Third Sunday of Advent 
December 12, 2021

The Rev. Rod Sprange

“So, with many other exaltations he proclaimed the good news to the people” Luke 3:18

I finished writing this sermon before the news of the terrible tornados that struck across the US yesterday.  But I would like to acknowledge this tragedy and I’m sure join you all in praying for all those families whose lives have been changed forever.  But also that we pray for ourselves and all the people of the world as human created climate change is reeking judgement on our reckless exploitation of God’s creation, this planet, our island home.

John the Baptist told the crowds who came to him some stark truths about the judgement he foresaw with the coming of the Messiah.  He called them all a bunch pf poisonous snakes who had come crawling out of the rocks.  I don’t think John was too worried about increasing congregational numbers.   His job was to deliver an urgent message to anyone who would listen.  Luke describes three different types of people who were there and who asked what they should do to avoid the coming judgement.  John’s basic response to all was just to be generous.  If you have more than you need, give to those who don’t have enough.  Don’t use your power over others to line your own pockets. 

John uses some very vivid images to talk about the coming judgement, yet Luke ends this section with “So, with many other exaltations he proclaimed the good news to the people” 

You may be thinking that some of this this doesn’t sound like very good news.  If you are thinking that, that in itself is good news, it means the Holy Spirit has got your attention.  Advent is a time when we need to pay attention.  Much like the time when John lived, the season of Advent is a time of waiting and preparation.  I want to speak to you briefly about that waiting and what that preparation might include, and how it might actually change our lives. 

I’m going to tell you a couple of true stories.  It was long, long ago…

When I came to Winnipeg in 1967, that’s 54 years ago, I got a job as a designer working for the Hudson’s Bay Company in their store planning and design department.  There was a draughtsman, Arnie, who was a bit of a loaner.  One morning, a group of us had arrived early and were chatting.  Arnie came in and went up to Mel who was one of the managers. Very seriously Arnie said to Mel “Did you hear the news?”  Mel replied “yes, I did”.  Arnie then asked him “What was it?”  Mel didn’t quite know how to answer this question, and the rest of us were trying not to laugh. 

It seems to me, that this is a very good time of the year to ask ourselves Arnie’s two questions, but slightly modified.  Have you heard the Good News?  What is it?  

If we were listening well this morning, you heard Zephaniah, Isaiah and John the Baptist each proclaim good news.  We read the Gospel each week, and as you know, Gospel means Good News.  As Christians we claim to know the good news and we are called to proclaim it to the world.  If someone was to ask you “What is this Gospel, this Good News you Christians talk about?” How would you answer?  If we had a test right now, and you had to write down your understanding of the Good News, what would you write?   You have probably heard that famous admonition to preach the Gospel every day, and if necessary to use words.  It sounds lovely, and appropriate.  The problem is, the words are always necessary.  If we don’t tell the good news, in words, the message will be lost. If we only live the Gospel (and we should try to live the Gospel) people won’t know why it’s good news for them.  

The Gospel is a wonderful gift that has been entrusted to you and me and which we are called to share.  Whether or not the gift we share is accepted is between the other person and God. It should not affect our ongoing work as disciples of Christ.  Think of Paul who was often rejected, beaten, put in jail and eventually put to death because he kept on proclaiming the Good News.  His perseverance and the work of the Holy Spirit caused the Good News to spread around the world.    Our job is to offer the gift of the Good News as an act of generosity, not to make demands or threats or use coercion.  We are to offer the gift of our faith with sincerity, humility and love, and leave the rest to God. 

So I ask you to really think about the question, what is the Good News?   Are you ready to proclaim the Good News to those you meet?   I suspect many of us are not at all sure how to express this Good News, or perhaps even to be able to say we really understand what it means, when we hear, ‘this is the Gospel of Christ’.  Advent is a time of waiting.  But it is not a time of passive or idle waiting.  It is a time of preparing while we wait.  The goal is to be ready when Jesus the Christ returns. This would be a good time to think about the meaning of the Gospel.

This morning I am not going to share with you what I think the Good News is, instead I am going to tell you another story that may explain why I’m not going to do that today.  In the early 1970’s I was a part-time lecturer in the Faculty of Architecture at the U of M.  I was teaching a course on detailing to second year Interior Design students.  One early assignment I gave them was to research six different types of hinges and provide sketches of how they might make use of them.  There was almost a rebellion.  One student demanded to know why I didn’t provide images of different types of hinges and how they are used. It would be much more efficient for them.  

My response was to remind them that they had eyes and brains and I wanted them to get used to using both of them rather than relying on being spoon fed with notes that could look at at exam time.  By learning to look carefully at all the doors they came across over the next week, and by noticing how they were hinged, they would start to learn to notice the details that contribute to good and bad design.  It would mean them carrying a sketch book and drawing what they saw.  Later they could look at the different types of hinges they had discovered and think about how they might use them - how  each type would suit different functions, and how they would make a difference to the aesthetics of a project.  A good practice and they would begin to see the world with the eyes of a designer.

If we really want to understand the Gospel, and see the world as Christ sees it, it will take work, and time.  The best way is to use our own eyes and minds.  Read the Gospels, think about the story.  Realize the enormity of what the story of God and God’s people tells us.  Then read commentaries, get into discussions with friends.  You could get really radical and join a Bible study group - or even start one!  My dear departed friend, Rupert Ross, was a faithful member of our Bible Study Group at St. Peter’s.  When he was in his late 80’s, he said to our Rector, “You will make a Christian of me yet”. 

We are coming to the day when we celebrate the birth of the human Jesus, who was also Christ, the Son of God.  The angel told the shepherds “I bring you wonderful news’.  In First Coming, a poem by Madeleine L’Engl, she expresses well the absolute enormity and wonder of this event, she wrote: “In the mystery of the Word made flesh, the maker of the stars was born”.   Think about that, the maker of the stars was born.    We should do as as Paul told the Philippians “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, rejoice”. 

Let us pray

Glorious God, our salvation and our hope, bless each of us with a generous and enquiring spirit and the desire to share the good news about you.  Give us courage and strength to enter the world and share your life-giving message with your creation.  Amen