"Shouts of Joy" -- A Message for December 13, 2020

 

Scripture 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Rejoice always,
pray continually,
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not quench the Spirit.

Do not treat prophecies with contempt

but test them all; hold on to what is good,

reject every kind of evil.
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, souls and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

          This morning, we light the candle of Joy.  Again, it feels a little weird to focus on Joy in this season of Covid-19.  But, we have joy for what is to come even if we are not feeling very joyful in the moment.  Joy is different than Happiness…..happiness is something we feel for a moment, joy is an emotion we feel for the long-haul.  We can take joyful comfort in knowing that God is in charge and will be guiding us in making our world better and better.

          Advent is a season of waiting for Jesus.  It is like we are pregnant….we are pregnant and waiting in hopeful anticipation of the birth of our Savior. Even though being pregnant can be a scary time, a pregnancy is a season of joy…a waiting for a coming Joy.  When Mary was pregnant with Jesus, she was simultaneously terrified and joyful.  This morning, we reflect on her pregnancy and read the joyful song she sung when she arrived at the home of her cousin Elizabeth.  Listen to Mary’s words as we read them in the Gospel of Luke chapter one verses forty-six to fifty-five:    

And Mary said,

‘My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,

for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.

Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for the Mighty One has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

His mercy is for those who fear him

from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,

and lifted up the lowly;

he has filled the hungry with good things,

and sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

according to the promise he made to our ancestors,

to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’

Here ends this reading of the word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.  Amen.

Prayer Before Preaching

Lord, we thank you for the gift of your Word and as we think on these things, open our hearts and our minds to hear you. Amen.

Message   “Shouts of Joy”

          Lucia and I have been doing the Illustrated Advent Calendar but crammed into the dibs and drabs of time we have when she is not doing virtual school or spending time with her dad. 

          Lucia, like most minister’s kids, has spent a lot of time in church.  So, it surprised me when she had questions about the Nativity story.  She was unclear about who Elizabeth was and why Mary visited her.

          Mary was young.  She was unmarried.  For the norms of her society and culture, she was in a really big mess.  She was betrothed to Joseph, and her pregnancy was perceived to be the result of an infidelity.  In the first century, as in the twenty-first century, immaculate conceptions were unheard of.  In Israel in the first century, women could be stoned to death for an infidelity.  So, Mary was at risk to being killed because of her pregnancy.

          According to our scriptures, Joseph decided to dismiss Mary quietly – he would break the engagement, but not press the issue of her pregnancy.  Joseph did not wish Mary to be killed, but he was not interested in marrying someone who was unfaithful.  An angel visited Joseph in a dream, explained the nature of Mary’s pregnancy and told Joseph God’s expectations for him – he was supposed to marry Mary and take care of her and the baby.

          Mary lived in a little village, so despite Joseph accepting her and the pregnancy, and agreeing to marry her despite her condition, Mary still needed to get out of dodge.  So, she was packed off to visit her cousin Elizabeth. 

          Elizabeth was Mary’s “older” cousin.  Just as Mary was quite young to be pregnant (11ish, 12ish), Elizabeth was quite old (60ish, 70ish).  She and her husband Zachariah were very faithful observers of Judaism and Zachariah was even a priest.  Elizabeth was infertile – she had no children.  So, she was both too old to become pregnant and had never been pregnant.  Zachariah was told of Elizabeth’s pregnancy when he was performing a ritual in the Temple. The news shocked him and he was struck dumb—he could no longer speak.  So, we have a very young mother visiting the home of a much too old mother.  Mary visited Elizabeth to get away from Nazareth and the gossip and being the spectacle caused by carrying a baby who was not the child of her betrothed. 

          As soon as Mary entered Elizabeth’s home, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for Joy.  The baby knew who Mary was and that she was pregnant with Jesus.  After a warmhearted and happy greeting, Mary sang the song we read today. 

          Mary was filled with joy – her soul magnified the Lord.  She was filled with the Holy Spirit.  A young, poor girl was lifted from her lowly status and was pregnant with the Messiah.  A young, humble child was given the responsibility to birth the redeemer of humanity.  God chose a poor peasant to become the mother of a king.

          Despite the difficult and frightening situation she was in, despite the danger she was in, Mary sang about the joy she felt.  God gave her a tremendous responsibility and she rose to the occasion.  I am sure she was afraid and stressed out and overwhelmed, but she did was God asked her to do.  She became the mother of Jesus.  She raised him.  She protected him.  With the help of Joseph, she kept him fed and clothed.  She protected him as he grew into adulthood.  She watched over Jesus until he was ready for his ministry to the people of the world.

          Mary is a role-model for all Christians.  She persevered under fire.  She was steadfast despite the stresses of her responsibilities.  She listened to God.  She followed God’s commandments.  She accepted the responsibility of carrying and raising Jesus despite the social and cultural pressure she faced for an out-of-wedlock pregnancy.  And, she was joyful in the midst of it all.

          Many people are suffering right now.  We aren’t feeling very joyful in this, the most joyful time of the year.  And, that is ok.  We are allowed to be overwhelmed.  We are living through something we haven’t ever dealt with, a pandemic unlike any other.  But, let’s look at Mary’s story as a reminder that there are other people who have lived through potentially tragic circumstances, circumstances way beyond their control, who felt joy in the midst of their trials.

          Let us work to see the silver linings in the midst of our trials.  Let us work to sing for joy in the midst of our suffering.  And, let us remember that God is with us through God’s Holy Spirit to support us, to guide us, encourage us and abide with us, today and all days.

Thanks be to God. Amen.