Gospel for the Feast of the Epiphany (Gospel for the 2nd Sunday after Christmas below)

Matthew 2:1-12 (NRSV)

The Visit of the Wise Men

²In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, ²asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ ³When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ⁶ “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.” ’ ⁷ Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. ⁸Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ ⁹When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. ¹¹On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹²And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

A reflection, based on Barclay, on the Epiphany ...

In more recent times it has become commonplace to dismiss the event of the magi visiting the infant Jesus as ancient myth and legend and, like much of the rest of the New Testament, to dismiss it in the same way as we dismiss other fairytales and stories. But this does not mean that there were no magi at the time and while the New Testament writers might have been writing in an idiom that is no longer fashionable, and foreign to the modern reader, this does not alter the fact that it could have happened. The magi might not have been kings, there might have been more than three; but these and other details are really irrelevant. What matters is that, at the time, there was an air of expectation that something great was about to happen. This is evident in the writings of many of the secular ancients including Suetonius, Tacitus, Josephus, Seneca and Virgil. This ‘expectation’ was not only for the Jews which was something that Matthew needed to stress as his Gospel was written primarily for a Jewish audience. William Barclay in his commentary suggests:

There is not the slightest need to think that the story of the coming of the Magi to the cradle of Christ is only a lovely legend. It is exactly the kind of thing that could easily have happened in the ancient world.

Having said this, it could have been added by a later editor trying to meet the needs of a different historical context – but again, I suggest – that getting stuck on the so-called ‘problems’ of the text tends to make us miss the point and in the process rob us of the wonderful blessing that we can share at the time of this lovely festival.

As with much of the Scriptures, it is rich in symbolism. The gifts brought by the magi stress that the infant Christ child was a king (gold), that he was the perfect priest (frankincense) and that his life and death would be sacrificial (myrrh). The ‘fact’ that gentile wise men came to acknowledge this is a wonderful reminder that Jesus came for all people without exception. Historically, it is most probable that they came from Persia, and so we need to be reminded that, today, it would have been Muslim wise men coming to acknowledge the Christ. It is also all too easy in these difficult days to forget the Jesus is of great significance in Islam. Matthew’s readers might have been shocked that the Messiah was for others as well and not only for them. Does this say anything about how we ought to relate to others who are not like us?

William Barclay, writing specifically about the visit of the magi, adds:

There is poetry here, and we must not turn lovely poetry into crude and lifeless prose.

I have referred to J C Ryle’s commentary for the rest of this reflection ...

No one knows who these people were or how many of them were part of the party; all we do know is that they came from the East. But none of the fine details in this respect matter, as J C Ryle writes: “The point which concerns us most is the rich instruction which their history conveys.”

Firstly, these verses contain an important truth and that is that there may be true servants of God in places where we should not be expected to find them. The grace of God is not limited and it is not up to us to judge anyway. I work among people where 15 % are Hindu, and 5% Moslem and 5% Sikh – and they are lovely people. In fact, the Hindus see Jesus as a special avatar and an incarnation of the divine. Many of them also reveal the love and grace of God in their lives; some Sikhs being especially gracious. I am unashamed about what I believe, especially at times of great festivals like Christmas and Easter, but I leave the rest up to God.

Secondly, these verses reveal that it is not always those who have most religious privileges, who give Christ most honour. One would probably think that the religious leaders’ of Jesu’s day would have been the first to make their way to Bethlehem when there was a rumour that the saviour was to be born there – but this was not the case. This was left to unknown strangers from a foreign land. Sadly, this can be true even today: for there are many gracious and godly people who are neglected. This also suggests another danger and that is the way one can begin to neglect the precious things of God because we become too familiar with them. I can remember a number of occasions when I have attended worship where this is obvious – even in Cathedrals – where I have been given the impression that I have merely been taken through the motions. A few years ago  Gareth and I visited Coventry Cathedral. We rushed there to be in time for the Act of Reconciliation at midday. There were only three of us in the congregation and the priest who led the short service never made contact with any of us at all, not even to greet us. It was a special time, but it would have been so much better (for Gareth particularly) if there could have been some informal contact as well. They conduct this short service every day and it is times like this that familiarity can be a real problem. (Perhaps this was an ‘off’ day for the priest – we all have those so I don’t want to appear too hard on him!) But the women at the reception desk and in the cafeteria were wonderful and helped to make it a really special day for us.

