Matthew 1:18-25 — Fourth Sunday of Advent

On this Fourth Sunday of Advent, as we stand on the threshold of Christmas, the Gospel invites us to look at a quiet but courageous man: Joseph. He does not speak in the story, yet his faith speaks loudly through his choices. In a moment filled with uncertainty, Joseph chooses trust. His decision mirrors Mary’s own “yes” to God, and together they show us what devoted faith looks like.

I. Faith Faces Uncertainty Honestly

Joseph’s story begins with disruption. He is engaged to Mary, and suddenly everything changes. Mary is found to be with child, and Joseph knows the child is not his. His future, his reputation, and his plans are all at risk. This is important: faith does not begin with certainty. Faith often begins when life does not make sense. Joseph does not deny the pain or confusion of the situation. He takes it seriously. Yet Scripture tells us he is a righteous man. His righteousness is shown not in harsh judgment, but in mercy. He plans to dismiss Mary quietly, protecting her from shame. Advent reminds us that God often meets us not in moments of clarity, but in moments of uncertainty. Joseph teaches us that faithful people do not ignore reality, instead they bring their reality before God.

II. Faith Listens to God’s Word

In the midst of Joseph’s uncertainty, God speaks. An angel appears in a dream and says, “Do not be afraid.” This is a familiar Advent message. God does not remove the risk; God offers reassurance.

Joseph is told that the child is from the Holy Spirit and that his name will be Jesus, “God saves.” God gives Joseph not all the details, but enough truth to trust. Joseph listens. This is where his faith mirrors Mary’s. Mary said, “Let it be with me according to your word.” Joseph responds the same way, not with words, but with obedience. He believes that God’s word is more reliable than his fear. Faith, especially in Advent, means learning to listen to Scripture, to God’s Spirit, and to God’s call, even when the future remains unclear.

III. Faith Chooses Obedient Action

When Joseph wakes up, Matthew tells us something simple and powerful: “He did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.” Joseph’s faith is not just internal; it becomes visible through action. He takes Mary as his wife. He accepts the child. He names him Jesus. By doing this, Joseph publicly aligns himself with God’s plan. This is costly faith. Joseph risks misunderstanding, gossip, and loss of control over his life. Yet he chooses obedience because he trusts that God is at work. Joseph’s decision stands alongside Mary’s decision. Together, they show us that God’s salvation enters the world through ordinary people who say yes in extraordinary circumstances. Advent invites us to the same choice: to trust God’s word and to act on it, even when the path ahead is uncertain.

Conclusion

On this Fourth Sunday of Advent, Joseph reminds us that faith is not about having all the answers. It is about trusting God enough to take the next step. Like Joseph, and like Mary, may we choose faith over fear, trust over certainty, and obedience over control, as we prepare our hearts to welcome Christ.

Amen.

Matthew 11:2–11 – Third Sunday of Advent (Joy)

The Third Sunday of Advent is known as the Sunday of Joy, yet the Gospel reading may surprise us. We meet John the Baptist not in celebration, but in prison, sending a question to Jesus: “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Advent joy does not begin with easy answers or perfect circumstances. Instead, it begins with the courage to hope even when joy feels distant. This Sunday reminds us that Christian joy is not the absence of struggle, but the presence of trust in God’s unfolding work.

When Joy Is Tested
John’s question reveals a faith under pressure. He had announced the coming Messiah with confidence, yet now finds himself waiting in chains. His experience mirrors our own moments when joy is tested by disappointment, uncertainty, or unanswered prayers. Advent does not deny these realities. Rather, it proclaims that joy can coexist with doubt. True joy is not shallow optimism; it is a deep assurance that God is still faithful, even when our expectations are challenged.

The Joyful Signs of God’s Kingdom
Jesus responds to John by pointing to what is happening: the blind see, the lame walk, the sick are healed, the dead are raised, and the poor hear good news. These signs are reasons for joy. They reveal that God’s kingdom is already breaking into the world, bringing restoration where there was brokenness. Joy in Advent is found not in spectacle or power, but in lives being healed, dignity being restored, and hope being renewed, often quietly, but faithfully.

