Matthew 1:18-25

I am not a big fan of the Hallmark Christmas movie genre. I am sure you have seen one or two of these “classics.” The storyline is the same. A small town, a person comes home that has been away for a long time. The small town is in some crisis that only this person and can fix. Usually, the mine is closing, the store is being sold, or the family home that people have lived in for generations is being sold. There is usually an evil developer that comes into the story a little more than halfway through. There is a love interest of some kind, but in the end, it all works itself out, and everyone lives happily ever after. Well, only if life worked that way.

Many people will strive for that “perfect Christmas” the Christmas card Christmas with the fire burning in the background. At our house, it is usually on Netflix with Christmas Carols playing in the background. We search for that perfect gift, and maybe we find it, perhaps we don’t. We expend a tremendous amount of energy in pursuit of something that does not exist, something that is a creation of a greeting card company.

Many feel extreme joy this time of year, but others feel a sense of loneliness or sadness that prevents them from having the sort of Christmas that they think they should have. There is no such thing as a perfect Christmas.

Today we hear the second part if you will, of the Christmas story that began last week. This week we focus on Joseph and his role in all of this. But it is also a reminder that God sometimes upsets the comfortable social expectations and conventions. That first Christmas was anything but perfect. Most people would not expect God’s incarnation to come through the life of a poor girl from a backwater outpost of the Roman Empire. I think we sometimes forget just what a scandal the incarnation was and that behind that pretty nativity scene, there is a story of both wonder and scandal.

The passage we heard this morning from the Gospel of Matthew calls to mind the fact that preparations for that first Christmas were anything but perfect. Joseph, whom the text refers to as a “righteous person,” discovers that his soon-to-be-wife is pregnant. The writer of the story knows the back story that this is God’s Son, but this is unheard of in 1st Century Palestine, heck that is unheard of in 21st century New Hampshire!

In Joseph’s mind, this pregnancy is a violation of the social convention of his day. He decides that he is going to divorce Mary, which legally is the more humane of all of the options available to Joseph at this time. Because he is a righteous man, he decides to divorce her quietly so as not to disgrace Mary or her family.

We are like Joseph at times. We go about our business and do not want to stir things up or call attention to ourselves; we handle things quietly and without a fuss. There is a reminder for us in this text today that we do not always have to do things in a loud way to get them done; we can work behind the scenes to bring about change.

But there is another lesson to be learned through the actions of Joseph, sometimes the life we are being called to by God goes against and causes us to violate social conventions. Sometimes we are being urged to flip over the tables in the temple, refuse to sit at the back of the bus, use any drinking fountain or bathroom we want. Sometimes we are being called to stand up and to speak truth to power. Sometimes we are being urged to stand up even when everyone else is sitting down.

Joseph did not violate the social convention of his day to be rebellious; he broke convention because God, as God often does, intervened unexpectedly. God sent an angel to Joseph in his dream. The angel told Joseph that everything is going to be okay. God is about to do some fantastic stuff. Yes, God understands that he is asking you, Joseph, to do something that goes against everything you have been taught and understand to be accurate, but hang in there; God will be with you every step of the way.

This is the real message of this passage that God works even outside of the ways we think God works, in spite of the way we believe God works. God works through our less than perfect lives. God can use us even though we are wretched sinners beyond any hope of reconciliation. God can and will do something new and amazing!

Somehow, Joseph believes what the angel is telling him, that this child is from the Holy Spirit, that he already has a name, Jesus; and that he will save people from their sins. Those of us who know how this story unfolds and ends struggle with understanding just how this infant will save us from our sins and show us a new way, imagine what Joseph must have been thinking.

Again, we have all been Joseph. Perhaps there has been a time in your life when someone has intervened in your life that prevented you from doing something in haste or set your feet on a different path. I recently came across something that said, if you are in the position to help someone do it because God may be answering their prayer through you. Yes, we have all been Joseph, but we can all be the angel as well.

As one can imagine, this news catches Joseph off guard. He is unaware of the journey that he is about to be on. God has chosen Joseph to be the protector of his only son. Joseph has been called not only to go against every social convention he knows, but he is being called to make sure nothing happens to Jesus. Jesus is not his biological child, but Joseph will love him and care for him, risking his own life at times, to make sure nothing happens to him. Poor Joseph does not get the credit he deserves for the part he played in the story.

Mary and Joseph knew the end of the story; they knew that God was going to do something amazing, they did not know all the steps they would have to take in between, they started with small steps, following God’s promise that all would be well. But this text is also calling us to rise and to follow God’s call, not knowing where the journey will take us, or the path that God has set before us.

Amen.