The Gospel for the 2nd Sunday After Christmas

John 1:10-18 (NRSV)

¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. ¹¹He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. ¹²But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, ¹³who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. ¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵(John testified to him and cried out, ‘This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” ’) ¹⁶From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. ¹⁷The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known. 

Some thoughts from Bishop Tom Wright ...

Jesus is identical with the Word who was there from the very beginning of everything – through whom all things were made – the one who contained and contains life and light. But when God sent the Word into the world, specifically to Israel, the chosen people do not recognise him. This is the central problem that seems to dominate the whole story: Jesus comes to God’s people, and God’s people do what the rest of the world do – they prefer darkness to light. This is the reason why we all need grace.

Bishop Tom suggests (and I agree) that what makes this passage really exciting is that it addresses us as well because in verse 12 we read: “¹²But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God ...”This means that anyone – in history, now and in the future – all are invited to become children of God, born into a new family which Jesus began and which has, since then, spread throughout the world.

All human life is special in God’s sight, but something can happen in this life that adds to its dignity and worth, when we become part of God’s special family. Bishop Tom continues: “.... this great drama is a play in search of actors, and there are parts for everyone, you and me included.”

Even today, as we journey through our lives, we can see that they are part of God’s play, revealing truth and beauty to the world.

Barclay makes the point that for the author of this Gospel it was important that John the Baptists did not occupy an exaggerated position in our thoughts and so quotes the Baptist in verse 15 as saying: “He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” The Baptist was older than Jesus but this is not what he is saying; he is speaking in the light of eternity and so identifies Jesus as God – the one who existed before the universe came into existence and ‘... beside whom any human figure has no standing at all.’

Verse 16a begins with an interesting phrase: “From his fullness ...” This implies that the sum total of all that is God, is Jesus. Paul uses the same word in Colossians when he says that the fullness of God dwelt in Christ. He is implying that the totality of God’s wisdom, power and love is in Jesus, the Christ. Barclay writes:

A person can go to Jesus with any need and find that need supplied. A person can go to Jesus with any ideal and find that ideal realised. In Jesus, a person in love with beauty will find the supreme beauty. In Jesus, the person to whom life is the search for knowledge will find the supreme revelation ...

From Jesus we have also received grace upon grace (verse 16b). In Christ we find one wonder leading to another. Sometimes as we travel a very lovely road we are overtaken by one beautiful sight being followed closely by countless others; at every view we think nothing could be lovelier, only to find there is always more. When a person begins a study of some great subject, they never get to the end of it. Always there are fresh expressions of beauty waiting for them. Barclay continues: “It is so with Christ. The more we know of him, the more wonderful he becomes. The longer we live with him, the more loveliness we discover. ...”

There is another dimension: the grace of God is never static, but always dynamic. Barclay explains: “One need invades life and one grace comes with it. That need passes and another need assaults us and with it another grace comes.”

We are taken to greater experiences of grace as our relationship with Christ grows and develops and we receive grace to meet every challenge ... “¹⁶From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”

The Gospel for the 1st Sunday after Christmas

Luke 2.41-end (NRSV)

The Boy Jesus in the Temple

41 Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. ⁴²And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. ⁴³When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. ⁴⁴Assuming that he was in the group of travellers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. ⁴⁵When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. ⁴⁶After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, ‘Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.’⁴⁹He said to them, ‘Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ ⁵⁰But they did not understand what he said to them. ⁵¹Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. ⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favour. 

Today's lesson reveals a vitally important truth about Jesus Christ. In fact this passage records the first spoken words of Jesus, our Lord. They are significant because, as Leon Morris puts it:

The first recorded words of the Messiah are ... a recognition of His unique relationship to God ...

