How Did Mary Find the Courage to Say Yes?

Ecce Ancilla Domini (The Annunciation) Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1849-50

Luke 1:26-38  MSG

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin’s name, Mary.  Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her:

Good morning!

You’re beautiful with God’s beauty,

Beautiful inside and out!

God be with you.

She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the angel assured her, “Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you:  You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus. He will be great, be called ‘Son of the Highest.’ The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David; He will rule Jacob’s house forever—no end, ever, to his kingdom.”

Mary said to the angel, 

“But how? I’ve never slept with a man.”

The angel answered,

The Holy Spirit will come upon you,

the power of the Highest hover over you;

Therefore, the child you bring to birth

will be called Holy, Son of God.

And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is?  Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant!  Nothing, you see, is impossible with God.

And Mary said,

Yes, I see it all now:  I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve.

Let it be with me just as you say.

Then the angel left her.

Mary is described as thoroughly shaken, wondering. I see that on her face, as Rosetti has painted her. Where did she get the courage to agree to what Gabriel has proposed?  Did you notice that God waited for Mary to agree?  Is the Holy Spirit with her in these moments? 

Mary & Elizabeth - Reverend Lauren Wright Pittman. 

Mary hears about Elizabeth's miraculous pregnancy before she agrees to accept God's plan. Does this news help give her the trust and courage she needs to say yes?

Luke 1.39-45 (excerpt)

Mary didn’t waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country, straight to Zachariah’s house, and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. 

And Mary said,

I’m bursting with God-news;

I’m dancing the song of my Savior God.

God took one good look at me, and look what happened—

I’m the most fortunate woman on earth!

What God has done for me will never be forgotten,

the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.

His mercy flows in wave after wave

on those who are in awe before him.

He bared his arm and showed his strength,

scattered the bluffing braggarts.

He knocked tyrants off their high horses,

pulled victims out of the mud.

The starving poor sat down to a banquet;

the callous rich were left out in the cold.

He embraced his chosen child, Israel;              

he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high.

It’s exactly what he promised,

beginning with Abraham and right up to now.

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months and then went back to her own home. 

Mary says, “God took one good look at me, and look what happened—I’m the most fortunate woman on earth!”  How excited she is now!

Mary and Elizabeth are together filled with the Holy Spirit. Nothing is impossible with God! 

It is that sense of God’s presence in our lives that allows us to trust in the power of God’s peace even when we do little…Be sure to make this inner peace your utmost priority. . . . When we radiate the peace of Christ we are peacemakers, and then our peace action can witness to this inner peace. But without that inner peace our actions easily become instruments of the powers of war and destruction.  -   Henri Nouwen 

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

 - Isaiah 26:3 

What is the Story About? Who is in it?

 

This Sunday, November 23, is the last Sunday of the church year.  As we approach it, I have been thinking about all of the stories we have experienced together in worship this year, and how they fit together to make up the larger Christian story. They are like chapters in a book…can we summarize it somehow?  How would you summarize it? 

The words that came to my mind are from the United Church New Creed - the title of this blog:

We are not alone,

    we live in God’s world.

We believe in God:

    who has created and is creating,

    who has come in Jesus,

       the Word made flesh,

       to reconcile and make new,

    who works in us and others

       by the Spirit.

And how do we respond to this new life?  The Creed continues:

We are called to be the Church:

    to celebrate God’s presence,

    to live with respect in Creation,

    to love and serve others,

    to seek justice and resist evil,

    to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,

       our judge and our hope.

Rev. Donna has chosen the passage from John 20:19-29  for us to recall this week:

Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors of the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” Then he showed them his hands and side. The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were awestruck. Jesus repeated his greeting: “Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you.”

Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. “Receive the Holy Spirit,” he said. “If you forgive someone’s sins, they’re gone for good. If you don’t forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?” 

But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.  The other disciples told him, “We saw the Master.”  But he said, “Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won’t believe it.”

Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room.  This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.”

Then he focused his attention on Thomas.  “Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side.  Don’t be unbelieving. Believe.”  Thomas said, “My Master! My God!”

Jesus said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.”

Just as the creed summarizes, Jesus does not leave his disciples alone…he is sent by God to give them peace…and then sends his disciples out to do the same.  

I invite you to prepare for worship by reflecting on the Christian story too.  What words or passages come to your mind?  What does it mean to live with God in his world? 

“…in spite of all its extraordinary variety, the Bible is held together by having a single plot….

