In the Name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen

And so IT is on us again. That season of frantic “Happy Holidays” spewed through gritted teeth, made worse this year by the death that stalks, and hinders our every step. 

With the past decade or so, our “Happy Holidays” have begun before the Jack-O-Lanterns of Halloween begin to rot, so it is again this year. Appropriate that; since Halloween is the celebration of Death’s constant influence in our lives; therefore our celebration of “Happy Holidays” begins in death and never gets too far from it.

Martin Luther in his Large Catechism’s commentary on the 1^st Commandment makes the reason for this plain:

 “If your faith and trust be right, then is your god also true; and, on the other hand, if your trust be false and wrong, then you have not the true God; for these two belong together, faith and God. That now, I say, upon which you set your heart and put your trust is properly your god.(LC I 3)”[1]

Does it have to be this way? What is your Christmas hope; and how different is that from your Christian faith?  You may say that your hope is in the Lord; but what does that mean?

Is your Christmas Hope just blind Faith? Can Faith be blind?

 “Yet if any one wishes a distinction to be made, we say that the object of hope is properly a future event, but that faith is concerned with future and present things, and receives in the present the remission of sins offered in the promise. (Ap. V (III) 191)”[2]

 Melanchthon’s distinction speaks a great truth.  

Is what you call Christmas Faith just blind Hope? And if it is what good will it do you?

My point this morning is that it is impossible to have a Christmas hope without an Advent Faith.  

The Son has left His home with the Father in heaven and has come forth on a journey to redeem you and save you. As true Man, conceived and born of the Blessed Virgin Mary — as your brother in the flesh, with a body and blood like yours — He has waited in faith upon His Father (not knowing the day nor hour). He has heeded and relied upon His Father’s faithful Word. He has taken heed, stayed awake, and been alert; so that, when the day and hour came, He was ready.

He deals with sin, which is the problem. It is the underlying problem, not so much as bad behavior to be punished, but as an inability to turn toward God, the Creator, who is alone the Author and Giver of life.

He deals with sin by sending forth a law and establishing His justice. Now His righteousness is near, and His salvation has gone forth. Although the heavens and the earth will perish — the sky will vanish like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a garment — His salvation and His righteousness are forever.

His righteousness and salvation are forever, and they are for you.

His arm will judge His people. Therefore, wait upon His arm in faith which is greater than hope.. For with His mighty, outstretched arm, in the palm of His hand, He suffers the tribulation and the final judgment of sin in Himself. He, Christ Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, atones for the sins of the world. He rectifies what was broken in all of creation. He reconciles the world to God: in Himself.

Learn the lesson of His Cross. Consider its leaves and its fruit, which are for the healing of the nations. They are no less so for you. He has sent forth His messengers with its rich and lush produce to gather His elect from the four winds, to call His disciples from all nations: To call, gather, enlighten, and sanctify His whole Church, on earth as it is in heaven; daily and richly to forgive you all of your sins.

So, also, to you He says: “Be on the alert!” Take heed. Be watching for Him and waiting upon Him. Set your heart on the pilgrim’s way, to live by faith as a sojourner through this world, a wayfarer on earth. Lift up your head, your heart and your mind, unto Christ your Savior; unto Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, who shall cause you to stand in His glorious presence, blameless and beloved before the God and Father.

Keep yourself in that Love of God, which is in Christ Jesus.

But how?

He has taught you how, and He continues to catechize you in the way you are to go, which is the way of life in Him:

Build yourself up on your most holy faith by giving attention to the Word of Christ. Hold it sacred, and gladly hear and learn it. Avail yourself of the Gospel, that is, the preaching of Christ, His Word of Holy Absolution, the administration of His Body and His Blood in remembrance of Him. Return daily to the significance of your Holy Baptism in His Name. You will not overdo it or get too much of Christ Jesus.

For it is impossible to have a Christmas Hope without an Advent Faith. But with an Advent Faith, Christmas Hope is certain!

In Jesus Name. Amen

---

[1] Luther, Martin The Large Catechism Ten Commandments, Part I, 3 accessed 11/30/2020 9:03 AM https://bookofconcord.org/large-catechism/part-i/commandment-i/

[2]Melanchthon, Philip The Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article V, 194  https://bookofconcord.org/apology-of-the-augsburg-confession/article-v/