Rejoice in the Lord always, as Paul instructs from his prison cell, emphasizing joy in the Lord rather than a constant, superficial happiness. This third Sunday of Advent, marked by the lighting of the pink candle, reminds us of the joy found in Christ despite our circumstances. Paul's situation parallels John the Baptist's imprisonment, where both figures direct their focus towards Jesus, who confirms His messianic role by fulfilling scriptural prophecies. Isaiah's prophecy to the exiled Israelites offers a dual comfort: immediate reassurance and the ultimate promise of redemption through Emmanuel. This prophecy is echoed in John the Baptist's preparation for Jesus, emphasizing the transient nature of human life contrasted with the enduring word of God. This enduring word, embodied in Christ, assures us of God's presence and support regardless of our earthly trials, encouraging us to find true joy in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

In the burning bush, God revealed himself to Moses. He said I AM who I AM.

Jesus, the one who spoke to Moses from the burning bush, speaks to us today. Jesus is the God who was, who is, who will be, and who causes all things to be. And, He causes you and me to be his own.

Jesus speaks to us today in his Word, scripture. His Word comes to us to forgive our sins, and to make us his own.

Advent is the Christian life in miniature. It is listening to the words of the Lord and learning that we are his holy children.

The world today often feels devoid of hope, making the Advent season, a time of hope, more essential than ever. In this season, we reflect on the fulfilled hope of Christ's birth, which also points us toward the future fulfillment of our hopes in Him. Hope, one of the three theological virtues alongside faith and love, is unique in its forward-looking nature. It may be based on God's explicit promises, like Christ's return, or on more general expectations rooted in God's character, such as finding a job or experiencing other blessings. Our culture, however, challenges hope with its instant gratification ethos and pervasive corruption across various sectors, leading to discouragement and despair. Yet, Scripture offers numerous examples of hope, from Abraham, who hoped against hope for a child, to Isaiah's vision of a shoot from Jesse's stump, symbolizing renewal from destruction. These scriptural narratives encourage us to maintain hope even in seemingly hopeless situations, trusting in God's ultimate redemption and the fulfillment of all godly hopes through Christ's return.

In our Advent sermon series, Shadows of the Incarnation, we explore the prophetic symbols of Christ found in the Old Testament, beginning tonight with the rock hewn without human hands from the dreams of King Nebuchadnezzar. This king, a figure of anti-Christ, exiled Daniel and his companions, renaming them with names of Babylonian gods and challenging their faith with defiling foods and threats of death. Yet, it is in this hostile environment that God reveals His future kingdom through a dream to Nebuchadnezzar, a dream that only Daniel, through divine revelation, could interpret. The dream's colossus, representing successive world empires, is ultimately destroyed by a small stone--Christ--signifying the establishment of an everlasting kingdom that grows to fill the earth. This stone, born of the Virgin Mary, signifies Christ's humble entry into the world, His ultimate victory over earthly and spiritual powers, and His eternal reign. As Christians, our hope rests not in earthly rulers but in Christ, the true King of Kings, who renames us, invites us to His table, and offers us His body and blood for the forgiveness of sins, establishing a kingdom where we are welcomed eternally.

We hear again the words from our Gospel lesson, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" Today, the first Sunday in Advent, we focus on Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, a pivotal event that directs us towards His ultimate sacrifice on the cross. This entry, humble and on a borrowed donkey, contrasts sharply with the grandeur expected of worldly kings and highlights His path of meekness and sacrifice. Jesus's journey is not about political power or earthly glory but about fulfilling His mission of salvation for all sinners. As He enters Jerusalem to the cries of "Hosanna," we are reminded that Jesus, whose name means "Yahweh saves," is both the fulfillment of God's promise and the embodiment of divine salvation. His entry, His actions, and His suffering on the cross are all for the purpose of redeeming us, cleansing us from sin, and making us His own. Thus, as we remember His entry into Jerusalem, we also anticipate His continual coming in the humble means of bread and wine at the altar, and ultimately, His glorious return. In this Advent season, we are called to embrace both the humility and the kingship of Jesus, who comes to save us and bring us into His eternal kingdom.

