Fourth Sunday of Advent
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series III
Prior to the revision of the church year and lectionary, the Fourth Sunday of Advent really was "Christmas" Sunday in many Protestant churches. Lections were changed, Christmas hymns and carols were sung, and sermons were oriented toward the celebration of Christmas rather than toward Advent. It was almost as if there were two celebrations of Christmas; people could take their choice of attending one or the other - or both - of the Christmas services. Such practices were a natural outgrowth of interpreting Advent as a time to prepare for "the birth of Christ in our hearts" at Christmas. It smacked of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" theology and had little or nothing to do with the celebration of the presence of the living Lord in the Word and Sacrament at the Christ Mass.
The Fourth Sunday of Advent seems to have perpetuated the liturgical aberrations that often occurred on that Sunday as a kind of "pre-Christmas" celebration. The John 1:19-28 Gospel was assigned to the Third Sunday of Advent, Cycle B, and "Christmas Gospels" were assigned to the three years of the Fourth Sunday of Advent. (They are the stories about Jesus' conception and Mary's pregnancy.) They, with the other propers for the day, turn this into what might be called "Tall Tale Sunday."
The Prayer of the Day
The collect, which is a complete revision of the classic prayer, makes it clear that this Sunday is supposed to be a one-day preparation for celebrating Jesus' birth on Christmas Day. It retains the "stir up" opening - "Stir up your power, O Lord, and come" - but now reads: "Take away the hindrance of our sins and make us ready for the celebration of your birth, that we may receive you in joy and serve you always...." It points the people of God toward the actual Christmas celebration of the church, making it manifestly obvious that the Fourth Sunday of Advent is in no way an early Christmas festival. It reminds us that the only way we can receive Christ at Christmas is through the work of the Holy Spirit in the Word and the Holy Meal, at which the risen and reigning Lord is the Host.
The Psalm of the Day
Psalm 89:1-4, 26, 28 (R); 89:1-4, 14-18 (L); 132, or 132:8-15 (E) - A responsory psalm should perform at least three functions: 1.) It is a vehicle for worship in itself; 2.) It should build a bridge between the first and second lessons; and, 3.) It should highlight and clarify
- and sometimes establish - the liturgical theme of the day. Psalm 89 is too long (fifty-two verses) to be used in its entirety for liturgical worship; it has to be cut up and portions have to be excised from the whole to accommodate the liturgical action. It makes a fitting response to the promises that God made to David ("Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever."). The Psalmist declares:
I have made a covenant with my chosen one / I have sworn an oath to my servant David / I will establish your line forever, and preserve your throne for all generations.
This psalm, as orchestrated by the liturgical committees of Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches may be readily sung or said in worship. It clearly builds a bridge from first reading to those that follow, and it sounds out the theme of the day - "God is about to make good on his promise to David by sending his Son into the world as the Child of a young Hebrew girl named Mary."
The Psalm Prayer (LBW)
Mighty God, in fulfillment of the promise made to David's descendants you established a lasting covenant through your first born Son. You anointed your servant Jesus with holy oil and raised him higher than all kings on earth. Remember your covenant, so that we who are signed with the blood of your Son may sing of your mercies forever; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Psalm 132 (E) - This psalm, too, functions properly as a responsory, especially when it is trimmed down to verses 8-15 for liturgical worship. It builds a bridge between the readings, picking up where 2 Samuel 7 left off; "The Lord has sworn an oath to David; in truth, he will not break it." Sung by the pilgrims on their journey to Jerusalem for Passover, it anticipates the coming of the Messiah and is particularly appropriate for the conception of Jesus: "A son, the fruit of your body, will I set upon your throne." The "pre-Christmas" theme is definitely delineated in this psalm.
The readings:
2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-11, 16 (R); 7:(1-7), 8-11, 16 (L); 7:4, 8-16 (E); 7:8-16 (C)
The several lectionaries agree that 2 Samuel 7 is an appropriate reading for this Fourth Sunday of Advent, but they disagree completely on the sections of this chapter which should be assigned to liturgical worship. All four select, as part of their readings, verses 8-11 and verse 16, which highlight Nathan's prophecy to David, received from the Lord the previous night. Nathan makes it clear that David is not to build a house, the Temple, for Yahweh, but that Yahweh will build a "house" for him. The covenant God made with David promises: "Your House and your sovereignty will always stand secure before me and your throne be established forever." In Jesus, the Son of David, that prophecy was fulfilled; his throne shall be from everlasting to everlasting.
