Sermon Tone Analysis

Title

Eschatological Anticipated Joy

Outline

There is a beautiful word in German that I discovered decades ago, Eschatalogischevorfreude

It means eschatological anticipated joy

In a world so devoid of hope, that is what Christians can legitimately enjoy (versus its shallow this-world offerings)

And that is what our texts today are about, gaudete as God defines it

Zephaniah sets the tone:

The joy, or at least its beginnings is in the present: “Shout for joy, daughter Zion!”

The reason is forgiveness, “The LORD has removed the judgment against you”

A second reason is the presence of God as king, unseen at the time of the prophecy, “The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst”

But the full realization is coming in the future: “on that day”

This is eschatological anticipated joy, joy in faith at what God is doing, joy in anticipation of what God will do

We see it in Paul, who is sitting in prison

“Rejoice in the Lord always.

I shall say it again: rejoice!”

Why?

Because “The Lord is near.”

This is the reason for pursuing virtue, as Paul indicates

Therefore, “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.” - notice the thanksgiving in the present

How can we actualize this?

By prayer and contemplation: “the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

And that is behind what John’s announcement of the kingdom

The king is coming, indeed he is already in their midst

Therefore the year of jubilee has come, the time to express the virtues found in the year of release

Share what you have; tax collector stop any injustice; soldier (with puny wages) stop using your power for injustice and instead practice justice - this anticipates Jesus’ announcement of the year of jubilee

How does one dare do this?

Because the king who will establish perfect justice is near, so one anticipates his arrival and prepares justice

This is indeed good news, a reason for joy and the joyful anticipation of the king’s presence by acting in his spirit

Sisters, meditate on this rather than on the newspapers and the media that follows them

Meditate on the negative and you will lose sight of Jesus, not always because editors are evil, but because the negative and sensational sells - even in church media

Meditate on the coming of Jesus and how he is already in our midst even if in a hidden manner, and you start to see his signs everywhere, like on Sighting Day in David Mains Tales of the Kingdom

You then are motivated to grow in virtue to prepare for his full coming

You then can live in joy in the midst of negativity in the world

Eschatological Anticipated Joy - a word to remember, because we can live in joy anticipating the King

Readings

FIRST READING

Zephaniah 3:14–18a

14 Shout for joy, daughter Zion!

sing joyfully, Israel!

Be glad and exult with all your heart,

daughter Jerusalem!

15 The LORD has removed the judgment against you,

he has turned away your enemies;

The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst,

you have no further misfortune to fear.

16 On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem:

Do not fear, Zion,

do not be discouraged!

17 The LORD, your God, is in your midst,

a mighty savior,

Who will rejoice over you with gladness,

and renew you in his love,

Who will sing joyfully because of you,

18 as on festival days.

I will remove disaster from among you,

so that no one may recount your disgrace.

RESPONSE

Isaiah 12:6

6 Shout with exultation, City of Zion,

for great in your midst

is the Holy One of Israel!

PSALM

Isaiah 12:2–6

2 God indeed is my salvation;

I am confident and unafraid.

For the LORD is my strength and my might,

and he has been my salvation.

3 With joy you will draw water

from the fountains of salvation,

4 And you will say on that day:

give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;

Among the nations make known his deeds,

proclaim how exalted is his name.

5 Sing praise to the LORD for he has done glorious things;

let this be known throughout all the earth.

6 Shout with exultation, City of Zion,

for great in your midst

is the Holy One of Israel!

SECOND READING

Philippians 4:4–7

4 Rejoice in the Lord always.

I shall say it again: rejoice! 5 Your kindness should be known to all.

The Lord is near.

6 Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. 7 Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

(cited in Luke 4:18)

Isaiah 61:1

1 The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,

because the LORD has anointed me;

He has sent me to bring good news to the afflicted,

to bind up the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives,

release to the prisoners,

GOSPEL

Luke 3:10–18

10 And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” 11 He said to them in reply, “Whoever has two tunics should share with the person who has none.

And whoever has food should do likewise.”

12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13 He answered them, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.”

14 Soldiers also asked him, “And what is it that we should do?”