This Second Sunday of Advent was a communion Sunday. It was a Sunday on which we lit candles of hope and peace.
In Luke 1:26-38 we read the story of Mary’s encounter with the angel Gabriel. It was in the first two verses that something in particular caught my eye. We find out so much. We find out who the angel is and where he was sent. We find out that the person he came to see was a virgin. We discover that this virgin was engaged to a man named Joseph. We find out about Joseph’s family tree- he was a descendant of King David. And the very last word of these very detailed and informative introductory verses is “Mary.” From a worldly point of view, in a word, she was insignificant.
Yet twice the angel calls her “favored.” She was a nobody. But God had a plan for her life. Mary found out that she would play a vital role in the establishment of God’s kingdom for all of eternity by giving birth to the Son of God through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.
God’s plan was as big as his kingdom and involved the redemption of all creation. And Mary found out that she had a huge role to play. She was dumbfounded, “How can this be since I am a virgin, a nobody, a person of little significance?”
God has a kingdom plan for each of us. God wants us to play a role in the redemption of all creation. We are dumbfounded. How can this be? I’m a nobody. The power of the Holy Spirit and presence of God will accomplish this. I say this so much: God calls the unlikely to accomplish the impossible. That is the story of scripture.
And ours should be the response of Mary. “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be.” I encouraged the church to take this Advent season as a time to sit in the silence (last week’s theme) and ask the question, “Lord, what is your kingdom purpose for me?”
As we came to the Lord’s Supper we looked at Jesus’ prayer in the garden. Jesus cried out, “If it is possible, take this cup from me. But not my will, but yours be done.” In this moment of earthly anguish, Jesus did not reflect the power and glory of his father, but rather the humble contrition of his earthly mother. “Let it be” Jesus said.
Pastor Scott
In Luke 1:26-38 we read the story of Mary’s encounter with the angel Gabriel. It was in the first two verses that something in particular caught my eye. We find out so much. We find out who the angel is and where he was sent. We find out that the person he came to see was a virgin. We discover that this virgin was engaged to a man named Joseph. We find out about Joseph’s family tree- he was a descendant of King David. And the very last word of these very detailed and informative introductory verses is “Mary.” From a worldly point of view, in a word, she was insignificant.
Yet twice the angel calls her “favored.” She was a nobody. But God had a plan for her life. Mary found out that she would play a vital role in the establishment of God’s kingdom for all of eternity by giving birth to the Son of God through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.
God’s plan was as big as his kingdom and involved the redemption of all creation. And Mary found out that she had a huge role to play. She was dumbfounded, “How can this be since I am a virgin, a nobody, a person of little significance?”
God has a kingdom plan for each of us. God wants us to play a role in the redemption of all creation. We are dumbfounded. How can this be? I’m a nobody. The power of the Holy Spirit and presence of God will accomplish this. I say this so much: God calls the unlikely to accomplish the impossible. That is the story of scripture.
And ours should be the response of Mary. “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be.” I encouraged the church to take this Advent season as a time to sit in the silence (last week’s theme) and ask the question, “Lord, what is your kingdom purpose for me?”
As we came to the Lord’s Supper we looked at Jesus’ prayer in the garden. Jesus cried out, “If it is possible, take this cup from me. But not my will, but yours be done.” In this moment of earthly anguish, Jesus did not reflect the power and glory of his father, but rather the humble contrition of his earthly mother. “Let it be” Jesus said.
Pastor Scott
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