In each wreath, you see a symbol and a picture of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the Light of the world. It’s a reminder that with and through him, hope is a perpetual flame, illuminating the path you tread from birth to death to new life. It’s a recalling of God’s ancient promises from the past that are received by you today to shine the light of hope on your future, a future that, like the past and present, is dominated by the love that God has for you in Jesus Christ. 

The Christmas tree is a sign for people today that darkness and death do not get the last word. That is reserved for Jesus, the Light of the World — the light no darkness can overcome. And he has descended to live amongst you and gift you with his life so that you too may live in the hope of Christmas — the time when Jesus wipes away every tear from your eyes, and death is no more, and neither is there any need for mourning, or crying, or pain anymore, because those things, which are leftovers of the old world of sin and death, have been chased away by Jesus, your light and your life.

9 Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun.

10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.

This is where the Church, wherever she lives, learns about who her Lord is and about whom she waits for despite all disappointment. And she can wait for Him because He is with her. That is the mystery of the expectation of the Church. She can wait because she is with Him, hidden under the means of grace, in the Lord’s Supper. That is the mystery of the coming of Christ.

The only way we can enjoy the temporal gifts is to receive them because of the eternal gifts. As the Spirit inspired St. James, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” And who came down from the Father but Jesus? Without Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross of Calvary, you would not know that God loves you and cares for you. Without Jesus, you would not know God to be your Father and believe you are His beloved children. Without Jesus, you’d live a life seesawing between faith and doubt, contentment and hunger, despair and hope.

It will take a blessed miracle to restore any trust in the Son of Man and Son of God, Jesus. It will take you daily dying to sin and rising to new life in Jesus. It will take you hearing Jesus’s Word over and over as He burns, melts, and purifies your sinful heart. It will take you receiving Jesus’s flesh and blood to satisfy that hunger nothing and no one else has satisfied. All the mistaken notions, false assumptions, foolishness, are cut away and burned by Jesus, every day overcome and undermined by Jesus’ forgiveness of your sins.

But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

Amid the promise of doom and gloom against the temple… amid the coming judgment and a church in chaos, Jesus gives you His Gospel promise: “But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short!” That’s you! For the sake of you and your salvation, the tribulation will be short. Can any great signs or wonders lead you away from Jesus? Is it possible to deceive those who have Holy Spirit given faith? Possible, no impossible! You are God’s child. You are forgiven. You are with Jesus. Nothing they say or do can change that.

10 Then I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of holiness, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done. This also is vanity. 11 Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. 12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him. 13 But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God.

God's Word, the One who created us with a word, is the One that bears our burdens. He is the Truth that unmasks the lies for us. He is the permanent Life that undoes our temporary death. He is Jesus Christ, our God and Savior today and always. Nothing can defeat us, not our sin, this evil world, or its god, Satan, because he has defeated them all for us in his death and resurrection.

Even if these are the last days and we are enslaved under a murderous, authoritarian government, God is at work in the state to fulfill His purposes. No matter who “wins” the upcoming elections, what happens with our country or world, or what prosperity or poverty comes our way, your Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. He promises to keep you in the faith unto life everlasting. He promises you a peace that surpasses understanding. Here in His kingdom, He forgives you all your sins. Jesus reigns for you, even while the wars are waged and the world rages.

I say, “Keep the king’s commandment for the sake of your oath to God. ³ Do not be hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand for an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him.” (Ec 8:2–3).

Forgiveness of sins in Christ Jesus is the heart of the church. And forgiveness of each other is the heart of the Christian life. This is why Jesus would have you pray multiple times daily, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Apart from Christ’s forgiveness, you would face the threat of judgment, hell, and eternal torment. But in Christ, you are released from the slavery and everlasting punishment you deserve and forgiven all the debt owed to God for your sin. By Christ’s design, He has given you, His church, to live in this forgiveness—proclaimed from the pulpit, put upon your head in Absolution, wrapped around you in Baptism, and given to you to eat in the Sacrament.

Do not be overly righteous, Nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself? Do not be overly wicked, Nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time? It is good that you grasp this, And also not remove your hand from the other; For he who fears God will escape them all.

The good work of faith has been given to you in Baptism, renewed in Absolution, and strengthened in the blessed Communion. Be like the nobleman, the official of Herod. Having heard the Word of Good News, confess with your mouth and believe you and your household. Do not wait to feel the joy. Hear, know, believe, and trust that peace with God is once more made for you.

1 A good name is better than precious ointment,

And the day of death than the day of one’s birth;

2 Better to go to the house of mourning

Than to go to the house of feasting,

For that is the end of all men;

And the living will take it to heart.

3 Sorrow is better than laughter,

For by a sad countenance the heart is made better.

4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,

But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

Christ teaches us the doctrine of election in today's parable of the Wedding feast. Those with ears to hear and eyes to see will know the comfort and consolation of their election in Christ. God has given His Son to be your bridegroom and you his bride. Splendidly, all those who come to the wedding feast are not merely guests but the chosen bride. None of them are worthy of the Son but are redeemed and reconciled by His faultless obedience, suffering, and death. This righteousness is given to you in a spotless and brilliant wedding garment. Joined to the eternal Son of God, you will live eternally.

Ecclesiastes 6:12 (NKJV)

12 For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun?

Nothing you suffer is beyond healing. Nothing you undergo is beyond God’s intervention and care. Nothing is happening to you by chance. Nothing is an accident, as those without hope in Christ would have you believe.  Your whole life is in God’s hands; He cares for you. God permits everything that happens to you and God allows all things out of his love for you, for your salvation.

18 Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. 19 As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. 20 For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.