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Comfort

Isaiah 40:1–8 ¹ Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. ² Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. ³ A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. ⁴ Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. ⁵ And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” ⁶ A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. ⁷ The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. ⁸ The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”

This passage is the basis for the following Advent hymn.

Comfort, comfort, ye My people, Speak ye peace, thus saith our God;
Comfort those who sit in darkness, Mourning ‘neath their sorrows’ load.
Speak ye to Jerusalem Of the peace that waits for them;
Tell her that her sins I cover And her warfare now is over.

Yea, her sins our God will pardon, Blotting out each dark misdeed;
All that well deserved His anger He no more will see or heed.
She hath suffered many a day, Now her griefs have passed away;
God will change her pining sadness Into everspringing gladness.

Hark, the Herald’s voice is crying In the desert far and near,
Bidding all men to repentance Since the Kingdom now is here.
Oh, that warning cry obey! Now prepare for God away;
Let the valleys rise to meet Him And the hills bow down to greet Him.

Make ye straight what long was crooked, Make the rougher places plain;
Let your hearts be true and humble, As befits His holy reign.
For the glory of the Lord Now o’er earth is shed abroad,
And all flesh shall see the token That His Word is never broken.
(Lutheran Service Book, #347)

God wants His people to be comforted. He refers to His people as “her”, foreshadowing the imagery of the Church being the Bride of Christ. He speaks of peace, pardon, sins being covered, sadness changing to gladness. This was the promise, fulfilled in the birth of God’s promised Messiah, Jesus. His way was prepared by the “Herald” John the Baptist, calling people to repent, to turn from sins, and get ready for the salvation He will bring. It started with His birth in Bethlehem, but was finished with His death outside Jerusalem. His resurrection is the guarantee of our resurrection, too.

Does that comfort you?

P.S. I like to sing this hymn to the tune WERDE MUNTER, which is used for “Speak, O Lord, Your Servant Listens” (LSB #589)

Comfortrevmattil2022-12-06T06:07:38-06:00

On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry

I often find myself thinking about the words of songs and hymns. I love everything from historic hymns to modern day praise anthems that speak Scriptural truth. I take comfort in knowing that songs often speak to hearts in ways that words alone cannot. When the lyrics point people to Christ, His payment for sin and His victory over death that He offers to all people, that reinforces the truth of God’s Word for individuals in a powerful way.

Having said that, I want to share some hymns and songs with you in the days ahead to aid your preparation for the celebration of Christ’s birth. Some of these will be ones I grew up singing from a hymnal published 80 years ago. Others will be much newer. But they all remind us of God’s gift of a Savior that we all desperately need.

On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry Announces that the Lord is nigh;
Come, then, and hearken, for he brings Glad tidings from the King of Kings.

Then cleansed be every Christian breast And furnished for so great a Guest.
Yea, let us each our hearts prepare For Christ to come and enter there.

For Thou art our Salvation, Lord, Our Refuge, and our great Reward.
Without Thy grace our souls must fade And wither like a flower decayed.

Lay on the sick Thy healing hand And make the fallen strong to stand;
Show us the glory of Thy face Till beauty springs in every place.

All praise, eternal Son, to Thee Whose advent sets Thy people free,
Whom, with the Father, we adore And Holy Ghost forevermore.

The Lutheran Hymnal, #63

John told people that the Messiah was coming, and they needed to get ready. They needed to welcome Him into their hearts. Why? Because He brought the grace of God, our salvation, without which we would wither and die forever. When this Guest, this Refuge, came into the world, it was for the purpose of earning our forgiveness. He did that on the cross. He paid for the sins of the world. And that is why He is worthy of all praise. His Advent, His coming, it what sets us free.

On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cryrevmattil2022-12-04T19:17:13-06:00

Lord, Open Thou My Heart

Not too long ago, I attended a worship service that was outside of my “comfort zone.” I knew that going in. It began with about 30 minutes of singing, mostly songs I didn’t know, with the leaders encouraging everyone to raise their hands and sing along and trying to build excitement. I thought it was a bit like the “hype men” trying to get a concert the crowd worked up before the main attraction comes out.

This was followed by announcements and the offering and then the sermon/teaching portion of the service. They were wrapping up a series on “Building the Church.” The pastor did a good job of engaging the people. He pointed them to a lot of Scripture and focused on the need for Evangelism, telling others about Jesus, the need to keep others out of hell by sharing the Good News we have.

There was a lot I didn’t like about the service. I could focus on that, which is something I have done in the past and heard others do as well. But I chose to focus on what was good. These people know Jesus as their Savior. They were kind and welcoming and loving. They want other people to know about Jesus too. They were focusing on what the Bible says and the pastor kept encouraging everyone to be more in the Word.