In this passage we learn how the boy Jesus came to understand who he really was - the Son of God the Father and that he shared a relationship with God the Father that was unique. In verse 41 we read that every year, the parents of Jesus went to the Temple for the Passover festival. Jewish Law decreed that all males were required to attend the Temple three times each year viz. at the festivals of Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles. (Exodus 23:14-17; Deut. 16:16.) Women were not required by the Law to attend but some did. It appears as though Mary was accustomed to accompany Joseph in all his religious duties.

Attendance at the Temple was difficult for the many Jewish men who were scattered all over the Roman world and beyond - but many made the effort. The crowds in Jerusalem during the Passover were therefore tremendous. It is believed that there were often over 100 000 visitors crowded into Jerusalem which only normally had about 50 000 inhabitants.

On this occasion Mary and Joseph took their first-born son Jesus, with them. Jewish boys, at the age of thirteen, became a 'son of the law' or a full member of the synagogue. At this time, he would assume all the responsibilities implied in his circumcision. This is not dissimilar to the modern practice of confirmation, when the child assumes all the responsibilities implied in their baptism. Custom suggested that parents should take their children to the Temple a year or two before their thirteenth birthday so they might begin to understand the significance of what was going to happen when they became full members.

Jesus was obviously fascinated by the whole experience and could not get enough from all the learned people who were giving him instruction. Probably lost in the wonder of learning, Jesus was left behind when his parents began the journey home.

This incident has nothing to do with a child's disobedience nor a parent's neglect. Women often started out on the return journey much earlier than the men, because they travelled more slowly. The women would usually meet up with the men for the first time only that evening. Joseph probably thought Jesus was with Mary and Mary thought that he was with Joseph or both could have thought that he was with family or friends. Immediately they discovered that he was not with them, they returned to Jerusalem. Verses 46-47 explain:

On the third day they found him in the Temple, sitting with the Jewish teachers, listening to them and asking questions. All who heard him were amazed at his intelligent answers.

During the Passover season it was the custom for the Sanhedrin to meet in public in the Temple court to discuss - in the presence of all who would listen - religious and theological questions. There would have been no problem in an unknown boy attaching himself to the group. Jesus was 'listening to them and asking questions'. This is a typically Jewish phrase describing a student learning from his teachers. The Jewish educational system encouraged discussion between teachers and pupils therefore giving pupils the opportunity to both ask and answer questions. This is what Jesus was doing. Jesus was thirsty for knowledge. There would have been few good teachers in Nazareth, and Jesus was making most of his opportunity to learn while in the city. The people were 'amazed at his intelligent answers'.

When Joseph and Mary found him they were amazed. They had not expected to find what they saw. They had been anxious and worried that something dreadful might have happened to their son. For many of us, it is only natural that Mary should gently rebuke her son to show him that they had been worried about him. The meaning of this whole incident lies in Jesus' response to his mother's reprimand. We read of the incident in verses 48-50:

His mother said, "Son, why have you done this to us" Your father and I have been very worried, and we have been searching for you!" Jesus answered, "Why did you have to look for me? Didn't you know that I would be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he meant.

Mary and Joseph had experienced amazingly significant and direct revelations from God which had been confirmed by many people. The angel Gabriel had revealed to Mary that she would bear the Messiah; the Holy Spirit had come upon her and she had become pregnant; Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist had confirmed this truth to her. Joseph had been informed by an angel of what was happening. The shepherds and the wise men had brought further confirmation. When they presented Jesus in the Temple there had been the witness of Simeon and Anna. And yet verse 50 explains that 'they did not understand'. One would think that it would be obvious that when Jesus came of age and responsibility, God the Father would do something special. Mary had said "Your father and I have been very worried ...", Jesus replied "Didn't you know that I would be in my Father's house." Notice how gently but firmly Jesus takes the name father from Joseph and gives it to God. Jesus had discovered his unique relationship with God the Father and the necessity for him to be in his Father's house. Barclay writes:

At some time Jesus must have discovered his own unique relationship to God. He cannot have known it when he was a child in the manger and a baby at his mother's breast ... As the years went on he must have had thoughts; and then at this first Passover, with manhood dawning, there came in a sudden blaze of realization, the consciousness that he was in a unique sense the Son of God.

