` Advent 3

Advent 3



Readings and Basic Resources

Lectionary Central on Advent III

Book of Concord Reading

THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL - John the Baptist is the preeminent preacher of the Gospel, for he points the hearer away from himself and toward the Messiah. From the Augsburg Confession, Article 5:

Article V: Of the Ministry.
1] That we may obtain this faith, the Ministry of Teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted. For through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments, 2] the Holy Ghost is given, who works faith; where and when it pleases God, in them that hear 3] the Gospel, to wit, that God, not for our own merits, but for Christ's sake, justifies those who believe that they are received into grace for Christ's sake.

4] They condemn the Anabaptists and others who think that the Holy Ghost comes to men without the external Word, through their own preparations and works.

All Book of Concord quotations are taken from the Triglotta, copyright 1921 by CPH. It is in public domain.

From the Church Fathers

This is the kind of King Christ is: He desires to help poor wretched people in body and in soul. Apart from Him, the world with all its strength and methods is no help. This is good and happy news! For Our Lord's help is this: Christ pays for our sin, and through His suffering He redeems us from eternal death. It is His kingdom and His ministry to preach this Gospel to poor sinners. That is His goal. For to the great and holy He does not come, for they do not desire His Gospel. (Bl. Martin Luther)

How might Jesus offend St. John the Baptizer? For He tells St. John's disciples, "Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me." Now "offend" does not mean to hurt St. John's feelings. Instead, Jesus is saying "Blessed are those who do not lose hope, who are not tempted to doubt Me, because of My suffering." All suffering is fulfilled in Christ Himself, and His Cross is a offense to many (1 Cor. 1.23). So anyone who suffers for Christ's sake may be offended; that is, they may lose heart. To them-and to St. John especially-Jesus pronounces this blessing: "Blessed are those to whom My Cross, Death, and Burial, will offer no trial of faith." (St. Hilary)

Today's Gospel teaches us two excellent things. First, Christ is a King of grace, full of comfort. Through His gospel He encourages the distressed conscience, comforts those who have sinned, and wants to help them obtain eternal life. To the extent that we lock ourselves into this Word, we can say with complete confidence when we die, "I believe in Jesus Christ who through his death can and will save me, who gives sight to the blind, cleansing to the lepers and life to the dead. On him I rely and am saved." Second, though all the world is offended, angered and finally falls because of Him and His gospel, we pay no attention to their offense and falling, but rather accept this King without offense, cling to His Word and through Him gain eternal life. As He says, "Blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me." (Blessed Martin Luther)



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This page was created on 01/08/2007 and last edited on: 01/08/2007
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