousness, and security, and be called “The Lord our righteousness” (Jer. 33:16). Through Him, both royal rule and priestly worship would continue forever.

Over the centuries, the Israelites kept hoping for the fulfillment of these promises. Often they failed individually and communally. They faced many difficulties, but God’s promises to them and their hopes in Him lived on. Indeed, ever so slowly, their understandings were refined. Prophets such as Jeremiah pointed God's people to higher and deeper implications of redemption. For no mere earthly king or priest could really fulfill their hopes.

Only a unique leader of deep spiritual and moral power directly from God could satisfy the longings of Israel. Only a leader like Jesus Christ, Son of God could truly fulfill the prophecies. Only He could deliver people from bondage to sin and offer eternal life with God.

As we recall these ancient longings and their culmination in the Messiah Jesus, we should acknowledge that God’s people still have longings. Of course, Christ has fulfilled the greatest prophecies. He has accomplished the great acts of redemption through His Incarnation, Suffering, Death, and Resurrection. But in this life, we are still on a journey toward greater fulfillment. We have not arrived. We are not personally righteous. Jesus Christ is “the Lord our righteousness.” And the righteous rule of Christ needs to become stronger in all our lives. We must keep looking for new personal applications of His redeeming and sanctifying grace.

Jeremiah speaks to our situation in the world, especially as we begin Advent. Humanity in general and we in particular need true hope. And true hope can only be based on God’s promises. True hope is not found in human abilities, accomplishments, or righteousness. The hope for ancient Israel and for modern people of all nations can only be found in the Lord our righteousness, Jesus the Messiah. May that hope guide us through this season in our meditations and in our actions!