Zephaniah 3:14 – 20 Philippians 4:4 – 7 Luke 3:7 - 18

There may only be ten days left until Christmas but we are still very much in the season of Advent. Advent, like Lent, is a time for reflection, for reviewing the state of our hearts and souls. Are we holding onto any grudges or nursing any resentments? Is there someone we need to forgive? Do we need to accept forgiveness for something, knowing that God has already forgiven us? Are we anxiously anticipating an unknown future or are we trusting in God to show us the way ahead, even if it’s only one step at a time?

We can only start from where we are but the good news is that Christ always meets us in the present! We can’t return to the past or fast-forward into the future but we can always begin again with God right here and right now.

Our readings today give us some clues about how we might navigate this season, as we prepare to say goodbye to the old year and to welcome the New Year with open, trusting and faithful hearts.

Both the prophet Zephaniah and Saint Paul direct us to rejoice in the Lord. Zephaniah reminds the people that God is in their midst and that God is rejoicing over them with gladness. He paints a picture of mutual joy and the divine and human exchange of exuberant love.

St Paul sounds as if he is paraphrasing Zephaniah, when he tells the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord and says that the Lord is near. He tells his readers not to worry about anything but to pray and give thanks and to let God know what is on their hearts and minds.

The message from both these passages is clear: look to God for everything, be thankful, be joyful and trust in God’s love and carefor you.

When we turn to the Gospel, however, we enter very different territory! Luke is telling the story of John the Baptist, preaching to the crowds who had come to hear him and to be baptised by him.John can tell that they want a quick fix, a simple ritual that will make them feel better about themselves until the next time they chose to ignore God. The implication is that the people had not fully repented in their hearts, they just wanted to make up with God in the easiest way possible and they’d heard that John could help. Instead of being all loving and pastoral, John confronts them with their own wilfulness and superficiality. Recognising the truth of John’s words, they then ask what they must do. John tells them how to mend their ways and how to live honest and righteous lives.

Perhaps this Advent we need to be aware of both approaches: rejoicing in the love and goodness of God and acknowledging our sins and how we have fallen short. We need to take our own moral and spiritual inventories while throwing ourselves on the goodness and steadfastness of our loving God. We need to do all this and prepare for Christmas too! But if we do this, we will indeed be truly ready to welcome again into our hearts the baby in the manger and we will also be ready to meet with Christ, crucified, risen and glorified, always and forever coming into our lives.

Revd Christina Rees