Romans 16:25-27
Some scholars think that this doxology is the effort of an editor, rather than the work of Paul himself. At any rate, it was probably selected for this occasion (the Fourth Sunday of Advent) because it complements the theme of preparation for the Christmas festival. God strengthens the faith of his people through the preaching of the Gospel and through Jesus Christ. He has made it manifestly clear that in Jesus the "mystery" that has been kept "secret" about the Messiah, who was to come as David's Son in the name of the Lord, has been clarified forever. He will be made known to all nations, and for all of this God will be glorified. The several lectionanies, incidentally, are unanimous in the selection of this reading for this Sunday.
Luke 1:26-38
Were it not for the existence of various Annunciation stories in the Old Testament, this story would seem to be something out of Grimm's Fairy Tales. The story of the angel visiting Mary and informing her that she, a young virgin without a husband, would have a son - would be a bit much for people to believe; it has that "once upon a time" quality to it that signifies, to many people, that "it is only a story." But what a story! It has elements that are occasionally in the Old Testament, such as angels visiting people in their dreams. But the angel not only appears to Mary; he also makes this astounding announcement about Jesus' conception and birth. Luke spins a tall tale, indeed - but for a purpose. Jesus' birth is a genuine incarnation. It is the work of the Lord God, who spoke and formed the world and everything in it, speaking once more and accomplishing through the Holy Spirit a new creation, the Son of God, who is to be given "the throne of his father David.... and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there will be no end." God has intervened in human history through the birth of Jesus Christ, and everything is changed forever.
A Sermon on the Gospel, Luke 1:26-38 - "A Likely Story."
Not long ago, my wife and I were traveling on an interstate highway between two major cities. To our dismay, we discovered that it was a truck route and nearly all of the trucks seemed to be traveling seventy- to seventy-five-miles an hour. It was a scary, even hair-raising experience, to have two or three eighteen-wheel monsters (plus some "double-bottom" and "triple-bottom" trucks) thunder past us. At one point, we were literally surrounded by trucks, and one truck came up behind us and almost touched our rear bumper, as if to say, "get out of my way and let me pass." I decided that there was only one thing to do - step on the gas pedal and pull away from them. At the speed I was driving, I suspected that it would only be a matter of time before I was stopped by a police officer, and I knew I had better come up with a good story - soon. So I composed a little speech for any state policeman who might stop us: "Yes, officer, I was speeding; I admit it, and under the circumstances, I would probably do it again. With these trucks practically running over us, we were really running for our lives, attempting to protect ourselves from possibly being destroyed by speeding trucks. If you have to give me a ticket for that, I'll be happy to pay it. It's a small price to pay for attempting to save our lives."
Mary, some people might contend, came up with a better story than that when she discovered she was pregnant. She claimed that an angel - she called him Gabriel - told her that God would impregnate her through the Holy Spirit. The angel even supplied her with the name she was to give her child - Jesus - and told her that God would give him the throne of David and that he would reign over an everlasting kingdom. In order to convince her that "with God nothing is impossible," he informed her that her kinswoman, Elizabeth, was also miraculously pregnant in her old age. And Mary finished her story by declaring, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord" - What else could she say to Gabriel?
1. The Annunciation is a tall tale, but the message ofthis story is true - God was responsible for Mary's pregnancy! Could this be one ofthe reasons that Jesus spoke to God, "Abba, Father?" God didn't simply allow the birth of Jesus to happen in the course of human affairs - he made it happen!
2. Who would believe such a story? At least, the people who gossiped about Mary's pregnancy - when they got over the shock of hearing that this lovely young girl was going to have a child - must have given her credit for having a lively imagination. At least one person believed her - Joseph. (Matthew tells us that he was visited by an angel in a dream.) Of course, countless people have accepted the story since that time. God wants us to believe that this whole scenario was his idea, his initiative, and, consequently, his incarnate Son, who would be born of Mary.
3. The living Lord himself visits us to quicken our hearts and to strengthen our faith for the celebration of his birth. And his story is even more incredible, because he rose from the dead and came out of his grave three days after dying on a cross. That's the tallest tale of all - and the whole Gospel depends upon its truth and validity.
4. Believe the story and its message. God has sent his Son into the world, Son of God and Son of David, to save the world. Every bit of it is true!