God creates the world; the world gets lost; God seeks to restore the world to the glory for which he created it. That means that the Bible is a book about you and me, whom he also made and lost and continually seeks…”- Frederick Buechner 

Image by Hanneke Visschers from Pixabay

Jesus is Such an Inspiration!

 

Our scriptures for this week begin with Jesus’ response to devastating news, the brutal killing of someone dear to him.  But we also see how he responds, despite his grief, to seeing people around him who are sick… and then later, hungry. 

We read about his inner and his outer responses to unfolding events…how he FELT and what he DID.  What an inspiration he is to me!

READING  Matthew 14. 13-21  MSG

When Jesus got the news, he slipped away by boat to an out-of-the-way place by himself. 

But unsuccessfully—someone saw him and the word got around. Soon a lot of people from the nearby villages walked around the lake to where he was. 

When he saw them coming, he was overcome with pity and healed their sick.

Toward evening the disciples approached him. 

“We’re out in the country and it’s getting late.  Dismiss the people so they can go to the villages and get some supper.”

But Jesus said, “There is no need to dismiss them. You give them supper.”

“All we have are five loaves of bread and two fish,” they said.

Jesus said, “Bring them here.” Then he had the people sit on the grass. He took the five loaves and two fish, lifted his face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke, and gave the bread to the disciples. The disciples then gave the food to the congregation. They all ate their fill. They gathered twelve baskets of leftovers.  About five thousand were fed.

In preparation for our worship together, I invite you to reflect first on how you respond inwardly AND outwardly to bad news.  How do you respond inwardly and outwardly to people in need? 

And then, remember a time when God gave you more than enough… more than you asked for, or perhaps something even better than you asked for! 

I hope you can be with us on Sunday to experience all of this together. 

Life Has Been a Bit Challenging Lately - or is it just me?

I’m almost afraid to tune into the evening news any more.  I’m feeling discombobulated this week.  Cooler temperatures have been a bit hard to adjust to.  Plumbing - have I mentioned plumbing (or washing machines) lately?  Don’t get me started.  I feel like life is out of control.

Oddly enough, I have been practicing gratitude more than usual this week, not less.   To do this, I have been using one of the variations on the ancient prayer of Examen:

1. I ask God to shine his light on the day just past 

2. I replay the day, asking God to bring to my mind the things I have been grateful for.

3. I review the feelings that surfaced in the replay of the day, both positive and negative.

4. I choose one of those feelings (positive or negative) and pray from it.

5. I look toward tomorrow, asking God for help with whatever I need.

I have been surprised this week that with my usual routine disrupted I have found there are new things to be grateful for.  I’ve learned by reviewing (in God’s presence) the feelings in my day that I can cope quite well with being out of control.  And that not holding on quite so tightly to my schedule, there is room for new delights and discoveries. 

This week in worship we will continue to practice gratitude.  We will hear again the passage from Luke 17:11-19 in a different translation.  You might want to read it for yourself or pray the Examen in preparation.  I wonder what you might discover?

For more information on the Examen:  Rummaging for God.

Luke 17:11-19 NIVUK

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance  and called out in a loud voice, ‘Jesus, Master, have pity on us!’

When he saw them, he said, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were cleansed.

One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.  He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him – and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?  Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?’ Then he said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.’

I am gradually learning that the call to gratitude asks us to say, “Everything is grace.” Whether there is suffering or joy, I can say, “Yes, I want to live this, and I want to discover in this more fully the gift of life.” - Henri Nouwen

Who Might You Thank Today?

Who benefits when we thank someone?  Is it us, the recipient of our appreciation, or both?

And why is giving thanks a fundamental Christian spiritual practice…one that we practice individually and collectively in worship?  Who benefits?  What happens when we shift focus from worry to God's constant presence and love, even in difficult circumstances?

This Sunday we celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada, and we will read a Jesus story about giving thanks:

Luke 17:11-19  MSG

It happened that as Jesus made his way toward Jerusalem, he crossed over the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him. They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

Taking a good look at them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.”

They went, and while still on their way, became clean. 

One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus’ feet, so grateful. He couldn’t thank him enough—and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus said, “Were not ten healed? Where are the nine?  Can none be found to come back and give glory to God except this outsider?” Then he said to him, “Get up.  On your way. Your faith has healed and saved you.”

Why did Jesus say that the healed Samaritan had faith?  What does it mean to give glory to God?

As you prepare for worship this Sunday, I invite you to show your appreciation to someone in your life who you don't normally thank, like the janitorial staff where you work or a person stocking shelves at a grocery store. Or maybe you remember someone fondly for a difference they made in your life a long time ago.  Can you reach out and say, “Thank you?”

