7 Dec 2025, Matthew 3: 1-12, Athelstone Uniting Church, Advent 2

Good morning, dear friends.

Welcome to the second Sunday of Advent, the Sunday of Peace. To begin today, as I mentioned in the newsletter, let’s have a little quiz!

Every country has its own unique Christmas traditions, right? So here’s my question: What is the most popular Christmas Eve dinner in Japan?

Are we ready? It’s a multiple-choice question. Listen carefully, and raise your hand when you hear the answer you think is right.

1. Sushi and Sashimi

2. Bento Box

3. Fish and Chips

4. KFC

5. Grilled Fish

The answer is Number 4. Yes, KFC!

When I first heard this, I was truly surprised. On Christmas Eve, people all over Japan actually line up for this. KFC! Kentucky Fried Chicken. You might ask, “Why? Why do people eat KFC during the Christmas season?”

The answer is surprisingly simple. Back in 1974, a clever KFC manager in Japan came up with a catchy slogan: “Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii!” which means, “Kentucky for Christmas!”

Back then, KFC was one of the first Western franchises to enter the country, representing a whole new culture. At that time, their economy was rapidly growing, so KFC was considered something very fancy and modern. It became a massive success. So now, for many Japanese families, the taste of Christmas is KFC. That’s pretty cool! From our Western point of view, it’s kind of interesting, isn’t it?

Now, speaking of KFC, that reminded me of something that happened just last week. On Monday, the ministry agency and church leaders from our Wimala Presbytery had a meeting for our end-of-year Christmas fellowship.

We met in a little town called Greenock, you may know the place, about an hour’s drive from here in the Barossa Valley. There were about fifty of us at the Greenock Hotel, the local pub. We were having conversations, sharing drinks, and just enjoying each other’s company.

We sat down to order our lunches, and suddenly, a few people started calling me over and waving. “Hey, Do Young! Do Young! I need your help!”

It wasn't just one or two people. Quite a few of them were looking at me, pointing at the menu. Not knowing what was going on, I went over to them, wondering, “What can I do for you?” Then I saw the menu they were pointing at, and I understood why.

There it was. KFC on the menu! Can you believe it? But it wasn’t the Kentucky Fried Chicken that we know. It said Korean Fried Chicken! And Korean Fried Chicken Burger!

You know, we don’t usually say things like “American Fried Chicken” or “Australian, German Fried Chicken,” right? So I found it quite interesting that they call it “Korean Fried Chicken!” I thought, “Really? In the middle of the Barossa Valley?” I wondered, “Is the chef Korean? Or maybe they learned the secret recipe from a Korean master?”

Anyway, I became the “star” of the meeting that day. I told them, “You have to try it!” So, of course, I had to order it too.

We may wonder how did it taste? Well, please don’t tell the kitchen, but it wasn’t exactly authentic. Yes, it looked right, and it smelled right, but something was missing. I can’t explain exactly why, but it wasn’t the real Korean taste I knew. I ate it, but frankly speaking, I kind of forced myself to. But here’s the funny thing: everyone else loved it! They were saying, “Oh, this is amazing! This is what Korean Fried Chicken tastes like!”

I couldn’t tell if they were just being nice, but they really seemed to enjoy it. I was just relieved that I didn’t disappoint them.

But that experience made me stop and reflect. There is such a fine line between authenticity and imitation.

On the outside, they may look identical, but on the inside, they are worlds apart. Let me say, for those who’ve never tasted the real thing, even an imitation can feel like the truth. It looks similar, it feels familiar, and if you don’t know the difference, it can seem even more real than the real thing.

Surprisingly, this is quite similar to our journey of faith. So, let me ask you this:

Is our faith the real thing, or just a good imitation?

If we taste our own spiritual lives today, is it the authentic good news, or just a comfortable imitation?

Today, we encounter a man who is a wild, unfiltered, raw, untamed spirit, John the Baptist. A voice cries out from the wilderness. A rising star! Just look at him. He is what you might call an “ugly fashionista.” He messes up the order. His food is unseasoned.

He shouts with an unpolished voice: “Repent! Change your life! Return to God! God’s Kingdom is near! Thunder in the desert, prepare for God’s arrival! Make the way smooth and straight!”

At first, people didn’t know how to react. But soon, that passion and energy started to attract people. And a massive group of disciples began to form around him. Someone once described John as a “Spiritual Earthquake.” Because he was wild, different, and even dangerous.

