Lectio Divina Led by Jennifer Hosler

Isaiah 12:1-6; Zephaniah 3:14-20; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18

This is the third Sunday of Advent. Traditionally, the theme for this Sunday is Joy. Joy or rejoice is seen throughout several of our lectionary scriptures.  

For our candle lighting, we read a passage from Isaiah, which is read today in the lectionary in the place of a Psalm. It is basically like a Psalm, a praise to Yahweh in expectation of deliverance. The first 12 chapters of Isaiah do include the prophetic promise of judgment for the people of Israel, who will be taken into exile by the Assyrians, due to their failure to keep God’s covenant, their failure to love God or neighbor. As is common through the prophets, Isaiah’s chapters are compilations of prophetic oracles, judgment (forthtelling) and also a promise of a restored future after calamity (foretelling). Things are bleak and about to get worse; Isaiah anchors the people’s hope in the future restoration of God. Things are hard – likely will be harder still – yet God does not abandon us.  

Isaiah 12:1-6: 

You will say on that day: 

“I will give thanks to you, O Lord, 

    for though you were angry with me, 

your anger turned away, 

    and you comforted me. 

Surely God is my salvation; 

    I will trust and will not be afraid, 

for the Lord is my strength and my might; 

    he has become my salvation.” 

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say on that day: 

“Give thanks to the Lord; 

    call on his name; 

make known his deeds among the nations; 

    proclaim that his name is exalted. 

Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; 

    let this be known in all the earth. 

Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion, 

    for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.” 

Lectio Divina and Reflections 

Zephaniah 

• Like Isaiah, this prophetic book has messages of judgment and accountability, which is also paired with news of future redemption 

• God will remove disaster; will deal with all oppressors; save the lame, gather the outcast 

• I will bring you home –  

• God is in the “business” of restoring people, of bringing healing, of freeing the oppressed (and the oppressor).  

Philippians 4 

• Paul wrote this book from jail;  

• Gentleness be known to everyone (day after election, unexpectedly cranky out the gate – ratcheting up the stakes without meaning to) 

• Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything 

• And the peace which passes understanding WILL guard your hearts and minds in Jesus 

Luke 3:7-18 

• Fourth passage of Joy – starts out with “You Brood of Vipers”  

Can sound harsh to our ears; Turning from that which brings death to that which brings life (repentance) 

In Luke, repentance is not about the condemnation per se; repentance is framed as bringing joy.  

How do we turn from that which brings death to that which brings life?  

Good news to the poor and also good news to people in the system – but that good news isn’t, “You’re off the hook.” Instead, that good news is, “straighten up and choose the path of righteousness, which is the path of justice, the path the brings life.” 

Bear fruits worth of repentance – don’t just say, well, Abraham is my ancestor, I’m going to be ok. John explains we can’t ride on the coattails of others into the kingdom of God. Perhaps, also, we can’t ride on our past faithfulness either. The Kingdom of God is constantly calling us to turn, to bear fruits worthy of repentance.  

Ax at the root of the trees. No fruit? Cut it down.  

Note the different groups that ask questions of John.  

The crowds ask, “What should we do?” 

Share what you have, provide mutual aid to those who need it.  

“Even” the tax collectors ask, “What should we do?” 

John says, don’t abuse your power. Don’t steal or be greedy – just do your job.  

Soldiers also ask John the Baptizer, “And we, what should we do?” 

Don’t extort – don’t abuse your power. Don’t falsely accuse anyone. Be satisfied with your wages.  

Baptism – John preparing the Way. Jesus and the Holy Spirit at work.  

Stark images of refining, separating the faithful from the faithless.  

What does this all mean for us?  

“And what should we do?” – there is both a general and a specific call, for what repentance looks like.  

Repetition – which scriptures should we read again?  We read through the Zephaniah and Gospel passages.

Implications/Musings 

• Hope and deliverance, restoration –  

• God declaring joy – when the possibility of joy has seemed so far fetched, so impossible.  

• When “on that day” seems impossible (Syria felt as though it would never change) 

• “I believe that we will win” 

• Beauty and joy in the interim.  

What step can you take to find nourishment, to build an eben-ezer, to say, I will cultivate joy because I trust in the hope of God’s restoration, in the Christ child, in God entering with us into this earth, with us in our suffering, and redeeming our painful world for a future filled with the joy of God.  

Featured Photo: taken by Jennifer Hosler;

Statue: The Prophet (St. John the Baptist); Pablo Gargallo (Spanish, 1881-1934)

1933, Bronze, Baltimore Museum of Art; Alan and Janet Wurtzburger Collection