December 14, 2003; The Third Sunday of Advent Readings: Zephaniah 3:14-20; Philippians 4:4-9; Luke 3:7-18; Psalm 85.   The Rev. Dr. Hilary B. Smith The Dynamics of Forgiveness Advent is sometimes referred to as "Little Lent." Like Lent, Advent is a church season leading to a major celebration. Both are times of preparation. In our church, we use purple hangings for both seasons. Some churches now use blue during Advent to distinguish it from Lent. Advent should be distinguished from Lent because it is a time of expectation in a way that is different from Lent. We are at the beginning of the Christian story when we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Advent has of a joyful, exuberant, preparatory feel to it. Lent has much more of a penitential quality; it is a time intended for rigorous self-examination. And, yet, Advent is also a time when we consider the meaning God's forgiveness. In our Advent Collects, we pray: to "cast away the works of darkness;" and that God would "give us grace to forsake our sins;" and today, that God's "grace and mercy [would] help and deliver us" "because we are sorely hindered by our sins." Next Sunday, we will pray that God will, "purify our conscience" so that we may be prepared to encounter Christ. All that does sound a little like Lent, and if that was not enough, today we hear those famous words from John the Baptist to those who are seeking a relationship with God: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance." These are harsh words for those who are willing to enter the wilderness to find God. And, yet John's words point to the reality that all people need to repent. All need to seek the forgiveness of God. The people following John wanted to be baptized. John tells them that going through the motions of religious observance is not enough. When the crowds heard this call to repent, they asked, "What then should we do?" John replies, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." Rather than recommending pious words and religious rituals, John urges those who repent to care for others. Such concert expressions of mercy are the fruit of repentance. John then goes on to address the specific situations of those who seek guidance. The tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" He said to them 'Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.' Tax collectors, soldiers, you and I, live our lives through the specifics of our circumstances. God always works through the particulars of our lives. When God calls us to repent, it is always in specific ways, and not general terms. It is the same with forgiveness, isn't it? Forgiveness sounds like such a great idea in the abstract. But then you try to practice it in your daily life-in the specifics of your circumstances. If you are like most people, it is really hard to forgive those who have hurt you. After all, you are right; they are wrong. Maybe we can forgive those who did not mean to hurt us, but what about those who knew what they were doing? That's a tough one. Forgiving others is bound up with sensing our own need for forgiveness. Forgiving others takes practice and starts with admitting our faults and accepting forgiveness. For me to be a forgiving person, forgiveness needs to be a part of my life everyday. Another part of this dynamic of forgiveness, is being able to forgive one's self. Knowing that God forgives us is an important part of forgiving ourselves and forgiving others. The reading from Zephaniah provides a vivid description of a people who know that they are forgiven. The prophet Zephaniah wrote during the 7th century BC during the reform movement of King Josiah. You can read in 2 Kings 22 that the book of the law was found in the temple during a renovation project. What a surprise! When it was presented to Josiah, he realized that the people of Judah had not been following the commandments of God. That was a major sin; not much could be worse. It is in response to such great sin, that Zephaniah speaks of God's great love. Though they had sinned, the Lord "has taken away the judgments against you!" When God forgives us it can be described as God intervening with forgiveness. God takes action. Following their repentance, they are aware that God is in their midst. And the promise comes from Zephaniah that the Lord "will renew you in his love." Renew you in his love. What could that mean for you today? God's love makes all things new. A person who repents receives the love of God and is made new. Everyday can be a new beginning. God calls us into the future. Our future is the future that is built on the history of God's love for humanity. God's love is characterized by forgiveness and enables us to forgive others. We know of this love through the prophets. We know of this love through the birth of Jesus. Through the incarnation, God came to be in the midst of all people. As we prepare to celebrate Christmas-that day when everything changed for you and for me-may we forsake our sins and "bear fruits worthy of repentance." Amen.