A Plan and a Promise

 Jesu Juva

St. Luke 1:26-38                                        

December 24, 2023

Advent 4B                                   

 Dear saints of our Savior~

        Before there’s a birth, there has to be a conception.  And for those of us who believe that life begins at conception, this is kind of important.  This morning we pause to ponder the pregnancy—to consider the conception of the Christ.  Because if we really want to be accurate, then we need to confess that the Word did not become flesh on December 25^th in Bethlehem.  No, the Word became flesh—God became man—nine months before that, in Nazareth.

        Actually, there are two pregnancies connected to this reading.  The text begins with the phrase, “in the sixth month.”  The “sixth month” here doesn’t refer to June; it refers to an old woman named Elizabeth who is already “six months” along in her pregnancy when her younger cousin Mary receives this strange news from the angel.  Today’s holy gospel connects a pregnant virgin (Mary) with a pregnant senior citizen (Elizabeth).  The entire episode is nicely summed up by the angel Gabriel who says, “Nothing will be impossible with God.”

        When God speaks His Word, that Word makes things happen.  He created the heavens and the earth with His Word—spoke the universe into being.  An old woman and her husband, childless throughout their married life, conceive a child in their old age simply because God says so.  And a young girl in Nazareth—probably only in her teens—is busy addressing her wedding invitations when she’s greeted by an angel who says, “Guess what?  You will give birth to the Son of God.” 

        Of course, this raises a question:  How will this be, since I am a virgin?  The virgin birth is a real stumbling block for some people.  Everyone knows that to conceive a child, somebody has to be the father.  We know who Jesus’ mother is.  We confess in the creed that Jesus was “born of the virgin Mary.”  But as for His father, there we have to believe as did Mary.  We trust that the Holy Spirit came upon her, that the power of Most High overshadowed her, and that her wonderful child is the Son of God.  Elizabeth conceives in her seniority; Mary conceives in her virginity; nothing will be impossible with God.

        Today’s Holy Gospel tells us of that precise moment in history when God’s love could wait no longer—when not another day would pass before God’s great plan to save you began to take shape as a microscopically small embryo in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Because we are sinful from birth—sinful from the time our mothers conceived us—it was necessary for the Savior to take your place beginning there—in the womb of His virgin mother.  Your redemption was finished, fulfilled and completed at the cross, but it began in earnest when Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit.

        In your own mind, how do you picture this scene between Gabriel and Mary?   I particularly like the painting by Van Eyck on the front of the bulletin.  I like the rich, colorful vestments worn by Gabriel.  Gabriel is a great warrior angel—a 5-star general of the heavenly host.  But in this painting Gabriel doesn’t look much like a warrior.  Instead, there’s golden smile on the angel’s face—a radiant smile that seems to say, “I’ve been waiting so very long for the high and holy privilege of bringing this good news to you, Mary—the best news since the dawn of time.”

        But what matters most here is not what the angel wore or what the angel looked like, but what the angel said.  Everything here hinges on God’s Word proclaimed by His messenger.  And God’s Word addresses Mary in a very particular way:  Greetings, O favored one.  Mary had been shown favor.  But a better translation might be that Mary had “been shown grace—had been given grace.”  God’s undeserved grace had been at work in Mary’s life long before the Gabriel popped in.  Mary had found favor with God—not because she was sinless, she wasn’t—but because God had given her His grace as a gift.  (Which, by the way, is just what God has done in you, and that’s why God has found favor with you!)

        Miracles abound in this text.  I’ve already mentioned the virgin birth.  That’s a big miracle.  Another miracle here is that God should become man—the incarnation.  Another high voltage miracle.  But let me tell you the biggest miracle of all in this episode:  Mary believed what the angel said.  After the angel spelled out the who, what, where, and when, Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant.  Let it be to me according to your word.”  That sounds a little convoluted in English, but, in effect, what she said was “Yes.”  Or if you prefer, “Amen.”  “So shall it be.”  It’s unthinkable that Mary would have said no.  But her “yes” is incredibly important—the biggest miracle of all.

        Mary believed everything the angel said. How much she really understood is debatable.  Whether she fully comprehended all the theological implications of that moment is doubtful.  St. Luke reports that Mary was “greatly troubled” when Gabriel appeared, and she was probably greatly troubled after the angel left.  Mary had no way of knowing what would transpire in the next thirty-three years.  But she had faith in what God told her.  She believed that God was with her.  She said, “Amen.”

        Can you also say “amen” with Mary?  For your God comes to you today—this day—with a plan and a promise for you.  From a human perspective that plan and that promise might not always seem attractive.  God’s plans for you aren’t always neat and tidy and without complications.  (His plan for Mary certainly wasn’t.)  In fact, God’s plan for you might sometimes leave you “greatly troubled.” 

        God’s plan for you sometimes means that your plans and schemes might just come crashing down on you when you least expect them to.  God’s plan often means doing what you’d least like to do—shouldering the cross like Jesus, submitting to others, confessing your sins, forgiving your enemies, loving others who aren’t particularly lovable, being faithful to God in Word and deed.  As this year nears its end, can you—will you—say “yes” to God’s plan for your life, trusting that the Lord is with you, come hell or high water?

        But remember, God comes to you today not only with a plan, but also with a promise.  That promise is the same one given to Mary:  The Lord is with you.  Beloved in the Lord, no matter how often you have sinfully said “no” to God’s clear Word—no matter how many times you’ve pursued your plans instead of God’s plans for you—God has called me to bring you good news.  I’m no angel Gabriel but it makes me incredibly glad to remind you:  The Lord is with YOU!  True God, begotten of the Father from eternity and true man born of the virgin Mary—He is your Lord and He is with you!  The Jesus in whom God was reconciling sinners to Himself—the Jesus who spread out His arms of love on a crucifixion cross—the Jesus who bounded out of the grave very early on the first day of the week—the Jesus whose kingdom will have no end—THIS Jesus, the Son of Mary, is with you.  He is for you, and not against you.

        In your baptism the Holy Spirit has come upon you.  God has been at work in you with His grace for a long time now.  And this is why you—like Mary—have found favor with God.  In Jesus your sins are forgiven.  When it comes to His grace, you’re full of it.  And this amazing grace which so far has carried you through many dangers, toils and snares also enables you to say what Mary said—to say “yes” to God’s plan—to say “amen” to all His promises in your life.

        Like Mary, you may not understand exactly where God is leading you, or why.  You may not perfectly comprehend all the theological implications of this moment.  You may leave here today feeling more troubled than when you arrived.  But that’s okay.  The Lord is with you.  He has a plan for you—a plan to give you peace and life that lasts forever.  Nothing is impossible for Him.  To that we can all say together with the mother of God, “yes,” “let it be to me according to your word.”  “Amen.”