Loving God, you turn the world upside down and change everything by the coming of your Son.  Help us always to know that you are near and to listen for the nudges of your Spirit, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

    When we hear the story of Mary, the angel Gabriel, and Elizabeth, sometimes it can be hard to find ourselves in the story.  After all, unless we have somehow experienced miraculous conception, or a visit from an angel, it is pretty hard for us to relate - at least directly.  However, when we think about the story a little bit differently, acknowledging that both Mary and Elizabeth had experienced life-altering events, it is possible that we can relate to experiencing life-altering events, as well.

    In Mary’s case, her world is essentially turned upside down by the angel’s visit.  Rather than simply looking forward to her upcoming marriage to Joseph, now there are at least a few wrenches thrown into her plans.  Not only will she be pregnant before she gets married, but it will be through no fault of her own.  Her story will be absolutely unbelievable to all who hear it, and most will automatically shame her and ridicule her.  Even though she has had the amazing experience of receiving a message from an angel and being overshadowed by the power of God through the activity of the Holy Spirit, she will have no control over whether others believe her or not.

    And so, what does she do after this life-altering event?... She goes to visit the person who has already been suggested by the angel - the one person who might understand and might believe her.  Elizabeth, after all, has already had a life-altering experience of her own.  In her case, rather than inviting shaming from other people, her miraculous conception has taken away the shame that she had already experienced.  Elizabeth had every reason to be joyful after her life-altering event, other than the fact that her husband could no longer speak, and the fact that it had to be extremely tiring to have a child in her later years.

    As Mary and Elizabeth meet, it is Mary who most needs some love and support in her life.  Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, realizes this and greets Mary with a song.  Without Mary having said a word about the angel’s visit, Elizabeth confirms that Mary will be the mother of her Lord.  She sings about how all will speak well of Mary and her child, Jesus, and will bless God because of them.  She sings about how Mary will be both happy and blessed because she has believed the angel’s message.  She sings about how the child in her womb (John), who is filled with the Holy Spirit, recognizes Jesus right away (who is in Mary’s womb) and leaps for joy.

    For Mary, who must have doubted that people would believe her, this greeting from Elizabeth would have confirmed for her everything that the angel had told her.  At the home of her relative Elizabeth, she was welcome, and she was believed, and she was blessed.  And because of this, Mary is able to reply with a different kind of song.

    It is a song where Mary is able to praise God and rejoice.  It is a song where she knows that she has experienced God’s favour, in spite of the difficulties that will come.  It is a song where she is able to believe that even future generations will refer to her as happy and blessed and fortunate.  It is a song where she is aware of the great things that God has done, and knows that God’s mercy continues to be poured out on generations of those who revere and worship God.

    However, it is also a song that is both passionate and wild, as Mary brings to mind the things that God has done in the past that have turned things upside down.  She remembers how God has scattered those who are full of pride and think too much of themselves.  She remembers how God has knocked the powerful off their thrones and has raised up those who are lowly.  She remembers how those who were hungry have been filled with good things and those who are rich were sent away empty-handed.  She remembers how God has helped Israel in the past, and how God has fulfilled the promises that were made to Abraham so very long ago.  She sees, almost prophetically, how all the nations of the earth will be blessed through the child that she carries in her womb.

    This is not the song of somebody who is scared or ashamed.  It is the song of somebody who is filled with the Holy Spirit and has been strengthened by the faith of Elizabeth.  In fact, it is a song that is so subversive that it was banned under oppressive regimes in places like India and Guatemala and Argentina.  Perhaps it should not be surprising to us how subversive God can be!

    So as we reflect today on Mary and Elizabeth and their life-altering events, we can come up with some instructions that go something like this: In case of a life-altering event, go to somebody who will support you and who understands what you have experienced. As you do so, look to God.  Allow the Holy Spirit to fill you, to guide you, and to enlighten you.  Allow the Spirit to lead you into the future and to remind you of what God has done in the past.  Pray that in the midst of life’s changes you will be able to experience God’s presence and see God’s power at work.

    Finally, sing!  Sing whatever songs fit your situation.  If you’re sad and grieving, sing some laments.  If you are able to see God at work, sing songs of praise and thanksgiving.  Sing the songs that are suggested by the Holy Spirit - the songs that will carry you into the future.  For whatever it is you are experiencing, God is there.

    In fact, “‘the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,’ which means, ‘God is with us’” (Mt. 1:23).  Thanks be to God!  Amen.

Advent 4 (NL 3)                                Luke 1:26-56
December 18, 2016
St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church
Pastor Lynne Hutchison

© 2016 Lynne Hutchison  All Rights Reserved