I had a good attitude that morning because I woke up with that day with the words of an old hymn going through my head.

Lord, open Thou my heart to hear
And through Thy Word to me draw near;
Let me Thy Word e’er pure retain,
Let me Thy child and heir remain.

Thy Word doth deeply move the heart,
Thy Word doth perfect health impart,
Thy Word my soul with joy doth bless,
Thy Word brings peace and happiness.

To God, the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit, Three in One,
Shall glory, praise and honor be
Now and throughout eternity.

The Lutheran Hymnal, #5

What attitude do you take with you when you go to worship?

Lord, Open Thou My Heartrevmattil2022-12-04T19:24:42-06:00

Your Father Would Like A Word With You

Did you ever hear the phrase “Just wait until your father gets home!” In my home growing up, that meant there was going to be a whooping – and usually one that was well deserved, I might add.

Another phrase I heard sometimes growing up was, “Your father would like to have a word with you!” Depending on how and when it was said, that had different meanings. It might mean I was in trouble, but not always.

Think about that phrase: Your Father would like to have a Word with you. And think of it in terms of Your heavenly Father would like to have a Word with you. This season of Advent is a good time to consider how the Father had a Word with you.

We have the Word of the Father that has been revealed to us, written down and preserved in what we often call “The Bible.” (Which, by the way, simply means “The Book.) This is God’s Word, Him telling us about Himself, about our sin, about His love and what that led Him to do for us. If you want to hear God speaking to you, listen to His Word.

Part of that Word is His Law, which would be like hearing that phrase “Your Father would like to have a Word with you” in harsh tones. And that is well deserved. When we look at the law of our God, how He has told us to live, we have not done it. It condemns us for our disobedience.

But there is better news. We also hear in the most loving manner possible, “Your Father would like to have a Word with you.” That is the Gospel, the Good News, the Word made Flesh. Jesus came to make sure we could be reconciled to God in spite of our disobedience. He paid the penalty for all sin and gives that payment to everyone who will believe in Him. We have the written Word and that Word made flesh with us in our lives.

At Christmas, which we are preparing to celebrate God made sure to have HIS loving Word with us.

John 1:1–2, 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning … The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

You probably know that “Immanuel” means “God with us.” In Jesus, God – the Word – is truly with us. Your Father would like to have HIS Word with you.

Your Father Would Like A Word With Yourevmattil2022-12-02T09:06:02-06:00

Always Ready

Let’s spend one more day reflecting on this passage.

2 PETER 3:10-14 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed it coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with him.

Peter speaks of the return of Christ, the day of the Lord, as being something that will take us by surprise. Jesus is coming again. It will be the last day, but Jesus said, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36). We cannot know when it will happen, but it is certain. In 1789, Benjamin Franklin wrote a letter to a man named Marshall LeRoy. You may never have heard of Marshall LeRoy, but I would guess you are familiar with the words Mr. Franklin wrote to him in that letter: IN THIS WORLD NOTHING CAN BE SAID TO BE CERTAIN, EXCEPT DEATH AND TAXES. While this is often quoted as a truism, the Bible tells us this is not so. Taxes are certain; death is not. Our Lord could return before you die. Most people dismiss thoughts of His return being any time soon, but Peter makes the point that it will come unexpectedly, like a thief. He is coming back. The second coming of Christ is more certain than death. And the scene described in the passage above is not at all pleasant. A tremendous fire that will destroy the earth, melting the elements, until nothing is left. This is the stuff of which fire and brimstone sermons are made. This is meant to instill fear in the hearts of men. Why? So that you will latch on to the only One able to save you. It is designed to lead you to cling to Jesus Christ in faith as your Lord and Savior.

A traveler in Switzerland discovered a beautiful secluded estate on the shores of a tranquil lake. Knocking at the garden gate, he was met by an elderly caretaker, who cordially asked him to come in. The custodian seemed glad to see another person and eagerly showed him around the garden. As he viewed the beautiful garden, the tourist asked, “How long have you served here?” “A very long time,” came the reply. “And does your master spend very much time here?” “No, he has been here only four times in all these years.” “When was he here last?” “Over ten years ago. I am almost always alone. It is very seldom that anyone–even a stranger–stops by.” The traveler noticed that the garden was in perfect order, with the plants flourishing and the beds clean of debris. He said, “It looks as though you were expecting your master to come sometime this week.” “No sir,” exclaimed the old man. “I have fixed the garden as though he were coming today!”

