Easter in Advent
Commentary
Object:
The third Sunday of Advent is traditionally one that emphasizes joy. Our readings invite us into the joy of new life with God and to examine our hearts to discover what may be keeping us from fully embracing that joy. Ultimately, in this season (as in all seasons) we are called to live into the hope of the resurrection.
Isaiah 35:1-10
Although today’s oracle appears in the section scholars generally call First Isaiah (Chapters 1-39), its content suggests that it was originally part of Second Isaiah (Chapters 40-55), which dates to the 6th century BCE. In Second Isaiah, an unknown prophetic voice (only First Isaiah may be attributed to the prophet of that name) offers consolation to Israelites living in captivity in Babylon in light of their coming liberation under Cyrus of Persia. In today’s reading, a vision of rejoicing exiles returning safely to Zion bears some similarities to the opening verses of Second Isaiah in chapter 40. A highway is made in a desert wilderness, and the wilderness is itself freed from the captivity of drought, just as the people are freed from the captivity of Babylon and the captivity of failing bodies. The commands “Strengthen the weak hands” and “Say to those of a fearful heart” may come from the heavenly council that appears in Isaiah 6 and again in Isaiah 40. The highway through the desert describes the land that separated Babylon and Judah, and is reminiscent of both the Exodus experience and the special roads Babylonians made for the festive processions of their own gods. The weak knees and fearful hearts must be strengthened for the joyous journey ahead. God’s approach with vengeance and terrible recompense in verse 4 is good news to those who hear this oracle -- God’s vengeance will be against their oppressors, not them. Their ransom (verse 10) has been paid, and they will soon return home singing -- possibly the songs of their homeland they were too grief-stricken to sing in captivity (Psalm 137).
James 5:7-10
This epistle -- attributed to James, the brother of Jesus -- echoes the Wisdom writings of the Hebrew scriptures and holds a distinctive place in the New Testament canon. Though Martin Luther questioned its authority, most of the Christian church accepts the validity of its distinctive teaching. While Paul emphasized salvation by grace, not works, the writer of James was more concerned with the conduct of the faithful. What we do and how we live matters. Faith without works is dead (James 2:26). The writer may have been countering some of Paul’s teachings, or misapplications of Paul’s teaching, about grace. Both Paul and James are concerned about the conduct of the faithful, and neither of them advocate following Jewish law as necessary to salvation in Christ -- a question that was live for the early followers of Jesus. Instead, both Paul and James wish the followers of Christ to live justly and peaceably with one another, placing hearts and trust in God, not in the ways of the world.
Today’s passage comes from the final chapter of James, as the writer wraps up counsel and warnings and offers encouragement for continuing in the Christian life and community. In keeping with Advent expectation, the coming of the Lord is presumed to be near -- the Judge is at the door (James 5:9)! But the Judge has not yet stepped inside. In this waiting, in-between time, patience is an essential quality of faith in God and life with other believers. The author’s mention of the suffering of the prophets hints that the community may be anticipating or experiencing persecution from without in addition to strife within. According to Josephus, James the brother to Jesus was put to death by the priestly authorities, probably around the year 62 (Antiquities of the Jews xx.9).
Matthew 11:2-11
I write this preceding our nation’s presidential election -- by the time these lessons roll around, I imagine our national mood will be different. Assuming a clear outcome, one month after the election we will be heading towards the holidays, biding our time between election and inauguration. But right now, anticipation keeps growing along with wonderings and whisperings, “Is he the one? Is she the one?” Anything one candidate says becomes immediate fodder for her or his opponent. It may be helpful to recall these anxious times as we explore today’s reading.
