“AND AGAIN, I SAY REJOICE”
Saint Matthew 11: 2-10
Gaudete: 11 December Anno Domini 2022
Fr Jay Watson, SSP
John the Baptist was in prison; an actual real prison. You are not. At least not yet. So, in the words of the Apostle (also this morning’s Introit) “rejoice in The Lord alway; and again I say, rejoice!” But you don’t do that do you, not very often. You can’t blame Germanic genes or dour Midwestern-ness (which is really New England taciturn reserve). Oh, you laugh, giggle, and chuckle at jokes, sports, entertainment, antics of babies and baby animals, but you don’t “rejoice in The Lord alway” enough. When was the last time?
One of the reasons for your lack of gratitude is you fear man and not God. You fear the condemnations of society, co-workers, neighbors, apostate family members, even quarrelsome spouses, parents, and children. Another reason is that your “old Adam” much like Cain, and sadly, even Judas, falls into despair or at least pre-despair too often; too easily. And like “old Adam” (the original Adam) you run to hide in the trees and foliage of your own works and sinful delusions. But you are disciples. You are temples of The Holy Spirit—Who fills you with The Word: You are + Baptized! And your hearts will always be weighted down with anxieties, fears, and shame from the guilt shown to your inner man by The Spirit. So in faith you do pray the collect for Gaudete (Rejoice Sunday): “Lord, we beseech Thee, give ear to our (my) prayers and lighten the darkness of our hearts…”
There were two disciples who had darkened hearts. Their master/teacher/rabbi—that hairy man wrapped in camel’s hair with a leather belt, was rotting away in prison soon to be executed for his faithfulness to God—to God’s Word. They knew there was this Nazarene rabbi, named Jesus. But they were not going to abandon their teacher and jump into the unknown. They lacked both trust, and fear. But they were nonetheless guided by The Holy Ghost to ask John the Baptist the ultimate question: “Is Jesus the One that should come (i.e., The Messias) or do we look for another?” And even as The Apostle Philip when bringing his friend, the Apostle Bartholomew (Nathanel) said: “we have found Him, of Whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph,” [Jn. 1. 45] so too you have had Apostles and Disciples bring you into the presence of That Nazarene. Nathanel initially balks (due to his misunderstanding of Christ’s early birthplace and earthly upbringing). But Philip continues to “rejoice” and rather than argue simply exhorts: “come and see” [Jn. 1. 46]!
What did Jesus say to these two men when they came to Him and asked about Him. What did Christ want them to tell John, and by way of proclamation tell themselves—and believe?
What does Christ want you to know this day. What does God want you to have—not intellectually (though to be sure you will know it and understand it in a brain-way), but by faith, by Spirit creating, moving, and enduring certitude (in a Heart/Soul/Spirit way)?
“The bind receive their sight, and the lame walk the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have The Gospel preached unto them!”
“Rejoice in The Lord alway; and again I say, rejoice!”
Many people like Advent but for the wrong reasons. They simply use it as a greased set of rails to get the humanistic train dashing towards Christmas and its festivities. Yes, you eagerly await Christmas but you do so to REJOICE in The Lord’s Nativity—His coming in the FLESH! Many people don’t care for Advent because it falls on dark, cold, December days and sometimes those days, in years past, have brought the death of friends and loved ones.
But you know better. Now believe better! “Rejoice in The Lord alway.”
But like the captive Jews in Babylon, you retort “how can we rejoice in an alien land?” Or rather you might say “how can we rejoice with disease, and families falling apart, and job difficulties, and the slowly sinking of our beloved nation in the tar-pits of Sodom and Gomorrah?”
Well first, pull your head out of your gut/stomach/own heart and Hear The Word. Hear John the Baptist’s message of “sending.” Hear The Psalmists joyful good news: “Lord Thou has been favorable unto Thy land. Thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.”
Revisit the words of the collect and this time I will add the next clause: “Lord, we beseech Thee, give ear to our prayers and lighten the darkness of our hearts… (next clause)…by Thy gracious visitation.”
He doesn’t visit you in any other way than in His Flesh and Blood. His Words proceed from His Flesh and Blood for He is THE WORD made Flesh. His first visitation came in the flesh after an Advent that lasted from the Fall in Eden to the Holy Babe being picked up by The Virgin to nurse at her breast in that Bethlehem stable. His ultimate Visitation will be soon when He comes again in glory, i.e., in The Flesh at the Final Advent.
“Rejoice in The Lord alway.”
His visitation this morning, for you, is in His Presence. His Bodily true, real, veritable, and actual Presence in His Word (you have been + Absolved; You are + Baptized) and you are loosed from your bands, fetters, and sin-shackles in His sermon.
Yes, your eyesight will probably continue to diminish but you know He gave sight to the blind and at the Resurrection of all Flesh you will the vision of God. Yes, you become more lame and infirm each year, and you may get a disease as bad as leprosy but you know He healed the lepers and gave healthy limbs and bodies back to the palsied and crippled and will give you Eden like bodies at the final Trump.
You dead ears will hear His beautiful voice calling you by name when He lifts you up out of the grave.
And now this day, you have The Gospel preached unto you! You have The Gospel fed unto you. This is a festal victory and wedding banquet: you are the blessed and honored and exalted guests and participants.
So yes, “Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I say, Rejoice.”
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of The Holy Ghost
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