That state of preparedness, constantly ready and on the alert, is a description of how the Christian should live. We are always prepared for the return of our Lord in faith, faith that leads us to live godly lives. Yet this readiness is not one of worry or anxiety. It is a joyful wait, knowing that whether we die first or Christ returns first, we will be with Him. We are prepared!

Always Readyrevmattil2022-11-28T10:30:54-06:00

What Kind of People Ought You to Be?

Advent reminds us Jesus came once and that He is coming again. Yesterday I spoke about being prepared for that second coming with faith that believes in Jesus. This was based on 2 Peter 3.

After describing this scene of destruction in our text, which we will avoid because of our faith in Jesus, Peter asks what kind of people ought you to be? Since you will be spared the suffering described, as you wait for Christ’s return, what kind of people should you be? You ought to be prepared people. And prepared people, those who have faith in Jesus, are happy in the knowledge of their salvation. They do not say, “Yeah, I’m saved,” and then sit on their hands. No, they are busily at work doing the Lord’s will, conforming their lives to God’s pattern, anticipating His return. They try to live holy and godly lives, not by their power, but by God’s Spirit working in them.

To live holy and godly lives means not only doing good, but also avoiding sin. One of the words Peter used to describe the way we should be is blameless. What a precious thought, to be blameless in the sight of God, to be able to stand before God and know that no accusation against you would stand. You should be found blameless in the day of Christ’s return–what an awe-inspiring declaration. Until we ask, “How do I do that? How can this be? How can I, one who sins daily, hope to stand before the gaze of our righteous God and be found blameless?”

In one of his most famous sermons, Luther spoke to this very paradox–being sinful yet also blameless. And his words are so up to date. They speak directly to the thoughts and perplexities that we experience. Listen to a portion of his Easter Sermon based on Luke 24:36-48:

A Christian is at once a sinner and a saint; he is wicked and pious at the same time. For so far as our persons are concerned, we are in sins and are sinners in our own name. But Christ brings us another name, in which there is forgiveness of sins, that for his sake sins are remitted and pardoned. So both statements are true: there are sins, for the old Adam is not entirely dead yet; yet the sins are not there. The reason is this: For Christ’s sake God does not want to see them. I have my eyes on them. I feel and see them well enough. But there is Christ, commanding that I be told I should repent, that is, confess myself a sinner and believe the forgiveness of sins in His name. For repentance, remorse, and knowledge of sin, though necessary, is not enough; faith in the forgiveness of sins in the name of Christ must be added. But where there is such faith, God no longer sees my sins; for then you stand before God, not in your name, but in Christ’s name. He adorns you with grace and righteousness, although in your own eyes and personally you are a poor sinner, full of weakness and unbelief.

Can the mind even begin to comprehend this awesome message? There is a tension and a conflict here, but it is resolved by God’s decree. The very Christ who will one day return to judge the world in righteousness entered our human experience ages ago. He lived the blameless life we are incapable of living. He took our punishment on Himself and paid the price of death. He did that as our substitute so that you and I could be spared. And He gives His blamelessness to those who believe that He did this for them. I know I am not blameless, but God sees me that way because of my faith in Jesus. You know that you are not without sin, but God sees you that way by virtue of your faith in Christ. Astonishing! Awesome! Amazing! Astounding! And absolutely true! Yes, this is most certainly true. And this is how you prepare for His return: Believe this Good News.

What Kind of People Ought You to Be?revmattil2022-11-28T10:35:10-06:00

Prepare

How are your preparations for Christmas going? That question brings to mind family get-togethers and gift exchanges, putting up lights and decorations and going shopping. In some homes a lot of baking and candy-making is taking place. People are at different stages of preparedness for the celebration of Christmas.

Notice that when I asked about being prepared for Christmas, how natural it was to think about lights and decorations and shopping and baking. I wonder if that is what John the Baptizer meant when he cried out: “Prepare the way for the Lord?”

All the outward preparation is fine, as long as you make sure that you are also prepared inwardly. That is what this season of Advent is about: preparing your hearts. How? As far as Advent is concerned, “Prepare” and “Believe” are synonyms. If you believe, you are prepared, and you prepare for the coming of Christ with faith. Remember that in Advent, our preparation is not just to remember the first coming of Jesus, but to anticipate His Second Coming as well. Keep this in mind as you read this passage.

Peter speaks of the return of Christ, the day of the Lord, as being something that will take us by surprise. So be prepared in faith. That is what the ministry of John the Baptist was all about, preaching preparation to the people. We also have the example of Mary, who when told she would give birth to the Son of God, believed. Both John and Mary, as well as others, were prepared for the Coming of their Savior with their faith. They trusted the promise of God, and through that trust were saved. The same is true for you and me. Faith that trusts that God sent Christ to pay for sins, faith that knows He died the death you deserve, faith that believes He is risen from the dead and lives and reigns to all eternity is a faith that saves, a faith that is prepared for His return.

