We are Godbearers

December 18, 2011 Year B Fourth Sunday of Advent “We all must be God-bearers” 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 Luke 1:26-38 This is the season of expectation We have been through the cycle of hope, joy, love for the advent season. We have thought about the coming of Christ in our lives. We have looked forward to the second coming. And now it is time to truly be present to the importance of the first coming. Of God coming into the world in the form of a child, to live our life, and the transform our world. In our time. Our message for today is expectation – What will God do when God comes into my life – again this year. How will things be different. How will I be different? How can I make the world around me different? The problem with Mark For the first two Sundays, we have not read the gospel lesson. Personally, I think Mark does the best job of telling the good news. Mark is the first of the gospels written. As a matter of fact, Matthew and Luke both use Mark as a reference, which is why they are so similar. The problem with Mark is that you won’t be hearing stories of angels, and shepherds, and mangers, and stars, and Mary and Joseph. That is just not his concern. So this 4th Sunday of advent, if we want to talk about expecting – we have to look at Luke. Because if we want to talk about expecting God – we have to talk about Mary – the mother of Jesus. But I want to go farther and call her the Mother of God – I will talk more about that later. What we know about Mary Historically we don’t know much about the mother of Jesus. In Hebrew her name would have been Miriyam. Since the Greek don’t have a y in their language – in English, we have the name Miriam. According to Luke, she lived in Nazareth, the northern part of Israel. We tend to imagine her as a young girl, since scripture says that she had not married yet. Truth is, we don’t know how old she was. Retelling of story Scripture says that the angel Gabriel comes to her and announces that she will be pregnant. And bear a son, who will be very important. He tells her the Holy Spirit will come upon her and she will give birth. Her child will be holy also. Gabriel also tells her that her cousin Elizabeth is also pregnant. Mary says here I am, use me. And the angel leaves. A short history of angels Luke records that it is Gabriel who brings this message to Mary. In the Jewish tradition, there are many different beliefs about angels. In some beliefs there are lots of angels, in some there are just a few. Some believe that there are two different types of angels, and some think of only two. Only 2 are named in the bible – Michael – or Mikael - his name means who is like God? And Gabriel – a soldier for God. Michael is mentioned by name in Daniel, Jude and revelation. Gabriel is mentioned in Daniel and Luke. They are both arch angels – or chief angels. Competition between Gabriel and Michael Rumor has it that the competition for God’s attention was fierce between these two. When they heard that one of them would be named to give the good news to Mary – they both did all they could to get the job. As I was preparing for last week's sermon, I rediscovered the story of a Conversation between God and the archangel Michael. It is a little long, so I won't share it with you in full. It seems there was quite a bit of Rivalry between the archangels Michael and Gabriel, and in the story, Michael goes to the throne of God and is being a real pain, carrying on that God has made a mistake and that Gabriel could never convince Mary to be the Bearer of the Son of God and that God must have rocks in his head to think That the plan would work. Michael's suggestion was something along the Lines of sending down a fully grown Son of God, in all his glory with the Heavenly host (lead of course by Michael) at his heals, which was sure to bring humanity back to God! It was a great yarn with much humour, until it came to the punch line. Michael can't believe that God is going through with the hair-brained plan or that Mary would say yes to it. God allows the company of heaven to watch what unfolds. First Mary's incredulity, then her acceptance and finally her visit to Elizabeth and her song in response to Elizabeth's greeting. I want to share this last bit with you: "For a long, long moment silence reigned in the courts of heaven as the vision of Mary and Elizabeth slowly faded away. Then finally Michael spoke, "you're right, Lord. As usual you're right. She is brave. And she'll be a wonderful mother for Jesus. But I still don't understand. Why? Why are you risking everything by sending Jesus to be the child of such a poor family; to risk the childhood deaths all earth's children risk? I know Mary will love your Child. But the odds are so against her!" Slowly, with a gentle smile on a mighty face, God once again ascended to the throne and looked down at the sometimes troublesome archangel. "What was Mary's answer, Michael," God slowly asked? "She said, 'yes,'" Michael replied. "That's right," God nodded. "She's poor, illiterate, unwed, and pregnant. She's risking being disowned by all those about her. And she knows being outcast would be but the prelude to a sudden and painful death. She knew all that, and she said, 'yes.'" "Just one yes, and the world has changed. Just one yes, and the darkness is gone forever." "One day my Child's people will cower in fear. One day they'll feel its useless to go on. One day they'll decide all is against them: that the way I call them to is a way that can't be travelled." "When that day comes," the Lord God concluded, all my people will have to do is remember a teenaged peasant girl. And as they remember they'll see how even one person saying 'yes' can change death into life." "What do you say, Michael," the Lord God quietly asked? "Is my plan a good one?" [4] Fun and laughter aside, the plan was a good one, and one teenage girl's "yes" to God has changed