December 16, Third Sunday of Advent

Lessons: Isaiah 35.1-10; James 5.7-10

Sermon Title: See and Hear

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INTRODUCTION:

  1. We have a wall clock that has been silent for the last seven years.

    1. When it was running it chimed every 15 minutes.

    2. At first you were very conscious of the chiming of the clock.

    3. Its like anything that first enters your life.

    4. Helga told me of a couple who were eating lunch together.

    5. He was eating and reading the newspaper.

    6. After it has chimed for a while, you do not see it or hear it.

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MAIN BODY:

  1. Advent invites us to examine what we see.

    1. The first stanza of Do You Hear What I Hear, by Noel Regney asks:

Said the night wind to the little lamb,
"Do you see what I see?
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
Do you see what I see?
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite,
With a tail as big as a kite."

      1. Said the night wind to the little lamb,

      2. Do you see what I see?

    1. What do we see?

      1. Julia Ward Howe:

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.

      1. This is one kind of glory.

      2. At times very necessary.

      3. It also may be very destructive.

    1. What do we see as we look towards Bethlehem?

      1. Angels, shepherds, animals, people, wise men, Herod.

      2. Is there more to be seen?

      3. Is there to be seen the glory of the Lord?

    2. Listen again to the words of Isaiah.

1The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
    the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
 like the crocus 2it shall blossom abundantly,
    and rejoice with joy and singing.
 The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
    the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
 They shall see the glory of the LORD,
    the majesty of our God.

      1. They, that is we, shall see the glory and majesty of our God.

        1. It is to be seen in Bethlehem.

        2. It is to be seen in the manger in Bethlehem.

        3. It is to be seen in the lives of those who believe in the birth of Jesus.

      2. It is to be seen in those who not only believe but become, through the worship of Christ, sharers in the glory.

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  1. Advent invites us to examine what we hear.

    1. The second stanza of Do You Hear What I Hear, by Noel Regney asks:

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,
"Do you hear what I hear?
Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy,
Do you hear what I hear?
A song, a song high above the trees
With a voice as big as the sea,
With a voice as big as the sea."

    1. Do you hear what I hear?

      1. We hear carols and commercials.

        1. A confusion of ideas

        2. A confusion of meanings

      2. What do we hear as we look towards Bethlehem??

      3. Angel songs, comments by shepherds, conversation between the wise men and Herod.

    2. What does Isaiah have to say, Isaiah 35:4-10, NRSVA.

4Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
    "Be strong, do not fear!
 Here is your God.
    He will come with vengeance,
 with terrible recompense.
    He will come and save you."
5Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
    and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6then the lame shall leap like a deer,
    and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
 For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,
    and streams in the desert;
7the burning sand shall become a pool,
    and the thirsty ground springs of water;
 the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp,
    the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
8A highway shall be there,
    and it shall be called the Holy Way;
 the unclean shall not travel on it,
    but it shall be for God's people;
    no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.
9No lion shall be there,
    nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
 they shall not be found there,
    but the redeemed shall walk there.
10And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,
    and come to Zion with singing;
 everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
    they shall obtain joy and gladness,
 and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.     

    1. Do you hear the singing.

      1. Helga, Karin, Caitlin and I went to the concert sing-a-long Friday evening at Folklore Village.

        1. We sang carols in German.

        2. After the activity in Plum Grove Church we went to the barn and decorated a huge Christmas tree with real candles.

        3. The candles were lit and we sat and sang many more carols and seasonal songs in English.

        4. It was in the singing that you were heard the memory of the birth of Jesus.

    2. It was in the singing that you could confirm your faith in the Christ-child, adult Jesus.

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  1. Is there more to be seen and heard?