John is in prison, but he has a question: Is Jesus the One? The Messiah? The long hoped-for savior? John’s question may be direct, but Jesus’ answer is not. It is too dangerous to answer directly in the political climate of Jesus’ day. We know what happened to Jesus. To claim too early, too boldly that he is the Messiah would invite the wrath of the authorities and cut short his earthly ministry. Jesus is not ready to give the authorities who have imprisoned John words by which to imprison him too. He has more work to do. And so he answers with hints for those who know enough to hear them. John got his answer, and Jesus was able to continue his preaching and teaching. When Jesus tells John’s disciples to report what they see, he is using words from Isaiah that we heard in today’s reading, words that predict the coming liberation of the people by the Lord (Isaiah 35:5-6). Recall the preceding verse 4, which states: “Say to those who are of a fearful heart, ‘Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God.’ ” John and his disciples would have known that prophecy and the promise it made. “Yes,” Jesus is telling them as he quotes the prophet.
Jesus then turns to address the crowd, and in a similar way hints at his messianic authority to those who know their scripture. From quoting Isaiah, he moves on to quote the prophet Malachi as he praises John the Baptist in Matthew 11:10 (see Malachi 3:1). In the final two verses of the Hebrew prophets, Malachi (4:5-6) promises the return of the prophet Elijah, and in Matthew 11:14 Jesus asserts of John, “he is Elijah who is to come.” The description of John’s rough clothes in the gospels is another allusion to Elijah (see Matthew 3:1 and 2 Kings 1:8), and the place where John was baptizing was a location associated with Elijah stories (Harper Collins Study Bible, p. 1671). If John is Elijah, it begs the question of who Jesus may be. If he is not Elijah, could Jesus be the Messiah? The way has been prepared. The Judge is at the door.
Application
I went to seminary in California, and though I loved the seasons there, as someone who grew up in the northeastern U.S. I found them very strange. For me, Advent meant shortening gray days, bare branches on the trees, and hopes for snow at Christmas. In California we had some gray days during Advent as well, but that was because the rains had come. In December, when I was used to a dormant natural world, the landscape around me sprang to life. The dry golden hills turned bright green, and walks amidst the lush grasses after the rains had ceased revealed wildflowers blooming in profusion. Isaiah’s vision of the parched desert springing to life rang true. The Currier & Ives images of traditional Christmas cards were replaced by desert blossoms.
Our readings today counsel patience, but they also counsel preparation to be able to fully embrace the joy that is to come. The exiles need to be strengthened for their joyful return to their homeland. Jesus, too, in his healing ministry is preparing the way for something new. Our Advent preparation for Jesus’ coming means taking some inventory -- what is parched in our individual and communal lives? Where are we weak and fearful? Blind or deaf, lame, leprous, or mute? We are invited into a season of joy, but our minds or bodies may not be ready to celebrate. With two weeks to go until Christmas Day, we still have time to take some inventory above and beyond any last-minute shopping lists.
In the Episcopal Church, this collect is appointed for the third Sunday of Advent: Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and forever. Amen. In what ways do our sins, or wounds caused by the sins of others, hinder us from fully participating in God’s kingdom? Now is the time to name them and to ask for God’s healing, liberating aid. Each of us will have stories from our own lives and communities of healing and forgiveness, of putting down burdens of fear, shame, or long-held anger and grief, and discovering new nimbleness of spirit and heart. John the Baptist, with so many others of his time, was looking for a Messiah who would free his people from the oppression of Roman rule. Jesus was doing many remarkable things, but he didn’t look and act quite like John expected or scripture foretold. “Are you the one?” he sent his disciples to ask Jesus. And Jesus’ answer was yes, he is the liberator of God’s people, but the liberation he brings is of a different, deeper sort than any political or military victory. Jesus has come to free people from the burden of sin and to heal those who are broken in body, heart, and spirit. There is much grim news in our world, but this news is not the reality of God among us. In Advent, as always, we are invited to listen to a different frequency than the world around us, one that leads us to dance and live in hope no matter our external circumstances.
While I commend the entire poem, the last stanza of “They Have Threatened Us with Resurrection”(“Nos han amenazado de Resurrección”) by Julia Esquivel speaks deeply to this Christian hope:
To dream awake,
to keep watch asleep,
to live while dying,
and to know ourselves already
resurrected!