A Sermon on the First Lesson, 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-11, 16 (R); 7:(1-7), 8-11, 16 (L); 7:4, 8-16 (E); 7:8-16 (C) - "David's Dynasty."
King David's dynasty has no resemblance to the popular television soap opera, "Dynasty." It relies on the interest and activity of God Almighty, rather than upon the intrigue and
machinations of self-seeking and power-hungry individuals intent upon establishing for them-selves and their offspring a power base and some degree of wealth. The word has a totally different meaning in the Bible than it does on the television show.
1. God revealed his intention to David to bless all people with the inauguration of his kingdom - his dynasty - and to sustain it for posterity. Such was his covenant, his promise to David and all people.
Almost ten years ago, I heard the story of Eugene Lang, the "venture capitalist" who believed he owed a debt to society, especially to disadvantaged youth, who had no opportunity to go to college. Lang himself had been noticed by a college trustee (Swarthmore), who thought he was too young to be waiting On tables and saw to it that the youthful high school graduate (who couldn't afford a higher education) obtained a full scholarship. Lang succeeded in college and in business. He became wealthy, and gave Swarthmore College $18 million. But he still felt that he owed young people more of a debt. He told a class in his first school, PS 121 , in New York, that he would send every one of them to college if they studied hard and stayed in school. Later, he realized that he needed to do even more: "A promise can be diluted with time. Even if they stayed in school, the chances are that their education wouldn't be adequate to get them into college. I realized that I would have to provide a program of support to encourage them to stay in school, to help them learn and qualify." He did just that, and the program has become an unqualified success.
2. In a time, a new king - the Son of David and the Son of God, the Messiah - would appear and assume the throne, the dynasty, of David.
3. That Kingdom - that dynasty - will last forever. Nothing on earth can destroy the Kingdom of God, over which Jesus reigns by his death and resurrection.
4. Rejoice! The Lord is King. Crown him "Lord of all!"
A Sermon on the Second Lesson, Romans 16:25-27 - "An Open Secret."
1. A divine secret was revealed to humanity through the birth of Jesus Christ - God intends to save the world when he really ought to destroy it and start over.
2. Through the Gospel of Jesus - and the telling of his story - the plan of God finds expression. He intends to save the world by sending his Son to die on a cross near a garbage dump.
3. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead creates faith in human hearts. The Holy Spirit enables people to believe the unlikely and the impossible, the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
4. And God strengthens his people, the faithful believers, through this open secret in the Gospel. Do his work in the world while you await the return of the Lord.
The Fourth Sunday of Advent seems to have perpetuated the liturgical aberrations that often occurred on that Sunday as a kind of "pre-Christmas" celebration. The John 1:19-28 Gospel was assigned to the Third Sunday of Advent, Cycle B, and "Christmas Gospels" were assigned to the three years of the Fourth Sunday of Advent. (They are the stories about Jesus' conception and Mary's pregnancy.) They, with the other propers for the day, turn this into what might be called "Tall Tale Sunday."
The Prayer of the Day
The collect, which is a complete revision of the classic prayer, makes it clear that this Sunday is supposed to be a one-day preparation for celebrating Jesus' birth on Christmas Day. It retains the "stir up" opening - "Stir up your power, O Lord, and come" - but now reads: "Take away the hindrance of our sins and make us ready for the celebration of your birth, that we may receive you in joy and serve you always...." It points the people of God toward the actual Christmas celebration of the church, making it manifestly obvious that the Fourth Sunday of Advent is in no way an early Christmas festival. It reminds us that the only way we can receive Christ at Christmas is through the work of the Holy Spirit in the Word and the Holy Meal, at which the risen and reigning Lord is the Host.
The Psalm of the Day
Psalm 89:1-4, 26, 28 (R); 89:1-4, 14-18 (L); 132, or 132:8-15 (E) - A responsory psalm should perform at least three functions: 1.) It is a vehicle for worship in itself; 2.) It should build a bridge between the first and second lessons; and, 3.) It should highlight and clarify
- and sometimes establish - the liturgical theme of the day. Psalm 89 is too long (fifty-two verses) to be used in its entirety for liturgical worship; it has to be cut up and portions have to be excised from the whole to accommodate the liturgical action. It makes a fitting response to the promises that God made to David ("Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever."). The Psalmist declares:
I have made a covenant with my chosen one / I have sworn an oath to my servant David / I will establish your line forever, and preserve your throne for all generations.