People could feel the ground shake around him. He didn’t go to the Temple. He ignored the fancy life. He called out the hypocrisy of the leaders right to their faces. John didn’t offer gentle comfort; he called people to rugged repentance. Everything about him felt real. It felt completely genuine.

But here’s the big challenge. With extreme popularity comes a dangerous misunderstanding. Rumours started to spread: “Is this the Messiah we’ve been waiting for?”

Think about it! It would have been so easy for John to say, “Yes, it’s me.” He had the crowd. He had the stage. He had the influence. In our terms, he could have enjoyed his time as the “King” of the wilderness. If we put ourselves in his place, well, we can imagine how tempting and conflicting those rumours must have been. Also we can imagine how hard it would’ve been to stay humble and true to his calling.

But John knew something crucial. He knew who he was, but more importantly, he knew who he was NOT.

He silenced the cheers. He shouted, “No! I am not Him!” And in our scripture today, he makes the most humble confession a superstar could ever make: “I baptize you with water... But after me comes One who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.”

I am nothing.

He didn’t waver. John is a man giving a completely natural response filled with peace. He could prepare the way. I would say that was possible because his purpose was authentic. I can’t find any other reason for that.

This is the heart of today’s message: To prepare the way for the Lord, we must be authentic.

If we are living a lie, how can we prepare the way? If we’re too busy shining our own spotlight, how can we point others to the true Light? Likewise, if John had been a fake, if he’d said, “I’m the superstar,” or tried to wear the crown himself, he wouldn’t have been a Voice.

He was a voice, not just noise. John’s authenticity was in knowing who he was: the Voice. God’s authenticity was in revealing who He truly is: the Christ. I love this moment. It’s so powerful.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, today we stand on the Second Sunday of Advent. Let us remember the message we received today.

The world wanted John to be the King. They wanted him to be the star. But John knew the truth. He knew that an imitation, no matter how great, can never save the world. His whole life echoed one truth: “It’s not about me, it’s about Him.”

He didn’t add anything, and he didn’t take anything away. I have to say we are truly blessed to see in him what authentic faith looks like. That is why this Advent in 2025 is such a tremendous opportunity. It’s time to turn our hearts and look at the Real Thing. Among the many “kings” of this world, it’s time to prepare the way for the True King. Among all the false meanings of Christmas, it’s time to rediscover the true one.

And in the wilderness of this world, let us become authentic voices pointing only to the Lord, baby Jesus, who invites us to look closely at the first Christmas story once again. I am sure that when we do this, we will possess true inner peace. A peace that waits for, invites, and longs for the Real.

Now, I have one little worry. I’m worried that after all this, you might forget everything else and only remember the KFC! You might go home saying, “Once my minister said something about KFC… uh, what was it again?” That would make me a little sad!

So, I have an idea to help you remember. From now on, whenever you drive past a KFC or see that red sign, I want you to remember a different kind of recipe. Not the secret blend of herbs and spices, but a recipe for an authentic KFC. Let’s do this together.

K – Keep it Authentic. John the Baptist showed us what true authenticity looks like. He didn’t pretend, he didn’t perform, and he didn’t wear a mask. In a world full of noise and cheap imitations, authentic faith begins by simply being real before God.

F – Focus on Jesus. John’s entire mission was to point away from himself and toward Jesus. True faith isn’t about standing in our own spotlight, but about reflecting His Light. This Advent, let us shift our focus from ourselves to the One who truly matters.

C – Christ is the King. The manger reminds us that God’s kingdom doesn’t start with power or fame, but with humility and love. He alone is worthy of our hearts, our trust, and our praise.

So this Advent, let us Keep it Authentic, Focus on Jesus, and remember that Christ is the King. That’s the recipe for a faith that is real, alive, and full of peace.

In this beautiful season, I encourage you: Do not miss the opportunity of this journey of authentic faith. Let us find our true faith and return to the real Jesus. When we return, right then, True Peace will come to us. Not a temporary peace, but Authentic Peace, a peace that no one can take away, and no one else can give.

May this message be the first step toward restoring our hearts, a step that leads us back to the real Jesus. May our hearts open again, our faith be renewed, and our peace become truly genuine in Him. Amen.

Blessings

Beloved friends in Christ, as you leave this place,

May the True King, the One John pointed to, the One who is never imitation but always real, fill your hearts with authentic faith.

May the Light of Christ guide your steps so that you may keep it real, focus on Jesus, and trust that Christ alone is King.

And may the peace of God, not the temporary peace the world gives, but the deep and authentic peace that comes from the Real Presence of Christ, rest upon you, abide within you, and go before you in this Advent season.

And now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all, now and forever.

Amen.