Sermon – Luke 1:46-55 Mary's Song

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

First Presbyterian Church of Ocean City

Sermon – Luke 1:46-55 Mary's Song

December 20, 2015

            This is the fourth Sunday of Advent.  The time is almost here for the coming of our savior.  Zechariah and Elizabeth are celebrating the birth of the child that they haves prayed for, for so long.  And the birth young Mary's son is just a few days from now.  As Mary thinks about what has happen to her, the visit of the angel, the conversation with Elizabeth, and her nine months of carrying God's son she has had time to reflect.  And she has discovered that she is a part of a plan, God's plan, which began generations before her and will continue for generations after her. As she thought about all that was happening to her she began to sing.   And her song has been sung by the church ever since.  We call it the Magnificat.  We will get to this glorious work, but first let's pray.

            God of grace, you chose the Virgin Mary, full of grace, to be the mother of our Lord and Savior.  Now fill us with your grace, that with her, we may rejoice in your salvation, and in all things, embrace your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.  (Book of Common Worship p.176)

            As Mary thought about all that was happening to her she sang this song.

Luke 1:46 “My soul glorifies the Lord
47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49     for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
    holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
    but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.”

            In the song Mary did what we often do whenever we face important events.  At the birth of her son Mary was thinking about generations, both the generations before that led to this birth and the generations after that will be affected by this birth. 

            Mary remembered the birth of her ancestor Isaac who was born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age.  He was the beginning of a promise to Abraham and Sarah that their descendants would number more that all the grains of sand on the seashore.  And Mary knew that her own son, Jesus would fulfill God's promise to Abraham and Sarah that their family would bless all the families of the world.

            Mary also remembered the birth of Obed, whose father had married a young Moabite woman named Ruth.  Obed was the grandfather of the King David to whom God promised that his descendants would reign as kings forever.  Mary knew that her own son would fulfill this promise of God by reigning as King in the Kingdom of God.

            Mary also remembered that birth of the great prophet Samuel whose mother, Hannah, had prayed for a son for so long.  Hannah promised to God that her son would be dedicated to God's work if she was blessed with a pregnancy.  When God fulfilled his promise and gave her a son, Hannah fulfilled her promise as would Mary when her son is born.   And like Samuel, Mary's son will become a great prophet. 

            Mary also thought about future generations, people who would be adopted into Abraham and Sarah's family and participants in his covenant.  She thought about generations who would live under the sovereignty of her son and who would be guided by his teaching.  In other words Mary was thinking about all of us.

            As we approach Christmas we too are thinking about generations.  We remember those who nurtured us in the faith.  And we think about future generations whom we can influence by our words and actions.  That's why we had our children presentation this morning.  We are nurturing these kids so that faith continues for generations to come.

            I can remember my grandfather.  He didn't go to church, but he drove my grandmother there every Sunday.  One day he asked my grandmother if he could go to church with her.  This surprised her, and she said “yes”.  The next Sunday they went to church together for the first time.  My grandfather was surprised.  He had grown up in a harsh church that would rap his knuckles if he did anything wrong.  But in my grandmother's Presbyterian church everyone was so friendly.  He joined the church and attended worship for as long as he could until he became sick and died.

            I also remember my grandmother.  Her father died when she was 21 and she had to live with her brother Harry who managed a store in a coal mining town called Butte.  As she was leaving her home, a friend gave her a beautiful print.  On it was the Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments.  She hung this in her bedroom and used it in her daily morning and evening prayers.  When my mother was born the print went into her bedroom so my mother would be reminded of the Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments every day.  I found the print in my grandmother's attic one day, and told my grandmother that it was so beautiful it should be displayed.  She put it up in the hallway.  And a few years later she gave it to me.  And this beautiful print now hangs in the pastor's office here at First Presbyterian Church.  It reminds me, every day, of the Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments.

            I have no children of my own to nurture in the faith.  A few years ago I would talk about faith with my young nieces and nephews.  I would bring Christian Christmas presents to their houses on Christmas day.  And I would invite them to come to special events at the church.  But ten years ago I moved far away to attend seminary, and the churches I have served since have been far from their homes.  So I have little influence now.  I pray that somehow they will come to faith.  Now I have two wonderful stepsons and my hope is that their faith with grow and I will have to opportunity to nurture grandchildren some day.

            I know that all of you have rich memories of faithful people in your lives.  I have heard your stories of how you grew up in the faith and have nurtured your own children and grandchildren.  I am so thankful for the Dee, Dawn, Mabel, Grace and others who nurture children in the community through this church.

            The Bible shows the importance of generations in its genealogies.  The Gospel of Matthew begins with a “record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ.”   Matthew connects Jesus, generation by generation, to God's covenant with Abraham and Sarah.    In the Gospel of Luke a genealogy of Jesus is used to set the context for his earthly ministry.  This genealogy connects Jesus to Adam and Eve and the creation of the world.

            As Mary thought about her history and future she realized something vitally important.  The God she worshiped was a champion of the poor, the weak and the insignificant.  Here she is a poor insignificant young woman whom God has chosen to bear a son.  God could have chosen one of the King's daughters.  But he didn't.  He chose the lowest of people for the highest of calling.  Sarah and Abraham were Bedouin herdsman, and they were chosen to start a great nation.  Ruth was a alien with a dead husband, and she was chosen to bear the grandfather of King David.  Hannah was a simple farmer's wife, and she was chosen to bear the great prophet Samuel.  Zechariah was a simple country priest and his wife bore a son who proclaimed the coming of a Messiah.  And Mary was just a poor unmarried girl living in a tiny village in the region of Galilee during Roman occupation and she was chosen to bear the savior of the world.

            God chooses the lowly for great things.  And this is really good news for us at Christmas.  God chooses us, not the sons and daughters of presidents and corporate leaders, but us to do extraordinary things.  And what are the extraordinary things we are chosen for?  We are chosen to nurture future generations in the faithfulness and love of Jesus Christ.  This is your calling this Christmas.   Let's pray.

            Almighty God, Christ your Word became flesh and dwelt among us, born in Bethlehem. May we receive Christ into our lives and become, through him, your blessed children who walk in the light you have sent into our world. Through Christ we pray. Amen. (Feasting on the Word Worship Companion C1 p. 26.)