Watch

Advent has a purpose. It is a time of anticipation, a time to get ready to celebrate God’s goodness in sending Christ Jesus. We think of how Christ came once to be our Savior, and that He is coming again to be our Judge. Each year during this season, the assigned Scripture lessons have a recurring theme. The same words appear over and over again in those readings. One of those theme words is “Watch!”

Luke 21:25-36 25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” 29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 “I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

So what is it we are to watch for? In the verses just prior to the passage above, Jesus had been speaking to His disciples about the End Times. He said Watch out that you are not deceived. The disciples wanted to know what to look for, what signs would tell them the end was near. Jesus replies: The heavenly bodies would be shaken, False Prophets would appear, wars, earthquakes, famine, pestilence, persecution for the followers of Christ. All that leads up to this passage. Jesus describes a world coming apart. The sun, moon, stars, and even the sea will be out of control. The picture is frightening: A world out of control. We have all seen glimpses of this: devastating hurricanes, killer earthquakes, tidal waves, tornadoes, volcanoes, meteors crashing to earth. The God who is in control of all this, the God who is in control of nature is the one who warns us to watch. He issues a call to believe, a call to remain steadfast in faith.

So are you watching? Our lives are run by schedules and routines and time clocks and appointments. But where does God fit in? Your watchfulness should keep you focused on God. Does it? Are you watching? Do you keep your appointments to study His Word, to worship in His house, to spend time with Him each day?

Listen to this quote from President Franklin Delano Roosevelt: “We have had the lesson before us over and over again – nations that were not ready and unable to get ready found themselves overrun by the enemy.” That is why Jesus told His disciples and us to watch. That is why God issued the same warning through Peter: Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

God wants you to watch for the Second coming of Christ because the devil wants to lead you away from God, to make sure you are not watching. The devil is trying to destroy you.

We need to remember that we are to watch for the Second Advent, the Second Coming of Jesus. If you remember that, you will remember that there was a First Advent, a First Coming. And therein lies our hope and confidence. Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners. When Jesus came to that Bethlehem stable, He did so in order to save you from your sins and your richly deserved punishment in Hell. He would accomplish that for you by living a life without sin, offering that life as your payment, letting Himself be crucified in your place. He took your penalty. And then He rose again and lives even to this day in triumph over sin, death and the devil. That victory is yours as well. This is the promise that is repeated throughout Scripture. All you need to make it your own is faith. Faith in Christ assures you of forgiveness and eternal life.

This same Jesus is coming again. That is why you need to Watch! God promises in His Word that the Second Coming will be for the purpose of judgment. Those who have faith in Jesus will be welcomed into His eternal kingdom. Those without faith will be excluded. So as you watch, believe! That’s all it takes. That is how God wants to find you when He comes: believing in Christ as your Savior.

Watchrevmattil2022-11-28T09:56:54-06:00

Prepare the Way

Luke 3:2b-4 …the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the desert, `Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”

Preparing for Christmas? That’s what we do as followers of Jesus. I’m not just talking about sending cards and decorating our homes. And the preparation I mean is not going to make you feel anxious and stressed. In fact, if we use Advent to prepare for the birth of Christ, it will have the opposite effect. It will bring calm and peace. It is a readiness of the heart that God desires at his coming. That is why one of the historic prayers for this Advent season says: Stir Up Our Hearts, O Lord, to Make Ready the Way of Your Only-Begotten Son. This is speaking not just of our remembering His first coming, but being ready for His coming again.

Make ready the Way. Prepare the way. Make straight paths for Him. Are you doing that? Perhaps a better question is “How do you do that?” How do you make ready the way? How can we make it possible for everyone to see God’s salvation? There are a lot who have heard of Jesus and rejected Him, but there are also a lot who have never heard or who have been misinformed about who He is and what He has done.

When John the Baptist came on the scene, it says he went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Part of John’s preparation of the way of the Lord was to confront people in their sins and urge them to repent, to turn from them. If you are going to turn from sin, you have to know what it is. So what is sin?

The Greek word most often translated as sin in the New Testament is a term that comes from archery. This Greek word “amartano” means “to miss the mark.” So, sin is when you miss the mark in life. Sin is that which derails us in life. It causes us to get off track and miss the goal. Missing the mark. God says do and you don’t. God says don’t and you do.

When you try to talk to people about sin, many will get very defensive: “You people say it is anything we do.” “You don’t want anyone to have any fun.” They know they have missed the mark, but don’t like to admit it to themselves or anyone else. So they get defensive. Negative reactions from those who feel guilty are a big reason so many people choose not to confront others with their sins.