    1. What if we take time to look beneath the surface?

      1. Look at the surface of a pond or lake.

      2. You may see the reflection of yourself and what exists on the outside.

      3. Look at the edges and you may see the life that lives there.

      4. Go deeper and you will discover different forms and plant and aquatic life.

      5. We are invited to look beneath the surface of angels and shepherds, of animals and wise men.

      6. We are invited to look beneath the surface of the cries of fear, or curiosity, or rage.

    2. This requires patience which is encouraged by the Apostle James

7Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. 8You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! 10As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord, (James 5:7-10, NRSVA

      1. Just below the surface is the experience of Mary.

        1. What did Mary See?

        2. Mary accompanied Jesus in his ministry.

        3. She stood by at his crucifixion.

      2. What did Joseph see?

      3. What did the crowds see?

      4. What did the priests see?

    1. Does this help improve and deepen our sight?

  1. If we do not see, the event may pass by and we do not either understand or appropriate the benefits of his passing.

Frank S. Mead (3) once wrote a story titled, "The V.I.P."

In his story the small town of Mayfair is excited over the anticipated arrival of a rich and important stranger, Henry Bascom, who is coming to spend Christmas in their town.

The whole town turns out to meet him at the airport, but he's nowhere to be found.

Meanwhile, a quiet man slips by the people at the airport and heads into town.

This quiet man does not appear to be a man of means.

He is ignored and mistreated by the insensitive people of Mayfair.

They don't have time to help this stranger in their midst.

Finally, a poor, old gentleman invites the stranger home for a meager dinner with his family.

After the dinner, the stranger returns to the airport, where two men are taking down the sign welcoming Henry Bascom.

One man remarks to the other, "I can't believe we missed him. He must be in town somewhere, but we missed him."

And the stranger, unnoticed by the two men, climbs onto a plane and leaves behind the town of Mayfair.

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CONCLUSION:

  1. What do our eyes see as we look inward to the world that is in us, and look outward at the world that surrounds us?

    1. Do we in any way see the glory of the coming of the Lord and the salvation that God has provided?

    2. In the words of one of the Advent Hymns: Of the Father's Love Begotten, (Words: Aurelius Prudentius, 5th Century [Corde natus ex parentis]; translated from Latin to English by John M. Neale, and Henry W. Baker).

Of the Father's love begotten, ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see, evermore and evermore!

At His Word the worlds were framèd; He commanded; it was done:
Heaven and earth and depths of ocean in their threefold order one;
All that grows beneath the shining
Of the moon and burning sun, evermore and evermore!

He is found in human fashion, death and sorrow here to know,
That the race of Adam's children doomed by law to endless woe,
May not henceforth die and perish
In the dreadful gulf below, evermore and evermore!

O that birth forever blessèd, when the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving, bare the Savior of our race;
And the Babe, the world's Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face, evermore and evermore!

This is He Whom seers in old time chanted of with one accord;
Whom the voices of the prophets promised in their faithful word;
Now He shines, the long expected,
Let creation praise its Lord, evermore and evermore!

O ye heights of heaven adore Him; angel hosts, His praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before Him, and extol our God and King!
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert sing, evermore and evermore!

Righteous judge of souls departed, righteous King of them that live,
On the Father's throne exalted none in might with Thee may strive;
Who at last in vengeance coming
Sinners from Thy face shalt drive, evermore and evermore!

Thee let old men, thee let young men, thee let boys in chorus sing;
Matrons, virgins, little maidens, with glad voices answering:
Let their guileless songs re-echo,
And the heart its music bring, evermore and evermore!

Christ, to Thee with God the Father, and, O Holy Ghost, to Thee,
Hymn and chant with high thanksgiving, and unwearied praises be:
Honor, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory, evermore and evermore!

    1. To see and hear, too truly see and hear leads to a deep and lasting joy that, regardless of the circumstances, cannot be taken from you and

    2. To see and hear, too truly see and hear, creates a deep and lasting joy that is given voice in our prayers, praises, and thanksgivings that resounds in our songs and in our conversations.

  1. Advent invites us to see and hear, do you?

Amen!

1. Cliff Thomas in Humor in Pharmacy

2. Rev. Robert Fisher, St. Paul & St. John's Lutheran Churches, Ironwood, MI

3. THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS, Phyllis Hobe, et. al., A. J. Holman Company, Philadelphia, NY, 1975, pp. 47-50 2.