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases

God’s mercies never come to an end

They are new every morning,

new every morning

Great is your faithfulness, O Lord,

great is your faithfulness. 

 

What is Different about this Particular Communion Sunday?

The Last Supper- John August Swanson

This Sunday we celebrate communion, along with thousands of churches around the world.  What is different about this particular Communion Sunday?  The first Sunday of October, each year, is World Communion Sunday.

World Communion Sunday began in 1933 in Pittsburgh, where as a way of unifying the Presbyterian churches in the city, they all celebrated communion on the first Sunday of October.  By 1940 it had spread to include all protestant churches world-wide!  As World War II raged around them, church leaders knew how important it was to unify the Christian church around the world.

The roots of communion are as deep as they are wide.  Paul references “the Lord’s Supper” in his first letter to the Corinthians, and The Acts of the Apostles also references it.  

The last supper, written about in the Gospel of Mark, is like the taproot of our current communion practice.  Even this practice reaches down through the ages - to Exodus, mentioning the Passover:

Mark 14. 12-26  MSG

On the first of the Days of Unleavened Bread, the day they prepare the Passover sacrifice, his disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations so you can eat the Passover meal?”

 He directed two of his disciples, “Go into the city. A man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him. Ask the owner of whichever house  he enters, ‘The Teacher wants to know, Where is my guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ He will show you a spacious second-story room, swept and ready. Prepare for us there.”

The disciples left, came to the city, found everything just as he had told them, and prepared the Passover meal.

After sunset he came with the Twelve. As they were at the supper table eating, Jesus said, “I have something hard but important to say to you: One of you is going to hand me over to the conspirators, one who at this moment is eating with me.”

Stunned, they started asking, one after another, “It isn’t me, is it?”

He said, “It’s one of the Twelve, one who eats with me out of the same bowl.”

In the course of their meal, having taken and blessed the bread, he broke it and gave it to them. Then he said, “Take, this is my body.”

Taking the chalice, he gave it to them, thanking God, and they all drank from it. He said, “This is my blood, God’s new covenant, poured out for many people. I’ll not be drinking wine again until the new day when I drink it in the kingdom of God.”

They sang a hymn and then went directly to Mount Olives.

I invite you to prepare for worship this week by praying for a church somewhere in this broken world.  Wars still rage.  Is the church you choose from your place of birth, from somewhere you lived for awhile, from somewhere in your community, from something you have read in the news?  Or somewhere else entirely?   I’d love to hear which church comes to your mind.

But there’s one other thing I remember,
    and remembering, I keep a grip on hope:

God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out,
    his merciful love couldn’t have dried up.
They’re created new every morning.
    How great your faithfulness!
I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over).
    He’s all I’ve got left.

God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits,
    to the woman who diligently seeks.
It’s a good thing to quietly hope,
    quietly hope for help from God.

• Lamentations 3

What Can the Trinity Teach Us About Power and Loving our Neighbour?

Each week we light three candles that symbolize the Trinity. Rev. Donna often refers to the Trinity as a dance of love. I think of this as a dance where nobody is “leading”, a dance in which all three dancers are equal partners, and nobody is controlling the flow of love. Nobody has power over the other...and love is how the partners know how to move. All three, Yahweh, Yeshua, and Ruach, lead at various times, and always lead in love.

When I read the newspaper, though, I don’t read about a dance of love. And often what we see on social media doesn't seem much like loving our neighbour, does it?

We have a lot to learn from Jesus about the dance of love. Here's what he says in ​our reading for this week (​Luke 10.25-37 MSG translation):

 

Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. “Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?”

He answered, “What’s written in God’s Law?  How do you interpret it?”

He said, “That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself.”

“Good answer!” said Jesus. “Do it and you’ll live.”

Looking for a loophole, he asked, “And just how would you define ‘neighbor’?”

Jesus answered by telling a story.

“There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers.  They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.

“A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him.  He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I’ll pay you on my way back.’

“What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?”

“The one who treated him kindly,” the religion scholar responded.

Jesus said, “Go and do the same.”

We have to arrive at the point, as believers in the Christian faith, that in every human being there is a spark of divinity. Every human personality is something sacred, something special. We don’t have a right, as another person or as a nation, to destroy that spark of divinity, that spark of humanity, that is made and created in the image of God. 

- Congressman John Lewis (1940–2020)

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