the course of history. What are our expectations as we take our Advent journey? What are our expectations as we wait for Christmas? Story told by Rev. Sally Buckley – St. Andrew’s Anglican Parish- Western Australia In the end – it was not Michael or Gabriel’s plan that prevailed, it was God’s plan. It was God’s plan to use a young woman willing to say yes. It was her obedience that mattered. Mary as Theotokos – God bearer Catholics call her Blessed Virgin, or Mary Mother of God. The Greek orthodox call her “All holy, immaculate, most blessed and glorified lady and ever virgin Mary. How is that for a title? In the Greek orthodox church she is referred to as the Theotokos. I said that I was going to stop giving you foreign words – but this one is important to all of us. Theo means god and tokos means birth giver. In English that means God bearer. Mary is important in the Greek orthodox church because she is the one who bought God into the world. Not just the presence of God, but the actual God himself in the form of Christ. We too are God bearers The good news this holiday season is that we are expecting too. Expecting and expected. Expected to be God bearers. To bring god into the world into the lives of our friends, people in the street, even to those far away. Even though the soldiers have returned from Iraq, we are still far away from world peace, even though it is Christmas time, people are still hungry. The hospitals are full of people, there is poverty, there is despair. All things that we can do nothing about ourselves, but we know that God can do the impossible. I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me. I can do the impossible. Story of 80 year old woman giving birth Linzi was an 80 year old woman who lived in a nursing home. When Linzi announced that she was expecting, people thought that it was dementia. That was three months before Stephanie came to work at the nursing home as a nursing assistant. That was three months before Stephanie found out that she was pregnant. When Linzie would talk to Stephanie about being pregnant – she thought nothing of it. She was very polite and understanding of Linzie until she discovered that she was having a baby herself. All throughout the pregnancy – she would share stories with Linzie. Linzie was a hair dresser in her earlier life and she had never had a baby. But she and Stephanie always seemed to have a lot to talk about. Stephanie would let Linzie feel her stomach, and feel the baby jumping. When Linzie would talk about her pregnancy – she was always willing to listen and to go along with her story. Finally Stephanie had the baby – and of course she brought the baby to work so that everyone could see him. Linzie was the first person she took him too. Linzie was very excited about the baby – she started to ask Stephanie about the birth experience – what did it feel like, what happened, how did she react, who was there to help. Stephanie felt close enough to Linzie to share all of these experiences. When it came time to show the baby to everyone else – Stephanie asked if Linzie wanted to go with her as she showed off the baby – Linzie was delighted. They put Linzie in her wheelchair and handed her the baby. And as they went throughout the nursing home – Linzie told everyone that her baby was here. She told people that she was pregnant and here was the baby - This was baby Joshua. Stephanie’s baby was not named Joshua – but Stephanie knew that Linzies baby was Joshua. And that for some reason God had brought the two of them together, so that they could share their journey together. even allow 80 year old women to give birth for the first time. If my God can do that, surely God can address anything going on in my life. As a matter of fact, the bible is full of the stories of women who could not have children, having children – and those babies of promise going on to do amazing things. If God can make an 80 year old woman give birth – what can god do for you. The real question is what can God do through you? If you are willing like Mary – to be a God bearer for God? The difference between a house and a home If we look quickly at 2 Samuel – David has become king, he has overcome all his challenges . and he decides that he must make sure that God has a house of brick and cedar just as he has. Now he said yes to God. He was a faithful servant – and yet God said no, I don’t need you. If he was faithful and Mary was faithful. Why would God say I can use Mary, and not David? David agreed to provide God with a house, Mary was willing to give God a home. David was going to use brick and mortar, Mary was willing to give God love. David was giving out of his success, Mary was giving out of her obedience. David was willing to give God a place to live, Mary was willing to give her life. And God’s presence in the world lives in the presence of our souls, inside of us, not in the things that we have or give. God trusted us, God favors us earthen dirt vessels, with imperfect lives, imperfect thoughts, and dirty hands to bring the glory of God into the world. Obedience makes the impossible possible It is my obedience to God that makes the impossible, possible. During this season of expectation, let us let go and let God. It is not about what I can do for God, it is about what I can let God do for me. Here am I , the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word. I want us to end together saying the words of Mary’s response to God and to the world. I hear that these words are so powerful, that they are banned in certain countries that are afraid of change. The magnificat My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior, for he has looked with favor 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 arms; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has bought 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 has made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” Amen.