However, they need to be confronted. It is part of preparing the way for the Lord. John confronts the sin of his hearers in no uncertain terms. He gives a harsh condemnation of their sins. They needed to know what the problem was in order to have it fixed. And John also shares the solution: with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them. (Luke 3:18)

The Good News that John preached is the same Good News we have heard, the same news the angels announced to the shepherds: To you is born this day…a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. The birth of Jesus is worth celebrating, but only because we know what else He did. He gave Himself up for us all. All that sin you and I and everyone else have done had a price. And that is why Jesus came. He paid the price for the sins of everyone when He offered His sinless life on that cross on a hill just outside Jerusalem.

Those who trust in Jesus have been brought to the point in their lives where they have confidence and certainty of salvation because someone shared the message with them. Someone prepared the way for the Lord. For whom are you preparing the way? How will you share this Good News? As we rejoice in the gift God has given again this year, may each of us pray that God will use us to share this wonderful message with someone who has not yet believed in Jesus. Prepare the way!

Prepare the Wayrevmattil2022-11-26T10:47:43-06:00

The Season Before the Season

Baseball has Spring training. The NFL has preseason games. And in the today world, you have “the Christmas season” to get ready for Christmas Day. You have already seen Christmas Parades and the lighting of community Christmas Trees and homes covered with Christmas decorations. People will host Christmas parties all month long.

But in the church and the church year calendar, we have Advent, the season before the season. It is a season worth hanging on to, even if the world is ignorant of it or ignores it. There is no question that “the season” coming is Christmas. Emotionally, it is probably our biggest celebration as Christians. Even though our theology and liturgy point to Easter as the supreme festival, that does not make Christmas unimportant. It is important, because it is the reminder of how our Savior came into this world as one of us.

As followers of Jesus, we should remember that Christmas is all about Jesus and His taking on flesh to be one of us, Immanuel, God with us. Because this is such an important occasion, it is still a good thing for us to prepare for it. We should carefully observe the days leading up to Christmas. It would be a shame to let Christmas sneak up on you, to be unprepared or prepare poorly for this great festival. Even sadder still would be to miss the point of Christmas altogether. So we have Advent, “The Season Before the Season.” Remember, as far as the Church is concerned, the Christmas season has not yet begun. Advent is a time for us to prepare for the coming celebration.

Matthew 25:1-13 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “At midnight the cry rang out: `Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, `Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ “`No,’ they replied, `there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. “Later the others also came. `Sir! Sir!’ they said. `Open the door for us!’ “But he replied, `I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

The message of the parable is the same as one of the old Advent Hymns: “Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying.” In other words, be alert! Watch what you are doing! Observe carefully these days before Christmas. Be aware of what is going on. As serious as this message is, the parable used to convey it is actually a bit humorous. You know how people today like to inject some playful, surprising elements into the wedding scene? It was no different in Jesus’ day. We do things like throw rice, decorate and tie tin cans to cars, maybe hide something in the luggage of the newlyweds or hide the luggage itself! One of their little games back then had to do with the bridegroom’s arrival at the bride’s home before the wedding ceremony to claim her and her attendants. When he came, he would take them and the families and wedding guests to the wedding hall for the ceremony, reception and honeymoon. These events could last seven days or more! The playful part of it was the challenge of the bridegroom to arrive at the bride’s home at a moment that would catch her and her maidens unprepared. What better time to pull off such a surprise than the middle of the night? So the encouragement was for the maidens to be prepared with their lamps burning all night long.

Christmas is coming very soon, and this season before the season invites you to watch…wake…be ready…prepare…observe the days carefully. And what is it you are to be careful about during this season before the season? I think it is this: You should be aware that the coming season of Christmas is never complete in itself. The season of Christmas only has meaning and fulfillment in view of Good Friday and Easter.

To put this in visual terms Advent calls us to see a cross hovering over the manger. Many Christmas pictures do that for us, sometimes even forming the Christmas star into the shape of a cross. And Advent calls you to see that cross and all that it represents. The joy of the coming Christmas season comes to its fullness after repentance over sin and trust in the forgiveness that Christ earned on that cross and the victory of the open tomb. As you gaze into the quiet skies of a Christmas silent night, you need to see a triumphant, risen Christ coming toward you in Last Day victory. But right now, in this season before the season, Advent, you are called to see what it is about the coming season that can bring you to the genuine inner joy: For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given…a Savior, who is Christ the Lord!

The Season Before the Seasonrevmattil2022-11-26T10:46:01-06:00

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