This psalm, as orchestrated by the liturgical committees of Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches may be readily sung or said in worship. It clearly builds a bridge from first reading to those that follow, and it sounds out the theme of the day - "God is about to make good on his promise to David by sending his Son into the world as the Child of a young Hebrew girl named Mary."
The Psalm Prayer (LBW)
Mighty God, in fulfillment of the promise made to David's descendants you established a lasting covenant through your first born Son. You anointed your servant Jesus with holy oil and raised him higher than all kings on earth. Remember your covenant, so that we who are signed with the blood of your Son may sing of your mercies forever; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Psalm 132 (E) - This psalm, too, functions properly as a responsory, especially when it is trimmed down to verses 8-15 for liturgical worship. It builds a bridge between the readings, picking up where 2 Samuel 7 left off; "The Lord has sworn an oath to David; in truth, he will not break it." Sung by the pilgrims on their journey to Jerusalem for Passover, it anticipates the coming of the Messiah and is particularly appropriate for the conception of Jesus: "A son, the fruit of your body, will I set upon your throne." The "pre-Christmas" theme is definitely delineated in this psalm.
The readings:
2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-11, 16 (R); 7:(1-7), 8-11, 16 (L); 7:4, 8-16 (E); 7:8-16 (C)
The several lectionaries agree that 2 Samuel 7 is an appropriate reading for this Fourth Sunday of Advent, but they disagree completely on the sections of this chapter which should be assigned to liturgical worship. All four select, as part of their readings, verses 8-11 and verse 16, which highlight Nathan's prophecy to David, received from the Lord the previous night. Nathan makes it clear that David is not to build a house, the Temple, for Yahweh, but that Yahweh will build a "house" for him. The covenant God made with David promises: "Your House and your sovereignty will always stand secure before me and your throne be established forever." In Jesus, the Son of David, that prophecy was fulfilled; his throne shall be from everlasting to everlasting.
Romans 16:25-27
Some scholars think that this doxology is the effort of an editor, rather than the work of Paul himself. At any rate, it was probably selected for this occasion (the Fourth Sunday of Advent) because it complements the theme of preparation for the Christmas festival. God strengthens the faith of his people through the preaching of the Gospel and through Jesus Christ. He has made it manifestly clear that in Jesus the "mystery" that has been kept "secret" about the Messiah, who was to come as David's Son in the name of the Lord, has been clarified forever. He will be made known to all nations, and for all of this God will be glorified. The several lectionanies, incidentally, are unanimous in the selection of this reading for this Sunday.
Luke 1:26-38
Were it not for the existence of various Annunciation stories in the Old Testament, this story would seem to be something out of Grimm's Fairy Tales. The story of the angel visiting Mary and informing her that she, a young virgin without a husband, would have a son - would be a bit much for people to believe; it has that "once upon a time" quality to it that signifies, to many people, that "it is only a story." But what a story! It has elements that are occasionally in the Old Testament, such as angels visiting people in their dreams. But the angel not only appears to Mary; he also makes this astounding announcement about Jesus' conception and birth. Luke spins a tall tale, indeed - but for a purpose. Jesus' birth is a genuine incarnation. It is the work of the Lord God, who spoke and formed the world and everything in it, speaking once more and accomplishing through the Holy Spirit a new creation, the Son of God, who is to be given "the throne of his father David.... and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there will be no end." God has intervened in human history through the birth of Jesus Christ, and everything is changed forever.
A Sermon on the Gospel, Luke 1:26-38 - "A Likely Story."
Not long ago, my wife and I were traveling on an interstate highway between two major cities. To our dismay, we discovered that it was a truck route and nearly all of the trucks seemed to be traveling seventy- to seventy-five-miles an hour. It was a scary, even hair-raising experience, to have two or three eighteen-wheel monsters (plus some "double-bottom" and "triple-bottom" trucks) thunder past us. At one point, we were literally surrounded by trucks, and one truck came up behind us and almost touched our rear bumper, as if to say, "get out of my way and let me pass." I decided that there was only one thing to do - step on the gas pedal and pull away from them. At the speed I was driving, I suspected that it would only be a matter of time before I was stopped by a police officer, and I knew I had better come up with a good story - soon. So I composed a little speech for any state policeman who might stop us: "Yes, officer, I was speeding; I admit it, and under the circumstances, I would probably do it again. With these trucks practically running over us, we were really running for our lives, attempting to protect ourselves from possibly being destroyed by speeding trucks. If you have to give me a ticket for that, I'll be happy to pay it. It's a small price to pay for attempting to save our lives."