We hear again these words from our Gospel lesson. On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus encounters ten lepers, who, instead of shouting "unclean" as prescribed by Levitical law, call out to Jesus for mercy. In response, Jesus heals them, instructing them to show themselves to the priests. As they go, they are cleansed, but only one--a Samaritan--returns to give thanks. This act of gratitude, Jesus tells him, is a sign of his faith, which has brought him not just physical healing but salvation. This story illustrates that while Jesus' miracles are visible signs of healing, they also signify deeper spiritual realities--eternal life, peace with God, and the restoration of our whole being, which are accessed through faith. Faith is not about seeing but about believing in what Jesus declares, trusting in His word over our perceptions. The returning leper recognized this, understanding that Jesus' healing was a foretaste of heavenly wholeness. Thus, our faith in Christ compels us to gratitude, recognizing the myriad ways God sustains and saves us daily, pointing us to the ultimate gift of life with Him, secured through the cross of Christ.

At midnight there was a cry, "Here is the bridegroom, come out to meet him." As we conclude the church year, we turn our focus to the ultimate conclusion--the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Unlike the fear propagated by some through a misinterpretation of scriptures and current events, our texts today fill us with hope and anticipation for Jesus' return. Isaiah 65 promises a new heavens and a new earth, a reality so glorious that our current sufferings will be forgotten. Saint Paul, in his epistle, likens Jesus' return to a thief's unexpected visit, yet encourages us that we, being in the light, should not be surprised but live prepared. The parable of the ten virgins further illustrates this readiness, distinguishing between the wise, who are prepared with oil for their lamps, and the foolish, who are not. This preparation is not about fear but about joyful anticipation of joining the bridegroom. We are reminded to live in readiness, embracing repentance and longing for His kingdom, so that when He appears, we rejoice and proceed to the eternal feast. This readiness transforms our perspective, making our earthly burdens light in the anticipation of the eternal kingdom swiftly approaching.

In the parable of the unforgiving servant, we are confronted with the stark reality of our own spiritual indebtedness and the profound mercy of God, who forgives debts we could never repay. This parable not only highlights the insanity of sin, which accumulates an unpayable debt, but also the graciousness of a king--symbolizing Christ--who absolves this debt out of compassion. Yet, the narrative takes a dark turn when the forgiven servant refuses to extend this same forgiveness to his debtor, illustrating a heart unchanged by the mercy he received. This act of hypocrisy is met with severe consequences, underscoring the necessity of forgiving others as we have been forgiven. Our Lord's teaching is clear: a lack of forgiveness is incompatible with the kingdom of God. As we partake in the Eucharist, receiving the chalice of Christ's blood, we are reminded of the forgiveness that flows into us, renewing our hearts and empowering us to forgive. Let us then forgive genuinely and freely, reflecting the boundless grace we receive from God.

Behold the great multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne of God and the Lamb, clothed in white robes, a vision of the heavenly liturgy we partake in even now. Today, on All Saints Day, we remember and give thanks for all saints, those who have gone before us and those among us, sanctified by the blood of the Lamb. We are reminded of the eternal reality that surrounds us, often obscured by the transient and deceptive nature of our worldly perceptions. This multitude, uncountable and diverse, reflects the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, a blessing to all nations through Christ. In this heavenly assembly, there is no distinction--every saint stands equal, washed clean by Christ's sacrificial blood. We are invited to envision the throne of God, not as a distant or abstract future, but as the present and active reality in which we participate through worship, drawn into communion with angels and archangels. The heavenly realm is vibrant and dynamic, far from the misconceived boredom often attributed to eternal life. Here, every tear will be wiped away, every need met, as we are shepherded by the Lamb to springs of living water, forever in the presence of God who shelters us. Thus, we live with a perspective shaped by this truth, our eyes fixed on the heavenly reality, our lives a testament to the faith of the saints and the promise of our gathering together in the eternal kingdom of God.