Joy
Gate Pa – Advent 3,
15th December 2013
Readings:
Hebrew Scripture: Isa 35:1-10 Bible Page 578
Psalm: Luke 1:46-55 NZPB Page
41
Epistle: James 5:7-10 Bible Page 982
Gospel: Matt 11:2-11 Bible
Page 792
What I want to say:
In this season which seems to
be all about how God offers us joy, I want to use the readings to explore what
gives God joy
What I want to happen:
people to reflect each day on how they offer God joy, and how
in turn they receive joy.
The Sermon
1. Introduction:
what comes to mind when see or hear word “joy”
at this time of year
(responses)
Joy is tricky thing
different things cause people joy – not all
same
it is complicated
2. John’s Joy
Gospel – baptism of Jesus, already heard John’s
joy and anticpation
this week confused
Jesus is not living up to his expectations
seems looking for bit more winnowing fork
action
all seems getting ton of compassion
what Jesus is up to is not bringing him much
joy
sends messengers from prison check out that
Jesus really is one waiting for
check
not suffering case premature joy
Matthews’s gospel already had account of Jesus
teachings (sermon on the Mount) and summary of his deeds,
Jesus refers to all this
frames it using passages out Isaiah
3. Isaiah
For three synoptic writers at least, Isaiah
was important resource in understanding Jesus
sometimes called 5th gospel
use here not only situates Jesus within wider
prophetic tradition
claim that what prophets, especially Isaiah,
looking for is coming true in words and deeds of Jesus
Explore Isaiah
three different times
1-39 – During Assyrian invasion of Israel
(centred around Samaria) to north 722 (740 – 700 BCE)
40-55 – Exile 597 BCE, c. 587 BCE,
and c. 582 BCE, respectively.
56-65 – post exile 538 BCE
100 years before Jeremiah
passage heard today situated end 1st
Isaiah
–
acts bridge to 2nd Isaiah
-
healing
of last days
includes
restoration
of exiles – are no exiles yet
renewal
of land
transformation
of society
Jesus reply to John anchors his ministry in this
vision of Isaiah
does two things
lets
John work out for himself based on evidence whether Jesus is the one
and
in doing so invites us to work out for ourselves
by
using this Jesus adopts Isaiah’s vision as his agenda for the here and now
raises
interesting question – Matthews asks us what our agenda in our here and now is
and what it is based on?
4. God’s Joy
Theme for this week in advent is Joy
One ways think about Christmas is of moment
great joy
creations
joy
joy
those present
our
joy celebrating event
wonder what happens think about this event as
moment of great joy for God
what is it about Christmas that would bring
God joy
answer I think can be found is this morning’s
readings
in
vision in Isaiah
in
Matthews use of that vision in Jesus response to John
also found song Mary we read this morning
5. Mary
last week after Pope described rampant
capitalism as evil
American commentator on Fox – described as him
as Marxist
clearly
using this in a negative way
clearly never read gospels
clearly never read Magnificat
really unsure how she ends up being meek and
mild
mouthpiece God who seeks raise up poor,
vulnerable, outcast
is
bringing down rich, powerful,
global scale is not good news for us
whole lot of us chanted and said Magnificat
over years without really thinking about what that would mean for us
there have been rich powerful people taken
exception to what is written there
in last 100 years alone banned by three south
American countries public recitation – seen as too subversive
what then brings joy to God
invite you spend time end each day relefting
on how added to God’s joy
ways you have not brough joy to God and god’s
people
what ways may be invited in making vision
Isiah reaity in our here and now today
preparing moment of great joy
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