Today we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent – Gaudete Sunday, the day takes its common name from the Latin word Gaudete ("Rejoice"), the theme of the scripture passages for worship today.
We offered a prayer asking for help remembering the joy we have as part of the life of faith and how we are called to share our joy faithfully and with hope. Our Hebrew scripture reading was from the prophet Zephaniah who tells the story of reconciliation and restoration to the Jews who had forgotten God in their day-to-day life. Our response was from the prophet Isaiah, the First Song of Isaiah, and served the reminder that God alone saves us. Our Epistle was from the letter to the Philippians which offers the reminder that we are supposed to rejoice, to remember that God is near, and that our prayers will connect us to our savior God. Our Gospel from Luke was the infamous “You brood of vipers” passage filled with the question, “What should we do?” As our journey continues in Advent, we are reminded today that we truly know what we are called to do, and our mission is simple, to be a witness to God in Christ in the world. Our mission is to proclaim with confidence the truth, that God is in all of us and working together we can change the world. Our work begins with listening and an awareness of God in the person we meet and listen to. Who has God placed in community with you to help you remember and reach out to others?
I invite your likes and comments,
Les+
Listen at: https://audiomack.com/fatherles-2/song/advent-3-sermon
Readings: Zephaniah 3:14-20; Isaiah 12:2-6; Philippians 4:7-11; Luke 3:7-18