Jesus realised that he shared a relationship with God, shared by no other. But mark the result of this realisation. It did not make him look down on his humble parents - the gentle Mary and the hard-working and simple Joseph. In verse 51 we read:

Jesus went back to Nazareth with his parents and obeyed them ...

Barclay comments:

The fact that he was God's son made him the perfect son of his human parents.

Joseph and Mary did not fully understand - they learnt what Jesus' Messiahship meant bit by bit. Remember after the Shepherds had been Mary wasn't sure of what they had meant. Luke writes:

... Mary kept on thinking about all this and wandering what it meant.

When Simeon had prophesied Luke records:

Jesus' parents were surprised at what Simeon had said.

This is easy to understand. They knew that their child Jesus was somebody very special, but they did not know what all the ramifications were. Even though they did not fully understand, they remained faithful and obedient, knowing that when the time was right, they would understand.

Notice how they did things together. The Law only required men to do certain things - but Mary and Joseph did things together. They knew that God had given people certain things to do for their own good and so they obediently did all the things God ordained for them to do.

God has given us these ordinances, because as our creator, He knows that we will benefit from them. We too should take every opportunity to draw closer to our Lord. Mary and Joseph did not understand everything at once - nor do most of us. In time they were to understand everything - and so shall we. Rather than put stumbling blocks in each other's way, Mary and Joseph supported each other. How many parents pull against each other, rather than support each other. How many couples communicate with each other and work together in everything especially in bringing up their children. How many families worship together. Let us learn from the beautifully human example of Mary and Joseph.

And while doing things together and using every avenue to draw close to God, we should also continually expect a deeper and deeper understanding of God's will for us and our families. Verse 51 continues:

... His mother kept on thinking about all that had happened.

Mary had a complicated issue to face. As Mother of the Messiah, she had a son, and yet, she did not because he did not belong to her but to all people. This Mary could not understand. But while Mary did not have knowledge, she certainly had wisdom - she 'treasured all these things in her heart' and waited for fullness of understanding.

There are many things that we do not understand. But if we persevere, keep on thinking about things, and are faithful in worship, prayer and the spiritual disciplines - we will be enabled to understand.

A sermon for Christmas

Luke 2.1-20 (NRSV)

The Birth of Jesus

²In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. ²This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³All went to their own towns to be registered. ⁴Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. ⁵He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. ⁶While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. ⁷And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

⁸ In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.¹⁰But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: ¹¹to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
¹⁴ ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ ¹⁶So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. ¹⁷When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

These verses relate the story of the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Everybody loves this story and so they should because the story of any birth is always beautiful and moving. The story of the birth of Jesus has become part of western culture and many droves of people flock into churches on Christmas day to be reminded of this wonderful story.

Every birth of every child is ‘wonder’ full. That there is little that can compare with the intimacy and extreme emotion that is coupled with this event. Even midwives and doctors often say that no matter how often they witness a birth, nothing can take away the sense of wonder and joy that always accompanies the entry of a baby into the world.

This passage tells of a birth that was more wonderful than any other before or since. While every birth is a miracle, the birth of Jesus was the greatest miracle of all as God was being born into the world. The author of the first letter to Timothy explains: 'Here is the great mystery of our religion: Christ came as a human ...'

We all know the story so well, but allow me focus our attention on a few important truths.

Firstly, notice where Jesus was born. The prophet Micah had prophesied that the event would take place in Bethlehem - and sure enough, it took place in Bethlehem. This reminds us of the wonderful truth that God is ultimately in control. He controlled the secular ruler Augustus and directed him through thoughts, events and ideas, to decree that all people needed to be registered. As a result, he, Augustus decreed that Mary and Joseph should travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. The Roman emperor did not know that he was a pawn in God's hands and that he was only doing what God was allowing him to do.

