Sunday Sermon, 14 December 2025

The Third Sunday of Advent

A reading from the prophet Jeremiah

Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. Therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord. Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord.

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

Jeremiah 23.1–6 NRSV

There are moments in history which are sometimes called ‘turning points’, where the old order of things comes to an end, and the new order is established. These are fascinating times to learn about, and there is always a wide range of characters and motivations that lead up to them.

In our own country, we can look to 1649, when we committed regicide by executing King Charles I. The commonwealth that was established did not last long, as we restored our monarchy under King Charles II just a few years later in 1660.

But it doesn’t always work out that way. In the case of both the French revolution of 1789, and the Russian revolution of 1917, the monarchies that were overthrown were never restored.

These are turbulent moments in history. They throw everything into the air. Old certainties are smashed, and new possibilities emerge. At these times, people search for those who can help give meaning for the present, and hope for what is to come. In Biblical terms, we call such people prophets.

*  *  *

Over the past few months, we have been exploring the message of the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah. Like 1649 in our own country, the year 587BC was a tumultuous one for the people of Judah. The royal line of King David, which had endured for around 400 years, was violently put to an end. The people no longer had a king. The Jerusalem Temple, where daily sacrifice and worship had taken place, was smashed to pieces. And many of the leading figures from the kingdom of Judah were taken into exile in Babylon. They were a nation that had been well and truly defeated. 

Into this bleak situation, Jeremiah helps the people to understand what has happened, and what the remedy is.

He tells the people that these events have taken place because of a failure of leadership. Their kings have failed them (this is the ‘shepherds’ referred to in our passage this morning). They have failed to care for the poor and vulnerable in society, for the widows and orphans. Furthermore, they have led the people astray in worship, by going after idols rather than following the Lord God. That is why God has allowed their nation to be ransacked by the mighty power of Babylon.

But there is good news. God will raise up for them a new king – someone quite unlike the kings that had gone before – a king who goes after God’s own heart:

The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. (Jeremiah 23:5 NRSV)

This is Jeremiah’s Advent prophecy. 600 years later, in a stable in Bethlehem, a child is born. God’s answer to centuries of longing and patient waiting is revealed in Jesus Christ, the promised king in the line of David. Here is the one who will rule his people and fulfil the prophecy of Jeremiah and the other great Old Testament prophets.

*  *  *

But the question for us, is how does this connect to our lives today? All this talk about events that happened 2,500 years ago can feel quite distant and remote.

Have you heard the old joke: “My least favourite subject in school was Ancient History. The teachers tended to Babylon”(!)

One thing that we share with those in Jeremiah’s day, is that we too live in a broken world, with flawed and all-too-human leaders. Like those in Jeremiah’s time, we experience some better rulers and some worse. Governments of our own day are more humane and generous in many regards than those of the past. But we still see in many places a profound disregard for truth, justice, or care for the weak.

The difference between us and those of Jeremiah’s day is that we have been privileged to see the promised Messiah. We know what Christ’s spiritual rule is like, and how it contrasts with the imperfect rulers of our own day.

Jesus does not lay heavy burdens or oppressive rules upon his people. Rather, he invites them to take on his yoke which is easy, and his burden which is light. He teaches that the least among us must be most honoured, and the children are most valuable in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus does not look after himself while ignoring the needs of others. Rather, he heals the sick, gives sight to the blind, and even goes to the cross to redeem those he came to save.

And Jesus does not rule over his people with an iron fist, lording it over them. Rather, he comes in order to serve, and teaches that all who follow him must also become servants of those around them.

*  *  *

This feels especially pertinent in our own moment today.

There is a worrying rise of ‘Christian nationalism’ in America, that is seeking to gain a foothold in our own country. It teaches that Christ can rule directly through Christian leaders. But surely we just have to look at our own country’s history to see how misguided this notion is. When human leaders claim to be ruling in the name of Christ, oppression usually follows.

A more helpful way of understanding Christ’s rule is given to us in Advent. It teaches us that we live between the two ‘comings’ of Christ. In his first coming, Jesus established his heavenly rule. When he returns in the future, he will judge all things, and the kings and rulers of history will need to give their account before him.

In the meantime, we live under various forms of government which will always be human, flawed, and fallible. As Christians, we are called to live out the values of the gospel, and share this good news with others. We have seen elsewhere that Jeremiah teaches us to seek the good of the places we have been sent to, and the Christian imperative has always been to help make society a more equal and fair place to be. But we do this realistically, knowing that we cannot achieve perfection in this life; rather, we look forward to the day when Jesus Christ will return to put all things right, to correct every injustice, and offer mercy and peace to us and all creation.

Amen.