Luke 1:46-55

In a worship setting, music helps us to focus and can bring a sense of the holy to the time of worship.  It has been said that “those who sing, pray twice.” No, this is not a commercial to drum up more members of the choir, although the choir is always looking for a few new members.  The hymnody of the church is essential, and it helps pass along theological truths that could be missed in sermons and other educational opportunities. Just like there are theologians in the church that attend school for many years honing their craft, there are those that study the science and theology of the music of the church to helps us understand our faith.

There are many beautiful hymns not only in out hymn books but in the hymn books of other churches. Some hymns have stood the test of time, convey solid theological truths, and enhance our understanding. There are old hymns and new ones. Hymns that have come out of the reformation and hymns that have come from other lands and cultures. Some of the greatest works of music have been written around the themes of Christmas and Easter, and there have also been some pretty bad ones.

A hymn, like a sermon, is only useful if it conveys theological understanding. Now, there is nothing wrong with being ambiguous; not long ago, I mentioned that I sometimes craft sermons that leave you with more questions than answers; however, right this type of sermon is when it comes to the understanding of fundamental theological truths we cannot be ambiguous.

In 1984, singer/songwriter Mark Lowery wrote the words that would eventually become the song that asks the question; Mary, did you know? Lowery’s words were put to music in 1991 by Buddy Greene and, that same year, recorded by Michael English. The song would eventually reach the number 6 spot on the Contemporary Christian Music charts that same year. The song has gone on to become a modern Christmas classic but, it is has a lack of spiritual depth and theological understanding.

The Gospel passage we heard this morning is called, in Latin the Magnificat or Mary’s Song, or the Canticle of Mary. It comes to us from the Gospel of Luke, the only Gospel that tells the full story of the birth of Jesus. Mary recites this song when she meets her cousin Elizabeth and the “babe leaps for joy.” She is so filled with excitement and wonder at what God has asked her to do that she cannot contain herself. Mary is the new Eve, and Mary is the one that will usher forth redemption in the life of her Son, Mary is true, in Greek the Theotokos, the God-bearer.

But we need to back up a little.

Tradition will tell us that Mary was a young, very young teenager. As the Gospel tells us, she was betrothed or engaged to Joseph, and they were to be married. One night, the Angel came to Mary and informed her that God had looked upon her with favor and that she was to give birth to a child that was going to change the world. Mary asked the Angel a few questions, but in the end, this teenager, this little girl consented and by her yes, put into motion a series of events that bring us here today.

As much as we like to cite John 3:16 about God’s love for all the world is the reason he sent his Son, if it were not for the yes of Mary, the young, teenage girl it would not have happened. The rift created back in the Garden of Eden had begun its repair the moment another woman said yes. Sin had entered the world with the disobedience of a human, and now, salvation is coming to the world because another human being said yes. This is an essential message of the Christmas story that is often overlooked. The separation of man from God was repaired because a young girl said yes!

We often underestimate what young people can do; in fact, some people will even use the platform of their position to bully young people when they stand up and take action. I can only imagine the same thing that happened to Mary. We read that Joseph tried to put her away quietly so as not to cause a fuss. But the same Angel comes to Joseph and tells him that it will be okay.

But back to the story and the question of what Mary knew and did not know.

Mary comes to see her cousin Elizabeth who is also with child, John the Baptist. She is overjoyed and proclaims her song. Mary says that her soul “glorifies the Lord” and that her spirit “rejoices in God” who is her savior. Mary does not take the glory on herself; she does not boast that God has chosen her in fact; she humbles herself and then points directly to God as her source of joy and excitement. She knows that God is using her as an instrument to bring salvation to the world. Sure, God could have snapped his fingers and made it all so, but he chose the life of a simple girl from an oppressed race to continue his story of salvation.

We need to stop and think about this for a moment. Of all the people in the world, of all the women in the world, of all the people in 1st century Palestine, of all the people in the town of Nazareth, God came to the home of Mary and asked, did not tell her but asked her, to take on this role. Being chosen by God, out of all the women of her day, Mary would have every right to boast about what had happened to her, but she does not. She focuses on the “lowliness of her estate” and that she has been blessed by God, not because of anything that she has done, and that God has done this great thing for her.

God did not choose a king or a queen. God did not select a prince or a princess. God did not want a military leader or a politician. God did not choose a wealthy family of privilege. No, God chose a poor, humble girl, and Mary’s response is precisely why God picked her and honored her in this way.

The simple answer to the question of whether Mary knew is yes, she did know, and she exclaimed her knowledge and understanding when she met her cousin Elizabeth. Mary’s song contains a pure faith and pure understanding of what was going to happen, who God is, and what God’s salvation was going to bring to the world. But she also understands that it is not about her. She and Joseph have the task of raising God’s Son and providing him with an education, but Mary always points towards her Son and never to herself. As Jesus increased, Mary decreased. She was with him at the start, and she was with him at the end, but Mary knew, full well, what was going on.