Joy That Trusts God’s Way
Jesus adds a gentle blessing: “Blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.” This is an invitation to joy rooted in trust. God’s work may not unfold according to our timelines or expectations, yet it is no less real. Advent joy grows when we learn to recognize God’s presence in unexpected ways. It is the joy of those who trust that God is at work, even when the path forward is unclear.

Conclusion
As Jesus speaks to the crowd, he honors John as a great prophet, faithful even in uncertainty. The Third Sunday of Advent calls us to rejoice not because all questions are answered, but because Christ is among us. Our joy is grounded in the promise that God’s healing, mercy, and grace continue to shape the world. As we wait, we rejoice, confident that the One who comes brings light, life, and lasting joy.

Matthew 3:1-12 - Second Sunday of Advent - Peace

Beloved, today we arrive at the Second Sunday of Advent, the Sunday of Peace. We light a candle that promises calm, comfort, and the quiet presence of God. And then… we meet John the Baptist. Not exactly the peaceful figure we expect. John comes to us not in a soft robe or with gentle words, but “in the wilderness,” dressed in camel’s hair, eating locusts. His voice is fierce, his message direct: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

At first glance, nothing about John looks peaceful. But maybe that is exactly why the church invites us to meet him every Second Sunday of Advent. Because sometimes The voices that shake us awake, that call us to change, that ask us to prepare our hearts for the coming Christ. 

Today, I’d like to invite you to look closely at three aspects of John’s personality, and how each one teaches us something essential about Advent peace.

1. John the Baptist: a Voice in the Wilderness – Peace begins in the quiet places

Matthew tells us that John appears “in the wilderness of Judea.” The wilderness is a lonely place, stripped of distraction, stripped of comfort. It is where Israel learned to trust God. It is where prophets found their voice. And it is where John chose to stand. John did not go to Jerusalem, to the Temple, or to positions of influence. He preached away from everything familiar, and yet people went to him in great numbers. Why?

Because in the wilderness, their hearts could finally hear the truth.

Advent invites us into a small wilderness of our own. Not a physical desert, but an inner space where we set aside noise, hurry, and distraction.

A place where God can speak again. Peace begins not when life is calm, but when we actually make space for God’s voice. I wonder today:

Where is our wilderness?
Where can we step back, just a little, to hear God calling us?

2. John the Truth-Teller – Peace requires repentance

John’s first word is not “comfort,” but “repent.” Repentance is not about shame; it is about turning around toward a new direction, a fresh beginning. John speaks honestly, even harshly. He calls the religious leaders a “brood of vipers.” He exposes hypocrisy. He reminds them, and us, that true peace is not pretending everything is fine. There is no peace without truth. Advent asks us to be honest: What in my life needs to change? Where do I need to turn back toward God? What burden, habit, bitterness, or fear is draining my peace?

Repentance is not a punishment. It is an invitation to start again. John reminds us that God’s peace grows in soil that is honest, humble, and willing to change.

3. John the Prophet of Holy Fire – Peace through transformation

John gives us one of the strongest images in the Gospel: “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

Fire can burn, but it can also purify, refine, and make new. John is telling us that Jesus comes not only to comfort us, but to transform us.

And transformation is the doorway to peace. Sometimes God’s peace begins with God removing things from our lives: fear, resentment, greed, empty religion, pride. Sometimes God’s peace comes when God strengthens us inside, setting us free to live with courage and hope.

The refining fire of the Holy Spirit does not destroy us. It restores us.

Advent peace is not soft or sentimental.
It is God making us whole again.

Conclusion: Preparing for the Prince of Peace

So today, through John the Baptist, we learn that Advent Peace comes to us in four ways:

1. Silence – listening in the wilderness.
2. Honesty – the gift of repentance.
3. Transformation – the refining fire of the Holy Spirit.
   

John is not the peaceful figure we expect, but he is the one we need. His voice clears a path for Jesus to enter our hearts.

May this Advent be a time when we hear that voice in our own wilderness.
May we repent with joy.
May we point others to Christ.
And may the Holy Spirit refine us until peace takes root deep within us.