Bloghardt's Reflector

Are you the One Jesus? Or do I have to find someone else?

You know the right answer. Jesus is the One. What’s your answer? Is Jesus the One? Or do you need to search for another?

You believe in Him. You know He’s the One. He’s saved you from sin, death, and the power of the devil not with gold or silver but with His holy precious blood and innocent suffering and death.

Yet, you live each day doing what you do. You get up, you work, you eat, you sleep, sometimes not even thinking about God.

And praying? You pray here, but when you are at home? Maybe sometimes at Supper - depending on how fast you have to get to where you are going.

God’s not mad at you, you reason to yourself. It’s not like you murdered anyone or cheated on anyone. You pay your taxes, your live your life, you do the best you can. The good you do outweighs the bad. Whatever else is just going to be forgiven - after all, you are you.

Sure, you have sins - like lust, straying thoughts, gossip, and maybe even porn. But, you’ve got those under control. If given enough time, you’ll fix them all. Maybe even with a New Year’s resolution.

And God, you and God are fine. You’ll do your thing. He’ll look after you. You’ll toss your offering in the plate, if you have anything left after spending what you need on yourself.

But, there’s that death thing. It’s the great problem to this line of thought, isn’t it? You are going to die. Probably. Those you love too. Death is part of the fall - along with sickness, suffering, and pain.

Have you decided that it might be good to get better? Sounds like a good idea, doesn’t it?

So, pray more, give more, read the Scriptures more, be more for others, be more for God.

Then, you stop. You try some more. Then, you stop again. The more you try, the more you fail and the more death and hell seems something really to be afraid of...

So, are you, Jesus, capable of saving me from me? Are you capable of saving me from the wraith that God has for me? Are you the One, or am I out for myself?

That’s what’s joyful about Gaudete! John the Baptist draw us away from all your answers. Some days our answers are faithful, most days they aren’t. And that means, every day, you need a savior.

And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers* are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and lthe poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who mis not offended by me.”

You are saved from death and hell not by your change, your giving, your commitment, nor do you does changing, giving, and committing keep you saved.

No, salvation is found only in what Jesus does and says. From His birth in Bethlehem, to His miracles, to His preaching the Gospel, all were done to save you. Every miracle, every Word, His betrayal, His suffering, the nails, the spear, the death, all done to rescue you from your sins.

He lived His life perfectly to save you. He died the death you deserved.

So that you receive no wraith. No punishment. No death. Jesus endured is all. Eyes on what He did. Ears on His words.

How do you know? Look at what He did - the blind received their sight, the deaf hear, lepers are cleansed, the dead raised, and you and I have the Gospel put in our ears.

For you, in your place, each one, each time, each miracle. All of them proclaiming the Gospel: comfort, comfort my people, says your God.

No more war with God. Your sins are forgiven, pardon, from the hand of the Lord Himself. Double forgiven - more forgiveness than you could have sins, more salvation than you could figure out, more eternal life than you could ever wrap your mind around.

That’s the Gospel that Jesus says was preached to the poor. He’s preached it to you and me today too - calling us out of our wilderness and prison to sin and death, to the glory of the Lord revealed in the coming of His Son.

So, this Guadete, prepare for Jesus’ coming. Make the rough places of your life smooth. Take the mountains and lay them low. Even out the level ground.

Change is good. Try some. Stop blaming others for what you do. Stop gossiping about them. Stop living as if Jesus isn’t the Coming One.

Don’t do it for God. God’s going to save you because of Jesus. Change for the sake of those around you. They really could use the joy of Advent in your life.

And if along the way you should have doubts? Read Jesus’ Word. Listen to what He did for you.

See how real Jesus is. A baby Jesus in the manger. A grown Jesus teaching and healing. A dead Jesus on the Cross.

Then, come to His Supper. Eat and drink the Body and Blood of the crucified and now risen Christ. Be forgiven, be strengthened in the Faith unto life everlasting.

As Jesus comes to you in His gifts, you will find that He has save you. He already has saved you. You have no need to look anywhere else.

Contemplate the truth of Jesus’ miracles and preaching this Advent season and this Christmas. This is God’s answer to your sins, your doubts, your sickness, and your pain: He has sent His Son into your flesh.

Today, is Gaudete Sunday. That’s literally, “Y’all Rejoice” Sunday! The pink candle is lit and the Baptist is pointing us again to Jesus.

Christ is our savior. He has saved us from our sins. He has saved us from our sicknesses. He has raised us from the dead. He has even saved us from our doubts. We have no need to look anywhere else.

Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.