As we head towards the manger and Bethlehem, we also head towards Easter Day and the healing of the very worst that the world can do. Easter in Advent? As natural as the desert blooming after rain.
Isaiah 35:1-10
Although today’s oracle appears in the section scholars generally call First Isaiah (Chapters 1-39), its content suggests that it was originally part of Second Isaiah (Chapters 40-55), which dates to the 6th century BCE. In Second Isaiah, an unknown prophetic voice (only First Isaiah may be attributed to the prophet of that name) offers consolation to Israelites living in captivity in Babylon in light of their coming liberation under Cyrus of Persia. In today’s reading, a vision of rejoicing exiles returning safely to Zion bears some similarities to the opening verses of Second Isaiah in chapter 40. A highway is made in a desert wilderness, and the wilderness is itself freed from the captivity of drought, just as the people are freed from the captivity of Babylon and the captivity of failing bodies. The commands “Strengthen the weak hands” and “Say to those of a fearful heart” may come from the heavenly council that appears in Isaiah 6 and again in Isaiah 40. The highway through the desert describes the land that separated Babylon and Judah, and is reminiscent of both the Exodus experience and the special roads Babylonians made for the festive processions of their own gods. The weak knees and fearful hearts must be strengthened for the joyous journey ahead. God’s approach with vengeance and terrible recompense in verse 4 is good news to those who hear this oracle -- God’s vengeance will be against their oppressors, not them. Their ransom (verse 10) has been paid, and they will soon return home singing -- possibly the songs of their homeland they were too grief-stricken to sing in captivity (Psalm 137).
James 5:7-10
This epistle -- attributed to James, the brother of Jesus -- echoes the Wisdom writings of the Hebrew scriptures and holds a distinctive place in the New Testament canon. Though Martin Luther questioned its authority, most of the Christian church accepts the validity of its distinctive teaching. While Paul emphasized salvation by grace, not works, the writer of James was more concerned with the conduct of the faithful. What we do and how we live matters. Faith without works is dead (James 2:26). The writer may have been countering some of Paul’s teachings, or misapplications of Paul’s teaching, about grace. Both Paul and James are concerned about the conduct of the faithful, and neither of them advocate following Jewish law as necessary to salvation in Christ -- a question that was live for the early followers of Jesus. Instead, both Paul and James wish the followers of Christ to live justly and peaceably with one another, placing hearts and trust in God, not in the ways of the world.
Today’s passage comes from the final chapter of James, as the writer wraps up counsel and warnings and offers encouragement for continuing in the Christian life and community. In keeping with Advent expectation, the coming of the Lord is presumed to be near -- the Judge is at the door (James 5:9)! But the Judge has not yet stepped inside. In this waiting, in-between time, patience is an essential quality of faith in God and life with other believers. The author’s mention of the suffering of the prophets hints that the community may be anticipating or experiencing persecution from without in addition to strife within. According to Josephus, James the brother to Jesus was put to death by the priestly authorities, probably around the year 62 (Antiquities of the Jews xx.9).
Matthew 11:2-11
I write this preceding our nation’s presidential election -- by the time these lessons roll around, I imagine our national mood will be different. Assuming a clear outcome, one month after the election we will be heading towards the holidays, biding our time between election and inauguration. But right now, anticipation keeps growing along with wonderings and whisperings, “Is he the one? Is she the one?” Anything one candidate says becomes immediate fodder for her or his opponent. It may be helpful to recall these anxious times as we explore today’s reading.
John is in prison, but he has a question: Is Jesus the One? The Messiah? The long hoped-for savior? John’s question may be direct, but Jesus’ answer is not. It is too dangerous to answer directly in the political climate of Jesus’ day. We know what happened to Jesus. To claim too early, too boldly that he is the Messiah would invite the wrath of the authorities and cut short his earthly ministry. Jesus is not ready to give the authorities who have imprisoned John words by which to imprison him too. He has more work to do. And so he answers with hints for those who know enough to hear them. John got his answer, and Jesus was able to continue his preaching and teaching. When Jesus tells John’s disciples to report what they see, he is using words from Isaiah that we heard in today’s reading, words that predict the coming liberation of the people by the Lord (Isaiah 35:5-6). Recall the preceding verse 4, which states: “Say to those who are of a fearful heart, ‘Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God.’ ” John and his disciples would have known that prophecy and the promise it made. “Yes,” Jesus is telling them as he quotes the prophet.
