Rounding Third
Friends,
I wanted to share my latest Advent Devotional with you that I am writing in collaboration with my ministry at Spirit & Truth.
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Read Matthew 21:23-27:
23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”
24 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25 John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”
They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”
27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”
Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
Rounding Third
If you tend to follow the liturgical calendar, then yesterday was the third week in Advent. Known as Gaudete Sunday, gaudete in Latin means to rejoice. As we enter into the third week of Advent we do so rejoicing!
I found myself asking the question: Why the third week? Wrestling with the thought even more, I wondered why not the fourth week, or even the first? What’s so special about the third week?
Like I do for most things in my life (don’t ask me why) I began to reflect on baseball. I began thinking about third base, and specifically rounding third. This week in the Advent calendar we are rounding third, so-to-speak, and heading for home. The joy in rounding third base is different than anything else in baseball because we know what’s about to happen. We are about to complete the mission set before us, and rejoice in its finality of tagging home!
Similarly in the third week of Advent, we can see the end of the season of waiting, and we now joyfully approach the arrival of the Messiah at a full sprint.
In today’s reading Jesus is engaging in some banter with the teachers of the law about the idea of authority. They question Jesus’ ability to do the things he has done, and Jesus wisely chooses to ask questions rather than debate with folks who don’t really seem to want to understand.
I used to wonder why this reading would be the reading shared on the Monday of the third week in Advent. After years wrestling with the text I think I finally understand:
The only way people can take our joy is if we give it to them.
In the text, Jesus chooses not to engage in a discussion that He knows will not bring fruit, and instead - He lets them sit in the tension of the moment while He walks away.
Jesus understands He is rounding third base in His ministry and His life. Jesus can see the end, and after entering into Jerusalem for the final time He seems to elegantly refuse the idea of giving away His joy to people who aren’t with Him.
In our lives it’s time to rethink who we are giving our joy away to. Maybe it is an unhealthy relationship partner, maybe it is the Christmas “to-do” list, or maybe it’s the stress of workplace expectations.
This morning I invite you to , and reflect. We are rounding third in a season that will be over far too soon. Stop giving away your joy! Home plate is coming at you fast, enjoy the gift God is giving you today.
Reflection questions:
Who or where are you giving away joy?
What would it look like to refrain from unfruitful conversations?
What is one thing about where you are in your journey, you can give thanks for today?
