St. Margaret's Sermon Archive
Advent 4 - The Rev. Caron A. Gwynn - 12/21/2008
Text: Matt.1:26-38
And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one!” The Lord is with you.” (Luke 1:28, NRSV) The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary for you have found favor with God, and now you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. (Luke 1:30-31, nrsv)
Last Sunday this scene was portrayed by our youth during the annual Children’s Christmas Pageant, which was just wonderful by the way. In the pageant Gabriel was standing right here with huge, white, and majestic wings saying these very same words to Mary. Mary was sweeping her home when Gabriel suddenly appeared out of nowhere and said to her, “Greetings, favored one.” Sometimes God has a way of sending you a message or sign when you least expect it. For instance, an angel greeted Zechariah while he was conducting his priestly duties in the temple. The angel informed him that he and his elderly wife, Elizabeth who had been barren for years would have a son. Zechariah did not believe the angel and was struck mute when he emerged from the temple. The birth of his son, John the Baptist *turned out to be a sign of the power of God.
Mary also was perplexed at seeing an angel standing before her. In our pageant, she stopped sweeping, dropped the broom, and fell to the floor in astonishment. We all would have been bewildered like Mary to receive such a greeting even though it was followed with reassurances ‘not to fear.’ The grace of God was upon her and she of all women was selected to give birth to the world’s greatest gift. The baby’s name was already selected, Jesus. The child would grow into greatness and be known as the Son of the Most High. He would rule the throne of David and rein over all nations from generation to generation. In today’s Old Testament reading, God sends the prophet Nathan to inform David that, “Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.” (2Samuel 7:1:16, NRSV)
Mary, filled with faith, humility, and trust for God only asked one question, “How?” She asks this question as if saying, ‘Okay, I am on board. Just tell me how because I am not yet married to Joseph.’ This thirteen year old did not say, ‘Why me? I am too young.’ Nor did she turn aside and run away to save her promised marriage to Joseph. She patiently listened to Gabriel who assured her that she would not become pregnant by sexual intimacy.
On the contrary, the presence and the power of God with the Holy Spirit descended upon her and overshadowed” her like a cloud. Each Sunday we proclaim in the Nicene Creed, “We believe in Jesus Christ born of the Virgin Mary.” Today the dual nature of Jesus may continue to be a mystery for you but with faith like Mary’s, the Episcopal Church embraces this mystery as truth.
The angel clarifies and satisfies Mary’s question and she says, “Let it be unto me as you have said.” Mary serves as a model of steadfast faith for all men and women who trust in the promise of the Lord when everything you have been taught, told, and built in your life tells you to run. ((copied and adapted from Synthesis, December 23, 1990) I do not see Mary as a weak, submissive, and demure girl of 13. Mary’s faith and strength was grounded in the revelation of the power of God and the knowledge that nothing is impossible with God.” (copied and adapted from Synthesis, December 23, 1990)
The lives of all key players in the story of the birth of Jesus would be changed forever. Not only did Mary’s life change by her saying “yes” as a servant of God but a new community for Israel was also about to be born. This was the fulfillment of God’s promise from the house of Abraham to the house David.
We know that Elizabeth greets Mary later in the Gospel of Luke by exclaiming, Blessed are you among women, and blessed be the fruit of your womb (Luke 1:42) And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord (Luke 1:45, NRSV).
We do not choose God. God chooses us to be the vessels of peace and love in this world. The miraculous incarnation and nativity event exemplifies the wonder and power of God’s initiating action in the world. Mary is the model that reminds us to allow God to be active in us so that we may serve as faithful witnesses to God’s presence in the world. We are joyfully waiting to celebrate the first advent of Jesus. We, like Mary, are waiting with joy and hope, filled with the assurances that God’s power and grace is with us now and always. We too have found favor with God. O come, come Emmanuel. Amen.
And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one!” The Lord is with you.” (Luke 1:28, NRSV) The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary for you have found favor with God, and now you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. (Luke 1:30-31, nrsv)
Last Sunday this scene was portrayed by our youth during the annual Children’s Christmas Pageant, which was just wonderful by the way. In the pageant Gabriel was standing right here with huge, white, and majestic wings saying these very same words to Mary. Mary was sweeping her home when Gabriel suddenly appeared out of nowhere and said to her, “Greetings, favored one.” Sometimes God has a way of sending you a message or sign when you least expect it. For instance, an angel greeted Zechariah while he was conducting his priestly duties in the temple. The angel informed him that he and his elderly wife, Elizabeth who had been barren for years would have a son. Zechariah did not believe the angel and was struck mute when he emerged from the temple. The birth of his son, John the Baptist *turned out to be a sign of the power of God.
Mary also was perplexed at seeing an angel standing before her. In our pageant, she stopped sweeping, dropped the broom, and fell to the floor in astonishment. We all would have been bewildered like Mary to receive such a greeting even though it was followed with reassurances ‘not to fear.’ The grace of God was upon her and she of all women was selected to give birth to the world’s greatest gift. The baby’s name was already selected, Jesus. The child would grow into greatness and be known as the Son of the Most High. He would rule the throne of David and rein over all nations from generation to generation. In today’s Old Testament reading, God sends the prophet Nathan to inform David that, “Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.” (2Samuel 7:1:16, NRSV)
Mary, filled with faith, humility, and trust for God only asked one question, “How?” She asks this question as if saying, ‘Okay, I am on board. Just tell me how because I am not yet married to Joseph.’ This thirteen year old did not say, ‘Why me? I am too young.’ Nor did she turn aside and run away to save her promised marriage to Joseph. She patiently listened to Gabriel who assured her that she would not become pregnant by sexual intimacy.
On the contrary, the presence and the power of God with the Holy Spirit descended upon her and overshadowed” her like a cloud. Each Sunday we proclaim in the Nicene Creed, “We believe in Jesus Christ born of the Virgin Mary.” Today the dual nature of Jesus may continue to be a mystery for you but with faith like Mary’s, the Episcopal Church embraces this mystery as truth.
The angel clarifies and satisfies Mary’s question and she says, “Let it be unto me as you have said.” Mary serves as a model of steadfast faith for all men and women who trust in the promise of the Lord when everything you have been taught, told, and built in your life tells you to run. ((copied and adapted from Synthesis, December 23, 1990) I do not see Mary as a weak, submissive, and demure girl of 13. Mary’s faith and strength was grounded in the revelation of the power of God and the knowledge that nothing is impossible with God.” (copied and adapted from Synthesis, December 23, 1990)
The lives of all key players in the story of the birth of Jesus would be changed forever. Not only did Mary’s life change by her saying “yes” as a servant of God but a new community for Israel was also about to be born. This was the fulfillment of God’s promise from the house of Abraham to the house David.
We know that Elizabeth greets Mary later in the Gospel of Luke by exclaiming, Blessed are you among women, and blessed be the fruit of your womb (Luke 1:42) And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord (Luke 1:45, NRSV).
We do not choose God. God chooses us to be the vessels of peace and love in this world. The miraculous incarnation and nativity event exemplifies the wonder and power of God’s initiating action in the world. Mary is the model that reminds us to allow God to be active in us so that we may serve as faithful witnesses to God’s presence in the world. We are joyfully waiting to celebrate the first advent of Jesus. We, like Mary, are waiting with joy and hope, filled with the assurances that God’s power and grace is with us now and always. We too have found favor with God. O come, come Emmanuel. Amen.