Faithful Conversations #146

JOY has been much on my mind this week. The word itself reaches back to Latin, where gaudia conveys gladness and delight. From that same root comes gaudete — “rejoice” — the word that gives Gaudete Sunday its name. This third Sunday of Advent takes its title from the opening of the ancient introit, Gaudete in Domino semper (“Rejoice in the Lord always”). Emerging in the early centuries of the Church when Advent was observed as a penitential season akin to Lent, this Sunday offered a liturgical pause of joy and anticipation amid the somber preparation, marked by rose‑colored vestments and candles instead of the usual purple. Historically, it reminded the faithful that the coming of Christ was not only a call to repentance but also a promise of joy. Today, Gaudete Sunday continues to be celebrated across Christian traditions as a moment of light breaking into Advent’s darkness—often symbolized by the rose candle on the Advent wreath—and serves as a reminder that even in waiting, the Church rejoices in the nearness of God’s presence.

Thanks for visiting this space again today and for your continuing interest in studying the Bible and exploring the Revised Common Lectionary! We have two commemorations on the ELCA calendar this week: Lucy, the martyr (d. 304) on 13 December and John of the Cross, renewer of the church (d. 1591) on 14 December.

My reflections for 3 Advent will focus on the Matthew’s Gospel and John the Baptist. I will also offer a homily at ELC on Sunday regarding John’s story and his connection to the season of Advent. In addition, I have included a hauntingly beautiful piece of music from Iceland and the third excerpt of an interview with Pastor Jen Hatleli of ELC regarding her experience in Malawi, Africa in October of 2025.

NOTES REGARDING SOURCING:

** Note 1: Links to outside references are bolded and italicized and are meant for further reading or research on your part. While the text I am including in the blog is my own, I am pulling from a multitude of sites for ideas and connections.

** Note 2: In my increasing use of A.I. (Copilot), I will cite sourcing of how I am using the tool, if necessary. I don’t want that to be overly cumbersome, but I am gradually incorporating more tools.

** Note 3: The images I include in the blog are drawn from Wikimedia Commons to the fullest extent possible.

Common Themes Among the Readings

A Strategy for Reading

Focus Passage: Matthew 11:2-11

Reflections: “John the Baptizer — Bridging the Covenant”

John the Baptist has jolted me awake — in my mind I am standing with the crowd along the Jordan River trying to figure this guy out! For years I kept him at the edges, a minor figure overshadowed by Christ. But the more I study, I realize I need to spend more time with him. John storms into the wilderness, thunders repentance, plunges people into the Jordan, and then vanishes—silenced by Herod’s brutal command. Mark’s Gospel paints the most harrowing picture of John’s demise (Mark 6: 14-29): Herod fears John’s righteousness yet crumbles under Herodias’s grudge and her daughter’s demand. The scene exposes Herod’s weakness and John’s fearless courage. We are left with that gruesome image of John’s head on a platter. This week, however, Matthew refuses to let me dismiss him. Jesus declares John more than a prophet—the one who stands at history’s hinge, bridging the old covenant and the new, pointing us straight to the kingdom breaking in.

In Matthew 11:2–11, we encounter John the Baptist in prison—his body worn down, his spirit unsettled. The prophet who once thundered with conviction now wrestles with doubt. He sends his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” It is a profoundly human moment: the fiery herald of repentance now questioning in the shadows of confinement. (Perhaps John is questioning his cousin’s movement from the wilderness into the world — his association with “worldly people”). As is so often the case, Jesus does not respond with a simple “yes” or “no.” Instead, he points to the evidence of God’s reign breaking into the world: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor receive good news. In other words, the promises of Isaiah are being fulfilled before their eyes. Then Jesus turns to the crowd and honors John. He asks them directly: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? A man dressed in fine clothes? No—you went to see a prophet.” These questions cut to the heart. John was not a reed bending to public opinion, nor a courtier seeking comfort and status. He was a prophet—unyielding, uncompromising, and chosen to prepare the way. And yet, Jesus adds a startling twist: “Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” John stands at the threshold of the kingdom, pointing toward it, but the kingdom itself is breaking in with a new kind of power—one not built on human greatness but on God’s grace. Even the least who enter into this kingdom share in a reality greater than John’s prophetic mission, because they live within the fullness of what Christ brings.

And that is why John the Baptizer is the perfect symbol of Advent. The word itself means “coming” or “arrival,” and John embodies that threshold moment. He points beyond himself, preparing the way, reminding us that the kingdom is near. Advent is not only about waiting—it is about waiting with urgency, with repentance, with hope. John’s life tells us that joy and judgment, longing and fulfillment, are woven together in the coming of Christ. He is not a footnote; he is the voice crying out in the wilderness, the herald of Advent joy. But his cry is not only for the crowds of the Jordan River—it echoes still. If John’s voice were to reach us today, what paths would we need to straighten, what valleys would we need to lift, so that Christ might truly arrive in our midst?

Soli Deo Gloria and Gaudete in Domino semper!

Note: I am indebted to Fr. Morgan Reed of the Corpus Christie Anglican for his interpretation of this week’s Gospel. You can read his full homily here. In addition, I utilized interpretations of John the Baptist offered by Garry Wills in his 2006 book, What Jesus Meant.

We will explore this passage further in our Sunday Lectionary group using the discussion questions included in the Faithful Conversations update below.

Musical Meditation: “Fljótavík” (Sigur Rós)

As we enter the season of Advent, we are invited to see ourselves as travelers moving through wilderness and storm, longing for shelter and light. Sigur Rós’s “Fljótavík,” named after a remote bay in Iceland, tells of a journey ashore, a struggle across sand and stone, and the discovery of a fragile hut where rest is found while the storm rages outside. The music mirrors this imagery—spare at first, then swelling like waves—until it settles into quiet memory. This song, like the season, is about waiting with trust: remembering storms, yet resting in hope that light will break into the darkness. Voces8 offers a powerful interpretation of it which I have included here.

Sigur Rós is an Icelandic post‑rock band formed in Reykjavík in 1994, known for their ethereal sound. Their name means “Victory Rose.” Singing in Icelandic and their invented “Hopelandic” language, they rose to international fame and have sold millions of albums worldwide. Sigur Rós remains celebrated for turning Iceland’s landscapes and spirit into sound that feels both deeply local and universally transcendent.

Prayer Reflection: A Prayer for Joy in Our World

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)

Lord, the good news of Jesus’ arrival brings such joy to our world! Reach those who are lost and searching with the message of hope that we have through the Messiah. God, allow your message of peace to bring comfort to our anxious world. As we all go about the holiday season, let the message of great joy pierce through all the noise and into people’s hearts. Amen.

Source: Crosswalk: Third Sunday of Advent: Gaudete Readings and Prayers for Lighting the Candle. Retrieved 6 December 2025.

Faithful Conversation Updates

Reflections On Malawi: Part 3

Since 1999, the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Malawi have been companions in ministry. Recently, several NW Synod representatives, including Pastor Jen Hatleli and Patti Whitworth from ELC, traveled there and met with many of our partners in the region. During Advent, I am posting excerpts from my interview with her about the trip. In our third exchange, I asked Jen to share a story of a person or moment that left a lasting impression on her.