Mary should be an example to all of us about the power of saying yes, but she should also be an example to all of us about the power of what one person can do to make a difference in the world. God is asking each of us who claim the title of Christian, to follow the way of his Son, Jesus Christ, what will your answer be?

Malachi 3:1-4

Classes in Philosophy dominated my first year in seminary. The study of philosophy opens one’s mind to the ability to ask questions, but not just any question, good questions. Philosophy requires the students to reach past themselves to seek answers to questions about the nature of life and the essence of our very being. For the most part, philosophy is taught using the Socratic Method. The Socratic Method, designed by the great philosopher Socrates uses the question and answer format. The teacher poses a question to the class, calls on a student for the answer, and then poses a series of questions to that student to help them refine their response. The Socratic Method only works if the student is as prepared as the teacher.

There is one particular day that is emblazoned in my memory. Believe it or not, I am, by nature, an introvert. It takes a lot of energy for me to do what I do. This is not, by the way, and uncommon trait in clergy types. I hang in the back of the class and do not usually ask questions or offer answers. This is impossible in a course such as I have just described. But on this particular day, for whatever reason, I came to the attention of the professor. She zeroed in on me like a lioness ready to take down her prey. She started easy enough, although I do not remember the question. I do remember that I answered the question in an unsatisfactory way. She knew that I was not prepared for class, and now, her prey was weak, and she would soon pounce. After 45 minutes of continued questions, and as I was close to tears, the class time ended, and we were dismissed. I had learned my lesson, never be unprepared for class again.

But the idea behind having theological students study philosophy is that it makes the student better at asking questions. Theology and the spiritual life is all about asking questions. In today’s reading from the Prophet, Malachi asks a couple of questions; But who can abide the day of his coming? And, who can stand when he appears?

These are Advent questions and force us to ask other questions like, who will be prepared through repentance and forgiveness? The season of Advent tests our worthiness, readiness, and willingness for Christ’s coming. Advent calls us to a new way of living a new uprightness and integrity, a turning from iniquity, and a renewed reverence for God’s covenant of life and well-being with all of us.

I have been thinking a lot these past few months about the nature of worship and liturgy. This comes partly out of my desire to answer the question, what brings people to church? This is a logical question to ask in these days where people who have no affiliation with the church have surpassed those who do. Don’t get me wrong, I do not foresee an end to the brick and mortar church, but we have to understand what is going on outside the doors of the building.

It seems these days the number one reason folks leave the church is they get nothing out of worship. It is my belief this answer comes from the idea that worship is supposed to entertain. Some of the largest churches in America are a church with great music, fabulous worship bands, light shows, the preacher stands behind a Plexiglas pulpit, and wears jeans and an open-collared shirt. The lights in the sanctuary get turned down, and a spotlight is fixed on the preacher as he, I say he because these churches usually do not allow women to preach, delivers, what can charitably be called a sermon. Sure, it is loosely based on some theme of Scripture but usually ends with we are all sinners in need of repentance and then a call to change your life by coming forward to the altar for prayer. Later in the day, the church will post something on their social media feed about how many “gave their life to Christ.” The problem is, there usually is no follow up.

Worship should not just be about entertainment; it needs to be about change, lasting change. I preach in such a way; I craft messages, I hope anyway, that move people to make a change in their lives not just today but every day. I have told you before that I view my job as preacher and teacher to challenge you, to force you to question not only what you believe but why you believe it. I want you to ask questions, get mad, and challenge me because that is where the growth happens.

This passage from Malachi is featured in one of the signature choral works of the Advent Season, Handel’s Messiah. Malachi’s faithful question about the nature of God’s love is raised in a masterful work. The answer comes in the use of authoritative Scripture. The narrative “The Lord, who ye seek shall suddenly come.” Followed by the bass, “But who may abide the day of his coming?” The chorus “He shall purify the sons of Levi” And the alto answer, “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel, God with us.”

After the first presentation of the Messiah in London in 1741, Handel wrote to a friend, “I should be sorry if I only entertained them. I wished to make them better.” Handel is challenging me, the preacher, and you to go beyond feeling good to doing good. Worship should move us to action, action in our lives that creates a spiritual change in us and action in our world that makes it a better place for all to live.

Although by 1751, Handel was blind until his death, he conducted Messiah as an annual benefit for the Foundling Hospital in London, which served mostly widows and orphans of the clergy. Handel’s intent was not just to entertain; he hoped to make those listening just a little bit better and in so doing, make the lives of the widows and orphans better.

You get out of worship what you put in. If you come seeking to be changed, you will be changed. If you come seeking only to be entertained, you might leave disappointed. Advent is the season of preparation for the coming of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Just like Handle, I hope to make us a little bit better, so we are genuinely prepared for the “day of his coming.”

Amen.