Christ: The Treasure of Our HeartsSample

The third Sunday in Advent is traditionally called “Gaudete Sunday” or “Rejoice Sunday.” It reminds us that the coming of Christ was cause for great joy. It was heaven’s treasure, bringing the possibility of new hope. And so, we rejoice.

I love how “joy” connects to “hope.” Joy is a deep, confident sense that “all is well” and that “all manner of things will be well.” It flows out of a bedrock conviction that God is good and that, when all is said and done, we will see that everything God has done is good. And so, we rejoice.

Hope is a joyful expectation of the future. It is founded on joy. It is an assurance that our good Father has determined for us “a hope and a future.” The path God has set before us is not dark—although it may occasionally pass through a dark valley—but a golden path of light and life. It is a path of hope and joy. And so, we rejoice.

While the Magi from the east worshipped Christ with costly treasures, we see Christ himself was heaven’s costly treasure, a treasure offered to whoever is willing to receive it. How beautiful that the angel of the Lord appeared to shepherds, considered the bottom of the social pyramid in their day, announcing the good news of a great joy that will be for all people. Heaven’s treasure came with an extravagant offer of unspeakable joy to all people – rich and poor, powerful and weak, male and female, young and old. No one was excluded. And so, we rejoice.

Scripture reveals that “the joy of the Lord” is our true strength. The early followers of Jesus understood their need for an abundance of joy by the power of the Holy Spirit. We, too, are convinced that a joyless, hopeless life is not the life we need. It is not the life God is offering to us in Christ. And so, we rejoice.

Our world knows little more than fear, confusion, and conflict. In fact, at times, it seems as though society is governed by anxiety and a feeling of hopelessness. Christ, heaven’s treasure, the Lord’s own joy, shows us another way. King Jesus taught a kingdom of peace empowered by joy. The way of Jesus, the way of the manger, and the way of the cross paint an amazing picture of hope. And so, we rejoice.

That joy is being offered anew to us today. During this wonderful Advent season, we see the bright, beautiful light that points the way to Christ, the light that is Christ. We once again hear the offer of joy and hope. It is ours to receive. And so, we rejoice.

Prayer

Lord Christ, our light and our life, heaven’s treasure, we worship you. We acknowledge you. We receive you. We ask you to be the incomparable, inexhaustible center of our lives. We are so thankful that with you and in you, we will finally know true joy and bright hope. Lead us on your way of peace, we pray. We rejoice in you today. Amen.

Larry Asplund, D.Min., serves as a part-time assistant professor at Regent University School of Divinity.