Especially in our troubled times in Britain today, we should take heart that God is in control and can intervene dramatically into our situation and change things. There are tremendous problems in our country at this time. Morally and ethically there is a drastic decline. This is manifest in many ways, not least in the erosion of the family, the discipline problems in our schools, the increased incidence sexual promiscuity and perversion, substance abuse - the list is endless. In a sense we are witnessing the steady decline in standards and I would not be surprised if we were witnessing the decline of western civilization - like Greece and Rome before us. This can be for many reasons - not least being the conscious and wilful decision of many people to deliberately reject God and the way of life he has decreed for all people in his word, the Scriptures. Things will continue to get worse until people make a conscious and wilful decision to turn away from sin, accept Jesus and the way of life laid down in the word of God. When this happens God will respond by transforming our society into one of peace, prosperity and order.

God is in control. As God intervened and changed the course of history using Caesar Augustus as a pawn to do what he willed, so can he intervene and use earthly rulers and others as pawns to bring about his purposes on this earth. But people need to respond in obedience.

Secondly, notice who the first people were who received the wonderful news of Christ's birth - simple ordinary shepherds, not priests, rulers, theologians, scribes or Pharisees. This is not meant to imply that people who are learned or who have position were excluded. The visit of the Magi - the wise men who followed the shepherds - bears testimony of this. But all too often, simple people, poor people feel that they do not know enough to be able to draw close to God. Nothing could be further from the truth. What is important is not wealth, position or knowledge - but faith.

God offers to all people faith as a free gift. All people have to do is respond by accepting it. Whether you are a university professor, a mechanic, housewife, millionaire, street-sweeper, unemployed - no matter what one's station in life is - all people are afforded the opportunity to draw close to God through faith in Jesus Christ.

Thirdly, notice the message the angels brought with them. They said:

‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people ...’

The spiritual darkness that had covered the world for thousands of years was about to be rolled away and God was to be revealed in all his fullness through Christ; the way in which sin could be forgiven was to be made available for all people; people can defeat the power of Satan, temptation and sin in their lives and so be enabled to experience wholeness and restoration while living on this earth; people were about to be enabled to experience peace with themselves, peace with others and peace with God. Indeed, the birth of Jesus is 'good news' and should make 'everyone happy'. Because of Jesus there is hope, because of Jesus there is power, because of Jesus people can be restored to God.

The angel was joined by many other angels who sang a beautiful hymn of praise that explains in detail the wonder of Christ's birth. We read in verse 14:

‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’

The greatest praise to God in heaven happened through the birth of his Son. His life, death, resurrection and ascension revealed in detail God's justice, holiness, mercy and wisdom. Jesus made it possible for peace to be restored between sinful people and the Holy God because he paid the price for the sins of humankind. When people accept the forgiveness of their sins and the peace of God that passes all human understanding by faith in Jesus, it also enables people live at peace with one another. O how the world needs Jesus.

Lastly, notice how prompt the shepherds were in responding in obedience to what they were told. We read in verse 16:

¹⁶So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.

They responded immediately. They never debated, questioned, doubted or even hesitated - they did something - they hurried off to find Jesus. Let us all follow the example of the shepherds by responding immediately. Let those who have never come to Jesus, come to Him today, accept the free gift of forgiveness and enter a new life through faith. Let those who have already accepted Christ, come to him afresh today and invite Him to fill them with peace towards themselves, those we know and love and all the people they have contact with.

I close with an illustration from www.esermons.com that epitomises the way Christ’s incarnation can be a reality in the world today when people respond in faith to the message of Christmas. It is written by Erskine White in his book entitled Together in Christ, where he writes:

“As some of you know, Fiorello LaGuardia was mayor of New York during the Depression, and he was quite a character. He would ride the city fire trucks, take entire orphanages to baseball games and whenever the city newspapers went on strike, he would get on the radio and read the Sunday "funnies" to the children.

