Advent 4C
Luke 1.39-55
December 20, 2009
Where I grew up in south central Pennsylvania, we had an odd Christmas custom. For about two weeks after the holidays, in the evening, there was a nightly migration of friends and family. I suppose my parents must have orchestrated some sort of a schedule, but it seemed that people we rarely saw at any other time of the year, were either visiting our house or we were visiting theirs. One night my mother’s cousins would show up. On another we went to the home of a childhood friend of my father. And during those visits a ritual would occur. Early in the visit we would gather around the Christmas tree and the gifts for the year would be shown off. EVERYTHING received that year, from the bicycle from Santa to the jar of jam from the neighbor next door stayed under the tree, in its place, until the parade of visitors had ended.
When the wonderful friend showed up, it was great to get out the new doll and dress her up or play with the new game or tea set. I have wonderful memories of special gifts shared for the very first time with the most special of friends.
Imagine Elizabeth, in her old age, her barrenness a curse. Finally, God has smiled upon her. Even in her old age, she is to have a child. She is to have a son. And he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will be blessed, a special child, chosen by God for a magnificent role in the salvation history of the world.
Imagine her sitting with her thoughts. Basking in the glow of God’s grace. It just couldn’t get any better than this. What a gift. What a miracle. What a wonderful God to bless her in this way.
And she waits, watching her body change as the child within grows. Women watch to see if the rumors are true. Could Elizabeth really be pregnant? Women gather to support her; to offer her advice; they gather to pamper the new mother, to assist in making ready a place for the baby. From a distance, Mary comes to join in the gathering of women.
Elizabeth, wise in her years, rises from her chair to greet Mary. Mary, the much younger cousin is betrothed to Joseph, a fine man. Had Elizabeth prayed for her cousin; that God would never bring shame upon the young woman as had been brought upon Elizabeth all these years without a child to nurse and care for? As she sees Mary approaching from a distance, does she for a fleeting moment, wish she was approaching motherhood with such youth and energy?
Does she proudly display the curve of her belly to show the wonderful gift that God has given her? This gift that she wishes to show off, that takes her shame; it’s the best gift in the whole world. It’s amazing, nothing short of miraculous and it’s all hers!
And Mary comes bearing a gift, her own secret, a child deep in her body who is to be Christ the Lord. Mary, a virgin, with a child in her womb who was begotten not made; born of the Holy Spirit, son of God. A miracle to end all miracles.
And these two women, each with their own gift, their own miracle of life, embrace. These babies, these gifts, these miracles come from God; they do not stand in sharp contrast, but rather compliment one another. These babies will grow to become two men who belong together on God’s landscape of salvation. One will prepare the way for salvation to enter the hearts and minds of God’s people. The other will bring justice and peace; he will usher in the Kingdom of God and destroy the gates of hell.
Elizabeth sings praises to Mary. For Elizabeth finds yet another gift in the miracle within Mary. Elizabeth sees not her young cousin standing before her, but she sees the mother of her Lord. The blessings continue for Elizabeth as she offers blessing to Mary.
Mary sings praises to God, for through her the world will have a savior. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has not forgotten his children. The promises that he had made are now to be fulfilled. The lowly are to be lifted up and the hungry filled with good things. God will reign forever and ever and bring justice to the world.
For three months these women will live together, sharing the deep joy of one another’s gift; gifts given for the benefit of all of humanity for all time and space. Can you imagine the show and tell that they share—each kick, every hiccup the baby shares, the pains and the joys of pregnancy and childbirth. For three months it goes on.
And yet it goes beyond that. Their song echoes throughout the ages. If you listen in the still of the night you can hear it. As you have listened to John’s proclamation to repent over the past two weeks, you have heard it. As you listen to Jesus invitation to join in the healing of creation by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and visiting the sick and imprisoned, you will hear it.
Those babies were born. John invited us to a lift of repentance. Jesus offered us the way to salvation. The show and tell goes on. What do we show our neighbors? How do our lives reflect a spirit of repentance? Which mercies of God do we point out to our friends? What grace and peace do we extend to our coworkers or fellow students? As we walk with one another, what gifts do we share that bring encouragement, joy, companionship?
Kate Huey writes: “In this Advent season, we in the church are keenly aware that we wait in community for the promises of God to unfold in our lives. Here, in community, we hold each other up when one of us needs encouragement or support. We help one another search for meaning, rejoice with one another, walk alongside each other. Just as Elizabeth must have listened to Mary, and helped her prepare for what was to come, we help one another work things out. Sometimes, we just sit in the dark quiet and wait, together, trusting in the promises of God, listening for a word from the Stillspeaking God. ‘In a way,’ Timothy Mulder writes, ‘here is a preface for Emmanuel. We humans are not meant to go through the tough or the wonderful alone. Both need to be shared.’ And in the midst of our waiting, as Paul, writing from prison, encouraged the Philippians; as Hannah and Mary sang God’s praise; and as Elizabeth welcomed her beloved cousin and companion, we rejoice, our hearts dancing within us. That is the way that we move with Mary’s song.” Amen
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