- Psalmody: Psalm 106:4–5; 1b; Psalm 145:18, 21a; Liturgical Text; Luke 1:28b, c, 42c; Isaiah 7:14b
- Lection: Deuteronomy 18:15–19; Philippians 4:4–7; John 1:19b–28
In the Name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Holy Christian Church has long held a daily divine office called vespers, a name derived from the Latin meaning evening, for that is when it is held. In the week leading up to Christmas, beginning on December 17, specific verses for each of those seven days would be chanted during vespers right before the singing of the Magnificat, the blessed song of Mary. Those verses, to which we now refer as the O Antiphons, all sourced from the prophet Isaiah, draw attention to specific aspects and prophecies concerning the long-expected Messiah. Our hymn, O Come, O Come Emmanuel is based on those verses used on the days leading up to Christmas, and they are conveniently translated into English for us and printed just below the hymn we just sung on this first day of winter. Yes, the precise beginning of winter came at the arrival of the solstice, which took place at 10:03am this morning, meaning that from now the days no longer darken, but begin to lighten. God’s creation in that way is like a beautiful setting of gold in which to set the O Antiphon for this 21st day of December: O Dayspring, splendor of light everlasting: Come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. This hymn, these antiphons, the collect, the Scripture texts, prayers, Holy Baptism, The Lord’s Supper: are but a few of many things that go into making divine offices, vespers and the Divine Service included, into blessed gatherings around Christ so that Christ Himself may rejoice us by His preparation. He prepares us for the realization of His presence: to commemorate His coming reverently and marvelously each Christmastide; to humble ourselves in repentance at His coming to this holy place in these holy means; to grow in faith and trust as His own gifts work mighty wonders in dark hearts that are enlightened by the very splendor of light everlasting so that we rejoice at His return.
Jesus, the Dayspring, is why we come to where He comes, here. He is why we rejoice. St. Paul, by his Philippian letter, gives us the double command, “Rejoice…Again I will say, rejoice!” We encountered this in our Introit last week, and now an expanded portion as our Epistle to ponder further in our preparation by Christ. Note that the command isn’t a baseless or arbitrary rejoicing merely for the sake of rejoicing. The only possibility of true Christian joy that conjures up rejoicing is that it is in the Lord. “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” It is in union with Jesus Christ, by His gracious visitation to us, as a Child, as a Savior, as a Judge, that we engage heaven itself. He is the chief cornerstone, the very foundation for all lasting joy, for all everlasting joy.
He is the source of joy. He is also the source of gentleness. Rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. This is what Christ causes in us as He draws near. The Lord is at hand, therefore let us prepare to meet Him daily. As the Day of the Lord draws nearer, whether it is while we remember and celebrate His first Advent, or while we rejoice in our expectation of His second, the eternal reality that He shall bring with Him grows ever nearer. Now salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed, which means that our hearts of faith are meant to increase more and more in preparation for how they shall always be, ready and able to sincerely and gladly rejoice. All for which we now make stubborn stands and personal claims shall yield in perfect way to others. All valuable pearls that we clutch will finally lose their value as the priceless treasure of our King enters in. All annoyances that we embrace and stroke like favorite pets and brood over shall be wiped away with every tear as all troubles will be forgotten, including the self-centered ones. All the world’s worries, prizes, distractions, delicacies, and dainties shall be resigned by every redeemed heart, because all of this creation will be done away with in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. So, as the Lord prepares us for that, may His gentleness ever become ours more and more now. In Him and by Him, what shall be is given to be now among us, or as Fred Lindemann puts it, “Let us hold nothing very tight except the Gospel, Christian truth, and moral principle. Let us be ready to drop all that is ours, so that we may hold fast all that is Christ’s; ready to drop earth that we may better grasp heaven.”
To lay hold of heaven is to rejoice. Which means it is also to be anxious for nothing. To have the blessed Presence of God with us, He in Whom heaven is brought to earth, is to have all reason to rejoice and none to have anxiety. Jesus, too, frees us from that and St. Paul’s concluding words gives the very exhortation as to how it is possible, even among those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death: Let your requests be made know to God. Do not seek to endure by your own strength, for such is a mark of pride and of being deceived. Be not prideful, fearful, nor doubtful. Do not refrain from calling upon His Name in every trouble; in trouble of mind, trouble of heart, trouble of family, trouble of wealth, trouble of body, trouble of doubt, trouble of faith. Rather in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. There is nothing too little or too big to pray about. Your heavenly Father desires to hear from you, to tend to you, to protect you, to rejoice you. You may at any time go boldly to His throne of grace, that you may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need, and beloved, you must know that you are in need of His help always. How glorious it is that at the very throne of heaven you may beckon for little and for much, because you have been given such majestic access by the shed blood of the Son of God Who dwells there on high forever. Acknowledge to yourself your need for calling upon Him. Acknowledge your need for thanking Him, for you are mistaken if you believe that He has not already given you much and desires to stay the course.
For the blessing of prayers and supplications to God with thanksgiving is that with them comes promise: and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus our Lord. The promise attached to prayers and supplications with thanksgiving is His peace; sure peace from above. It is not a fragile peace that you seek to establish or keep among yourselves by finite means and ability. It is the peace of God Himself that He promises you. Unshakeable, unfaltering peace that extends from now unto eternity. It shall not pass away as all in this deep dark valley will. But you shall not fear, for He is God with you; His rod and staff, they comfort you. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life and you will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. For all that, it is Christ Who prepares you. For all that, it is Christ Who rejoices you, in the Lord, in the Christ, in the coming One. Yes, O come, Thou Dayspring from on high, And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death’s dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!
In ✠ Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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