At any rate, one bitter cold winter's night in 1935, Mayor LaGuardia turned up in a night court that served the poorest ward in the city, dismissed the judge for the evening and took over the bench himself. After he heard a few cases, a tattered old woman was brought before him, accused of stealing a loaf of bread.

She told LaGuardia that her daughter's husband had deserted her, her daughter was sick and her grandchildren were starving. But the shopkeeper, from whom the bread was stolen, insisted on pressing charges. "My store is in a very bad neighbourhood, your honour," he said. "She's got to be punished in order to teach other people a lesson."

The mayor sighed. He turned to the old woman and said, "I've got to punish you," he said. "The law makes no exception - ten dollars or ten days in jail."

But even as he spoke, LaGuardia was reaching into his pocket and pulling out a ten dollar bill. "Here is the woman's fine," he said, "and furthermore, I'm going to fine everyone in this court room fifty cents for living in a city where a person has to steal bread so that her grandchildren can eat. Mr. Baliff, collect the fines and give them to the defendant."

The following day, the New York Times reported that $47.50 was turned over to the bewildered old woman. It was given by the red-faced store owner, some seventy petty criminals, people with traffic violations and city policemen - and they all gave their mayor a standing ovation as they handed over their money.

That's how it will be with God's world. Just when it seems that all hope is lost, and goodness and mercy shall never win, the Great Judge will come to set things right, deciding for the hungry and the meek of the earth. Yes, there is also an Christmas promise for the nations of the world in perplexity and distress: "Look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

The paradox of blessedness

Mary Visits Elizabeth

 

39At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43But why am I so favoured, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"

William Barclay discribes this passage as as a "lyrical song on the blessedness of Mary". In the life of Mary we see the paradox of blessedness. Mary was granted the blessedness of being the mother of Jesus, the Son of God. And her heart

was filled with a wonderful, trembling joy at such a great privilege. Yet that privilege and that blessedness was to be the sword to pierce her heart. It meant that one day she would see her son hanging on a cross.

To be chosen by God so often means at one and the same time a crown of joy and a cross of sorrow. I suppose brother that the piercing truth is that God does not choose us for a life of ease and comfort but for a task that will take all that the task throws at us - good or bad. God chooses us in order to use us. When Joan of Arc knew that her time was short she prayed, "I shall only last a year; use me as you can." When that is realised, the sorrows and hardships that serving God may bring are not matters for complaining; they are our glory, because all of it is endured for God.

This paradox of blessedness is something we do not often think about. We instinctively think that when bad things happen, God has abandoned us or our faith has let us down. Dear old William Barclay tells of when Richard Cameron, the Covenanter, was caught by the Dragoons. They killed him. He had beautiful hands and they cut them off and sent them to his father with a message asking if he recognised them. “They are my son’s” he said. “my own dear son’s. Good is the will of the Lord who can never wrong me or mine.”

The shadows of life were lit by the sense that they too were in the plan of God. A great Spanish saint prayed for his people, “May God deny you peace and give you glory”. A great modern preacher said, “Jesus Christ came not to make life easy but to make men great.” “It is the paradox of blessedness”, says Barclay, “that it confers on a person at one and the same time the greatest joy and the greatest task in all the world”.

Then we move to the passage which has become one of the great hymns of the church – the Magnificat. It is full, saturated with the Old Testament; it’s a bit like Hannah’s song of praise in 1 Samuel 2:1-10. Brother, we know that some people still say that religion is the opiate of the people; but, as Stanley Jones said, “the Magnificat is the most revolutionary document in the world.”

