2 Samuel 7: 1-11, 16 Psalm 89: 1-4, 19-26
Luke 1: 26-55
Here we are, servants of the Lord, let it be with us according to your word. Amen.
(During time with the Children, preceding this sermon, tinsel “halos” were given to all in attendance.)
So, we all have a halo. For some of us it might seem like a greater stretch than for others! But we all have one. Maybe you are reluctant to wear it here during worship this morning, after all, it’s a tinsel halo and we are nothing if not reserved, intellectual Lutherans. But I encourage you, even if you are at home in front of the mirror, to try it on. Now let’s talk some more about what it all means as we look through the lens of our readings for this morning.
This passage from Luke, our Gospel reading, is certainly one of my favorites. Gabriel’s announcement to Mary! Mary’s acceptance! Mary’s visit to Elizabeth! And the Magnificat! Good News! Good News! But it is good news for us because we know the end of the story. For Mary it was unexpected news, it was mysterious news. It was news that just did not fit in with the world as she knew it. A child conceived out of wedlock would be reason for Joseph to cast her aside and her family would have shame from the community poured down upon their heads. It would even be possible that her family would not take her in. This is the marvel, then, of Mary’s faithful response. But this is NOT what we read about in the text today. This is our overlay. This is a look through a historical lens and while there is nothing wrong with that, let’s return to the angel’s message and Mary’s response.
The angel’s message, much like the message from God in 2 Samuel, our Old Testament reading this morning, is unexpected. It is a message that does not fit in with the norms of society.
In 2 Samuel, the messenger is Nathan and the message God has given is to be delivered to David. God is on the move. God is not contained in one place, not in one house, but is moving about in tent and tabernacle. Not only that, but the leader of God’s people will be this lowly shepherd boy, David. This is a complete reversal of how the people of this time understood God. They understood a God who was powerfully and mightily enthroned and who would choose the powerful and mighty people to rule and reign on this earth. And Nathan is sent with a message that turns their understandings and expectations completely around.
Imagine what it must have meant to have received this message if you were a person of great power or a person who longed to possess great power or a person who imagined themself to hold great power. It would have been a threatening and unwelcomed message.
Imagine what it must have meant to have received this message if you were a person of lowly esteem, a common person of the day, a shepherd perhaps, or even a woman. A message that God is on the move, not held in one place would mean that God was accessible and available to all. And word that the chosen one of God was also a lowly servant, would have been a welcome word, good news.
But imagine if you were Nathan, the messenger. This is not the only time Nathan must bring a word from God to David and some of the messages he brings will be hard ones. But in today’s reading, it is good news, particularly because we know the end of the story. What Nathan is telling David, though, is news that will be difficult to live out in a world that expects and wants something completely different. Good news! Nathan says. It’s all different…God is for all people and you, you David, get to be the leader of God’s people, even though you have no credentials in the eyes of…well…anyone. Except God. Good news. But hard news.
The news that Gabriel brings to Mary is also good news, but hard news. Mary knows this. It is so obvious that the writer of Luke’s Gospel does not feel compelled to spend any time laying it out for us. But we know it’s there because of what the angel says to her. Do not be afraid, Mary. Do not be afraid. And then Gabriel delivers the message to her. You’ll have a baby! God’s son! And God will give him the throne of David and he will reign over the house of Jacob and his Kingdom will never end! Good news! But news that is again unexpected. Because the people of God were waiting for a Messiah, a Savior, who was going to come with power and might and majesty and pomp and circumstance and TAKE OVER AND FIX THINGS! Despite being God’s earlier choice, David had not done such a great job of this. Bring on the Messiah!
And oh, by the way, Gabriel adds, here’s something you might want to know about Elizabeth. Old, barren Elizabeth, your family member, is also with child. Good news, but hard news to believe.
Both Nathan and Gabriel are messengers. Both bring news from God, that is both hard news and good news. “Both bear words which cannot be from the world already at hand, but are ways in which the fresh, free purposes of God can become known and visible.” [1]
We have much to learn about the history of our faith, about our forebearers in the faith, and about ourselves in today’s readings. They are rich and full.
From David, whose story continues throughout the Old Testament, we learn about God’s ability to use, not just those from ordinary origin, but those who continue to stray and just flat out make a mess of things. David’s missteps throughout his ministry do not thwart the Kingdom of God. Oh, he certainly suffers the consequences of his actions, but God continues to act in and through him to bring about the Kingdom.
And the same is true of us. God continues to act in and through us despite our missteps. God acts in and through us despite our abilities, our age, our experience, and our poor choices. We struggle with what those mean and the affect they have, but the Kingdom of God is advanced through our ability to repent and turn again to God and the tasks to which God has called us.
We learn from Mary. What we learn from Mary is that when God calls us to a task, it is not about us. God is working a greater good through us. Mary knew this; young Mary knew that what would happen through the birth of Jesus was not about her. While many of us would have been unable to move away from “what will people think? What will happen to my job? What’s in this for me? This isn’t what I want to do? This isn’t what I signed up for on the Time and Talent Sheet. This is not my gift.” Mary said….this….this.changes.things. This. Changes. Everything. The proud will be scattered. The powerful will no longer be in power. They will be off of their thrones. And the lowly…they will be lifted up! The hungry….oh, the hungry will be filled with good things and the rich people who will not share will be sent away.
One look around tells us that everything has not changed. The powerful are still in power. The lowly are regarded with disdain and disregard. The hungry still come to the door and ask for food. And the rich get richer.
And so, we enter into every Advent season imploring Christ to be born among us and to come quickly. To right these wrongs. To be the God on the move and move through our city and our state and our world with justice and mercy and the promised Kingdom, where the lion lies with the lamb and we don’t study war and violence anymore.
And sisters and brothers….here’s the hard news for us this day. In addition to being those who receive the message, we must be the ones who bring the message. We must be the ones who speak it and shout it and write it and sing it and blog it and live it. And it will not be easy. Because it is not a message the world is used to hearing, this message that values the lowly and the poor and scatters the powerful and proud. But it is the message that bears the promise of transformation. It is the message the brings the only hope.
So, put on your halos, fasten on your wings….we have news to share! Good news! And remember what our fellow messenger Gabriel said, “Nothing will be impossible with God.”
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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