By the Rev. Micah Krey
Revised Common Lectionary Reflection for the Third Sunday in Advent, Year C
December 15, 2024
Key verse: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice.” – Philippians 4:4
Advent is a season of joy and preparation, and in this week’s readings from Luke and Philippians, we see how these two themes could be woven into a sermon calling for stewardship in our faith. Paul, in Philippians, encourages the community to “rejoice in the Lord always,” while Luke presents the challenging figure of John the Baptist, urging the people to “bear fruits worthy of repentance.” Together, these passages invite us to steward our lives with joy and responsibility.
Paul’s call to rejoice is for more than fleeting happiness; it’s a deep-seated, resilient joy rooted in our faith. Paul is leaning into this feeling himself as he writes this letter from prison and is uncertain for his own life in the days to come. For Paul, joy is a spiritual discipline, a way of seeing God at work in our lives—choosing joy, even amid challenge, chaos, or the unknown. Paul reminds us that as stewards of our faith, we nurture joy and peace, trusting God with the anxieties of our hearts. Rejoicing in the Lord calls us to see ourselves as cultivators of God’s peace, sharing it through how we live and interact with others.
In the Gospel reading, John the Baptist speaks bluntly to those who come to be baptized, calling them to sincere transformation. “Bear fruits worthy of repentance” means taking seriously the ways we live and the impact of our actions. Stewardship here is about responsibility—acknowledging that our lives bear fruit, whether good or bad. John’s words remind us that stewardship isn’t about passive living but instead active choices and thoughtful engagement. This fruit-bearing calls for integrity and a realignment of our lives with God’s purposes, as we choose actions that reflect compassion, justice, kindness, and love.
These passages call us to steward our joy and our choices. True stewardship means living our faith outwardly, in ways that bring peace and healing to others. Like Paul’s joy, which is rooted in God’s presence, we too are invited to share this presence with others through lives marked by generosity, repentance, and peace.
This Advent season, let us take the opportunity to recommit to stewarding our lives with joy and accountability, bringing forth good fruit in preparation for Christ’s coming.
In Worship
You could connect the theme of joy and accountability by incorporating music that reflects both aspects. For instance, “Prepare the Royal Highway” alongside “Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers.”
A litany of repentance can help prepare the congregation, echoing John’s message to bear worthy fruits.
For an Advent candle lighting liturgy, pair each lighting with a phrase from Philippians, emphasizing joy, gentleness, and peace. Conclude with a shared prayer asking for guidance to steward these qualities in our lives.
You could also take an opportunity for personal reflection, where each person can consider ways they can “bear fruit,” aligns well with John’s message and reinforces individual responsibility in preparation for Christ’s arrival.
With Youth
John’s call to “bear fruit” can be a meaningful discussion topic with youth. Ask them to think of what “fruit” they want their lives to produce — kindness, generosity, and courage — and explore how these choices can serve as stewardship in their daily lives. Discuss joy as something cultivated, not merely felt, and brainstorm ways they can practice joy through gratitude, service, or spending quality time with friends and family. Engage them in an activity where they write down areas where they would like to be more intentional in their lives—perhaps creating a “fruit tree” of values and actions. Conclude by challenging them to bring at least one joyful or generous act into their week as a stewardship commitment.
With Children
Use a small plant or fruit to illustrate John’s idea of “bearing fruit.” Explain that, just as a tree grows fruit, we “grow” kindness, patience, and love by the choices we make every day. Talk about preparing for Christmas as not only decorating or wrapping gifts but it is in acts of love that we share—showing kindness and generosity, which can bring others joy.
You could involve them in a simple Advent “joy jar” activity, where each child writes or draws ways they can spread joy (helping, saying thank you, etc.), and places it in a jar. Then each child can pick one and try to incorporate it into their life for this week. This helps them see stewardship as small acts of kindness, preparing for Jesus in a meaningful way.
Previous reflections for Advent 3C:
2018 – LEAD: Stewardship in Advent
2015 – Stewards of Joy
2012 – New clothes and loose tongues
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