It speaks of the three revolutions of God.
1. He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. That is a moral revolution. Our faith means that we must put pride to death, difficult as that is. When we put our lives beside Jesus’ life it sucks the last vestiges of pride from us. Barclay mentions a short story by O. Henry about a boy who was brought up in a village. In school he used to sit beside a girl and they were fond of each other. Then he went into the city and fell into evil ways. He became a pickpocket and a petty thief. One day he snatched an old lady’s purse. It was clever work and he was pleased. And then he saw coming down the street the girl whom he used to know, still sweet with the radiance of innocence. Suddenly he saw himself for the cheap, vile person he was. Burning with shame, he leaned his head against the cool iron of a lamp standard. “God”, he said, “I wish I could die.” He saw himself. Jesus Christ enables us to see ourselves as we really are and it is the deathblow to pride. The moral revolution has begun.

The next revolution in the Magnificat is referred to in the phrase, "He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble." That is a social revolution. Christianity puts an end to the world's labels and prestige. Barclay tells of Muretus, a wandering scholar in the Middle Ages. He was poor. In an Italian town he took ill and was taken to a hospital for waifs and strays. The doctors were discussing his case in Latin, never dreaming he could understand. They suggested that since he was such a worthless wanderer they might use him for medical experiments. He looked up and answered them in Latin, "Call no one worthless for whom Christ died."

 Brother, when we are reminded of what Jesus Christ has done for us it is no longer possible to speak about class distinctions. All distinctions have gone.

  

The final revolution in the Magnificat is contained in the words " He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty." This is an economic revolution. A Christian society should be the kind of place where no-one dares to have too much while others have to little. I wish I was more like that than I am. There is a loveliness in the Magnificat but there is also power - dynamite! Our Christian faith should trigger a revolution in each person and in the world but too often we loose sight of that message and get caught up in the daily grind of answering emails and attending meetings!

Mark

Gospel reflection for Advent 4

Luke 1.39-55 (NRSV)

Mary Visits Elizabeth

³⁹ In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, ⁴⁰where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit ⁴²and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. ⁴³And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? ⁴⁴For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. ⁴⁵And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’

Mary’s Song of Praise

⁴⁶ And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
⁴⁷   and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
⁴⁸ for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
   Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
⁴⁹ for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
   and holy is his name.
⁵⁰ His mercy is for those who fear him
   from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has shown strength with his arm;
   he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
⁵² He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
   and lifted up the lowly;
⁵³ he has filled the hungry with good things,
   and sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
   in remembrance of his mercy,
⁵⁵ according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
   to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’

When Mary was told the wonderful good news that she would be the mother of the son of God she must have been both delighted and frightened at the same time. This is the sort of thing many people experience – excitement over the prospect of something great that is going to happen but also not a little daunted by the prospect at the same time. In times like this it is good to speak to people whom you know will understand. The only person that would have had any understanding of Mary's situation would have been Elizabeth, because the same angel had given her wonderful news. God's provision for his people is always wonderful. He knows us better than we know ourselves and so knows our every need, even down to the smallest detail. God gave Mary the gift of Elizabeth for support, understanding and companionship. So as soon as it was possible, Mary travelled to visit Elizabeth. This is a beautiful passage of Scripture where we are given the chance to bask in people's joy.

Firstly, let us share in Elizabeth's joy – expressed in verses 39–45. When Mary entered her home and greeted her, the Holy Spirit filled her with joy, the baby moved within her and she exclaimed:

 ... "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord."

Notice the source of Mary's joy – the fact that she believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord. Faith is central in the Christian life. It is faith that saves us as Paul explains in Ephesians 2:8‑9:

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God ‑‑ not the result of works, so that no one may boast.

As Wiersbe explains:

Because Mary believed the Word of God, she experienced the power of God.

God speaks to us today in many ways, but the most important is through his word, the Scriptures and when we accept what he says to us, our faith grows and we know his power and joy in our lives. Paul explains this is in Romans 10:17:

So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.