Mary, some people might contend, came up with a better story than that when she discovered she was pregnant. She claimed that an angel - she called him Gabriel - told her that God would impregnate her through the Holy Spirit. The angel even supplied her with the name she was to give her child - Jesus - and told her that God would give him the throne of David and that he would reign over an everlasting kingdom. In order to convince her that "with God nothing is impossible," he informed her that her kinswoman, Elizabeth, was also miraculously pregnant in her old age. And Mary finished her story by declaring, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord" - What else could she say to Gabriel?
1. The Annunciation is a tall tale, but the message ofthis story is true - God was responsible for Mary's pregnancy! Could this be one ofthe reasons that Jesus spoke to God, "Abba, Father?" God didn't simply allow the birth of Jesus to happen in the course of human affairs - he made it happen!
2. Who would believe such a story? At least, the people who gossiped about Mary's pregnancy - when they got over the shock of hearing that this lovely young girl was going to have a child - must have given her credit for having a lively imagination. At least one person believed her - Joseph. (Matthew tells us that he was visited by an angel in a dream.) Of course, countless people have accepted the story since that time. God wants us to believe that this whole scenario was his idea, his initiative, and, consequently, his incarnate Son, who would be born of Mary.
3. The living Lord himself visits us to quicken our hearts and to strengthen our faith for the celebration of his birth. And his story is even more incredible, because he rose from the dead and came out of his grave three days after dying on a cross. That's the tallest tale of all - and the whole Gospel depends upon its truth and validity.
4. Believe the story and its message. God has sent his Son into the world, Son of God and Son of David, to save the world. Every bit of it is true!
A Sermon on the First Lesson, 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-11, 16 (R); 7:(1-7), 8-11, 16 (L); 7:4, 8-16 (E); 7:8-16 (C) - "David's Dynasty."
King David's dynasty has no resemblance to the popular television soap opera, "Dynasty." It relies on the interest and activity of God Almighty, rather than upon the intrigue and
machinations of self-seeking and power-hungry individuals intent upon establishing for them-selves and their offspring a power base and some degree of wealth. The word has a totally different meaning in the Bible than it does on the television show.
1. God revealed his intention to David to bless all people with the inauguration of his kingdom - his dynasty - and to sustain it for posterity. Such was his covenant, his promise to David and all people.
Almost ten years ago, I heard the story of Eugene Lang, the "venture capitalist" who believed he owed a debt to society, especially to disadvantaged youth, who had no opportunity to go to college. Lang himself had been noticed by a college trustee (Swarthmore), who thought he was too young to be waiting On tables and saw to it that the youthful high school graduate (who couldn't afford a higher education) obtained a full scholarship. Lang succeeded in college and in business. He became wealthy, and gave Swarthmore College $18 million. But he still felt that he owed young people more of a debt. He told a class in his first school, PS 121 , in New York, that he would send every one of them to college if they studied hard and stayed in school. Later, he realized that he needed to do even more: "A promise can be diluted with time. Even if they stayed in school, the chances are that their education wouldn't be adequate to get them into college. I realized that I would have to provide a program of support to encourage them to stay in school, to help them learn and qualify." He did just that, and the program has become an unqualified success.
2. In a time, a new king - the Son of David and the Son of God, the Messiah - would appear and assume the throne, the dynasty, of David.
3. That Kingdom - that dynasty - will last forever. Nothing on earth can destroy the Kingdom of God, over which Jesus reigns by his death and resurrection.
4. Rejoice! The Lord is King. Crown him "Lord of all!"
A Sermon on the Second Lesson, Romans 16:25-27 - "An Open Secret."
1. A divine secret was revealed to humanity through the birth of Jesus Christ - God intends to save the world when he really ought to destroy it and start over.
2. Through the Gospel of Jesus - and the telling of his story - the plan of God finds expression. He intends to save the world by sending his Son to die on a cross near a garbage dump.
3. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead creates faith in human hearts. The Holy Spirit enables people to believe the unlikely and the impossible, the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
4. And God strengthens his people, the faithful believers, through this open secret in the Gospel. Do his work in the world while you await the return of the Lord.