Jesus then turns to address the crowd, and in a similar way hints at his messianic authority to those who know their scripture. From quoting Isaiah, he moves on to quote the prophet Malachi as he praises John the Baptist in Matthew 11:10 (see Malachi 3:1). In the final two verses of the Hebrew prophets, Malachi (4:5-6) promises the return of the prophet Elijah, and in Matthew 11:14 Jesus asserts of John, “he is Elijah who is to come.” The description of John’s rough clothes in the gospels is another allusion to Elijah (see Matthew 3:1 and 2 Kings 1:8), and the place where John was baptizing was a location associated with Elijah stories (Harper Collins Study Bible, p. 1671). If John is Elijah, it begs the question of who Jesus may be. If he is not Elijah, could Jesus be the Messiah? The way has been prepared. The Judge is at the door.
Application
I went to seminary in California, and though I loved the seasons there, as someone who grew up in the northeastern U.S. I found them very strange. For me, Advent meant shortening gray days, bare branches on the trees, and hopes for snow at Christmas. In California we had some gray days during Advent as well, but that was because the rains had come. In December, when I was used to a dormant natural world, the landscape around me sprang to life. The dry golden hills turned bright green, and walks amidst the lush grasses after the rains had ceased revealed wildflowers blooming in profusion. Isaiah’s vision of the parched desert springing to life rang true. The Currier & Ives images of traditional Christmas cards were replaced by desert blossoms.
Our readings today counsel patience, but they also counsel preparation to be able to fully embrace the joy that is to come. The exiles need to be strengthened for their joyful return to their homeland. Jesus, too, in his healing ministry is preparing the way for something new. Our Advent preparation for Jesus’ coming means taking some inventory -- what is parched in our individual and communal lives? Where are we weak and fearful? Blind or deaf, lame, leprous, or mute? We are invited into a season of joy, but our minds or bodies may not be ready to celebrate. With two weeks to go until Christmas Day, we still have time to take some inventory above and beyond any last-minute shopping lists.
In the Episcopal Church, this collect is appointed for the third Sunday of Advent: Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and forever. Amen. In what ways do our sins, or wounds caused by the sins of others, hinder us from fully participating in God’s kingdom? Now is the time to name them and to ask for God’s healing, liberating aid. Each of us will have stories from our own lives and communities of healing and forgiveness, of putting down burdens of fear, shame, or long-held anger and grief, and discovering new nimbleness of spirit and heart. John the Baptist, with so many others of his time, was looking for a Messiah who would free his people from the oppression of Roman rule. Jesus was doing many remarkable things, but he didn’t look and act quite like John expected or scripture foretold. “Are you the one?” he sent his disciples to ask Jesus. And Jesus’ answer was yes, he is the liberator of God’s people, but the liberation he brings is of a different, deeper sort than any political or military victory. Jesus has come to free people from the burden of sin and to heal those who are broken in body, heart, and spirit. There is much grim news in our world, but this news is not the reality of God among us. In Advent, as always, we are invited to listen to a different frequency than the world around us, one that leads us to dance and live in hope no matter our external circumstances.
While I commend the entire poem, the last stanza of “They Have Threatened Us with Resurrection”(“Nos han amenazado de Resurrección”) by Julia Esquivel speaks deeply to this Christian hope:
To dream awake,
to keep watch asleep,
to live while dying,
and to know ourselves already
resurrected!
As we head towards the manger and Bethlehem, we also head towards Easter Day and the healing of the very worst that the world can do. Easter in Advent? As natural as the desert blooming after rain.
