A sermon for Jubilate (the third Sunday after Easter), by Fr. Josh Leigeber.
In this Jubilate sermon, the promise of the Gospel of John 16 stands at the center: “a little while” of sorrow gives way to lasting joy in Christ. Jesus prepares His disciples—not only for His death and resurrection, but for the whole span of the Church’s life between His ascension and His return. Christians live as “resurrection people,” united to Christ in Baptism, bearing present struggles with a sure and living hope.
Drawing on Augustine of Hippo, the sermon reflects on jubilate as a joy that exceeds words—a gladness that spills over in song, especially in the Church’s Alleluias. This Easter joy persists even amid suffering, because it is grounded in Christ’s victory over sin and death.
Jesus’ image of childbirth frames the Christian life: real sorrow now, but a joy that overwhelms it when the new life is revealed. This applies to the disciples’ grief at the cross, the Church’s present longing during Christ’s hidden reign, and even the groaning of all creation (as in Epistle to the Romans 8) awaiting restoration. The Church herself is seen as a mother, bearing new life through Word and Sacrament and rejoicing in the new birth of her children.
The result is a life marked by confident, communal joy—expressed in the Divine Service and overflowing even into fellowship together. Even now, amid temporary suffering, Christ’s people sing: Jubilate Deo.
All Saints Lutheran Church and School 