Mary was delighted to hear Elizabeth's greeting. It confirmed everything for her and so she broke out into one of the most beautiful hymns of praise – what we call the Magnificat. In her hymn of praise, Mary uses passages from the Old Testament, especially the Psalms and the Song of Hannah. Some scholars suggest that this is an indication that these were in fact not the words used by Mary and that they are Luke's. Writing about the Magnificat, the Nunc Dimmitis and other canticles McBride explains:

Most scholars would agree that none of the speakers actually composed the canticles ascribed to them. It would appear that Luke has taken old compositions of Hebrew poetry which proclaimed the saving actions of God, and applied their general sentiments to the specific occasion of the speakers in his Gospel.

But it is all too easy to dismiss things because on the surface our ideas seem to make sense. Mary does not quote directly from the Scriptures. The Scriptures seem to have been so much part of her that she applied them to her particular situation. There is therefore a difference in tone. Morris comments:

Hannah's song is a shout of triumph in the face of her enemies, Mary's a humble contemplation of the mercies of God. ... Mary on her four days' journey to Elizabeth brooded over the story of Hannah and then uttered her own inspired song.

This is something that come out very clearly in all our readings of the Scriptures. The people that God used were people who knew his Word intimately, so intimately that it became almost part of them. There are many examples, not least being the Revelation of John which is almost a perpetual reference to the Old Testament, but one seldom finds a direct quotation – the Scriptures were part of John's experience. They were able to recognise the Word of God because it was part of their experience. Our faith too will grow, we will also be able to hear the voice of God more if we like Mary and others, make the Scriptures an integral part of our daily experience. When God's Word enters our lives we too will know the same joy. Paul explains in Colossians 3:16‑17:

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

 Wiersbe adds:

Mary hid God's Word in her heart and turned it into a song.

I am sure that many of you can also bear witness to the times when passages of Scripture have come to your mind at various times in your lives too.

Mary had a great deal to praise God for – and in her song she articulates many of these things. We share then also in Mary's joy.

Mary rejoiced because God had saved her. Mary was an ordinary sinner like any of us and so she needed also to trust God as her saviour. God had now also blessed her with the privilege of being the earthly Mother of the saviour of the world. God also chooses us for important roles to play in his plan of salvation. Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 1:26‑28 where he writes:

Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are ...

Even though Mary had very little evidence to go on – at least according to the standards of the time – she believed that God had done great things for her. Wiersbe comments:

Because she believed God and yielded to His will, He performed a miracle in her life and used her to bring the saviour into the world.

From thankfulness for what God has done for her, Mary then turns to contemplation on the greatness of God Himself. She concentrates on three important characteristics – Gods power, his holiness and His mercy. She realises that she is insignificant, a very ordinary young woman, but that does not matter because God is at work in and through her and He can do anything. She rejoiced in his holiness because God is worthy of worship apart from the wonderful things he has done and is doing simply because of who He is. And He is merciful so even weak and insignificant sinners have a chance – God can do great things through all who are willing to surrender their lives to him.

Verses 50–53 tell how God has blessed many other people as well – in every generation – and in a sense speaks of how he blesses people today. Mary speaks specifically about three groups whom God particularly cares for – the helpless, the humble and the hungry. Mary saw the Messiah as one who would turn things upside down – the weak would overthrow the mighty and powerful, the humble scattering the proud, insignificant people being exalted, the hungry filled and the rich becoming poor.

The passage ends with Mary reminding us that she could have all this confidence because she knew that God always kept his promises. Verses 54‑56 read:

He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

Mary knew her Scriptures and as a result her faith was strengthened. She knew that God had made promises to Abraham and they had been fulfilled and that he had made many other promises and they had all been fulfilled. If we too spend more time with our Scriptures we will also learn more about God and his promises for us and all those who remain faithful to him. J C Ryle comments:

Promises are, in fact, the manna that we should daily drink, as we travel through the wilderness of this world. ... We walk by faith, and this faith leans on promises. ... We shall find one day, like the Virgin Mary, that God keeps His word, and that what he has spoken, so He will in due time perform.

We can know God's joy in our lives when we spend time with Him in His word. When God's word becomes more and more part of our experience, we will hear more from him, our faith will grow, we will know more peace in our lives and we will begin to know life and that in all abundance.