Third Sunday in Advent December 16, 1979
Zephaniah 3:14-18; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18
Zephaniah, the prophet, is dramatically addressing a slum of Northern Kingdom refugees of Jerusalem, "the daughter of Zion," and he is telling them to "rejoice and shout aloud." It is an unexpected and unwarranted call to joy in the midst of almost total distress. The prophet is, in effect, saying that joy is not rated or maintained by happy circumstances, but that joy is quite simply received.
He is announcing the presence of joy. It is here. It is available. It is, in C.S. Lewis' phrase, "the utter reality." "Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; he will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love. He will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals." For the prophet, joy is first and finally what is happening.
Both Zephaniah and Paul, writing to the Philippians from his chains, counsel an unprecedented joy to their listeners: "I want you to be happy, always happy in the Lord; I repeat, what I want is your happiness."
In our psychological and subjective age we would have trouble with those who appear to be telling us how to feel. We well know that feelings cannot be commanded, even by prophets or apostles or holy writ! We know that feelings just are, and we had best get in touch with them.
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