The Book of Zephaniah that gives us our first reading today is very short, three brief chapters. The first two and a half are a dire prophesy of death and destruction, about to happen in the Babylonian invasion. The final section we hear today (Zep 3:14-18a) couldn’t be more different, giving us the name of this third Sunday of Advent – Gaudete Sunday – Rejoicing Sunday.
The constant refrain that we hear through the Hebrew scriptures is that however badly the people mess up, however much God is fed up with their failure, he never abandons them, there is always a continuation, there is always something to hope for.
The Jews of Jesus’s time were in just such a period of oppression, linked with hope – but a very confused hope. They had a sense that there was something to hope for, something would change, but they didn’t really know what, or how to recognize it when it arrived. We know that eventually many of them failed so completely to recognize it that they tried to snuff it out. But that story is for later.
Today we hear of the early stage of the process – the prophet John the Baptist telling the people to repent, to turn back, again, to their God (Lk 3:10-18). And they’re willing to listen, even the most unlikely people, those that might be thought to have wandered furthest from the paths of righteousness – those straight paths we heard about last week.
What John tells them is simple, even obvious – just do the right thing. There is no deep philosophy here, no esoteric wisdom. This is stuff a child could understand – but adults have forgotten, or got confused, or even gone blind. They lap it up. It’s what they want to hear. It is possible to live a good life, it’s not complicated, and whatever you may have done up till now there is still a way back.
But that’s not the end of John’s message. It comes with a warning. He says, I’m not the final arbiter here, my simple message is only water. It washes and soothes. What is coming is fire. Its cleansing power is of a different quality, your purity will be forged in flames.
Rejoice – “The LORD has removed the judgment against you; he is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear.” He will “renew you in his love”. But that renewal is not a superficial paint job, it’s a total remodel, from top to bottom, inside to out. It’s not going to be comfortable; it’s probably not going to be easy; it might hurt, a lot.
If you’re prepared to stick with it, to “Rejoice in the Lord always”, as Paul insists, show kindness to all (all, not some), then there is a clear consequence: “the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:4-7) That’s the salvation we are promised. That’s the good news that John told to anyone who would listen. That’s the promise which we celebrate. The peace of God will guard our hearts and minds.
Rejoice indeed.