LET IT BE WITH US, ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD Wednesday before the Fourth Sunday in Advent; Year B! December 14, 2011

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1 LET IT BE WITH US, ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD Wednesday before the Fourth Sunday in Advent; Year B! December 14, 2011 This Sunday s Lessons 2nd Samuel 7:1-11, 16 St. Luke 1:46b-55 or Psalm 89: 1-4, Romans 16:25-27 St. Luke 1:26-38 Pastor David J. Risendal drisendal@stplc.org facebook Dave Risendal Twitter: drisendal Saint Peter Lutheran Church 9300 East Belleview Avenue Greenwood Village, Colorado voice: 303/ fax: 303/ facebook Saint Peter Lutheran Church Prayer of the Day Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. With your abundant grace and might, free us from the sin that would obstruct your mercy, that willingly we may bear your redeeming love to all the world, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. simple peasant girl radical prophet of God mother of our Lord Sermon Grace to you and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Mary, the mother of our Lord, is the focus of this week s lessons. In the Gospel lesson appointed for this Sunday we read about the Annunciation. The angel Gabriel visits the virgin Mary, and makes this announcement: Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. Most Sundays (actually, almost every Sunday) the lectionary appoints a reading from the Book of Psalms. This week, however, a text from St. Luke s Gospel is suggested instead. It is still a poem a song but this one is attributed to Mary, who shares it during her visit to Elizabeth. We call it the Magnificat; named after the first word in the Latin translation of this poem. Mary says, My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

2 Wednesday before the Fourth Sunday in Advent; Cycle B (December 14, 2011)! 2 These texts are quite familiar to us, aren t they? It is redundant to read them this evening, because we sing them every time we gather for Holden Evening Prayer. Our Assisting Minister sings the Annunciation following the sermon, and we respond by singing together the Magnificat. And Mary is quite familiar to us too, isn t she? She is featured in every nativity scene, every Sunday school play, every Christmas worship service, and most of the Christian artwork created for this season. She is dressed in blue, young, pure, humble, gazing in simple adoration at her husband, her strange surroundings, and most importantly, her newborn child. There is a strong theme of serenity in her final response to Gabriel: Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word. What a beautiful set-up to one of the most beautiful stories ever told. But then Mary sets out, and goes with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, to spend some time with her relatives Zechariah and Elizabeth. Arriving there she greets Elizabeth. John, the yet-to-be-born prophet, jumps his very first testimony in Elizabeth s womb. Elizabeth cries out words of blessing. And Mary offers her response. It is a response that doesn t seem as though it could come from the same familiar, young, pure, humble, serene girl. It is a response that seems a better fit for last week s fiery prophet. It is a response that is nothing less than shocking. Mary says Mary sings oh well, sing it with me: How you favor the weak and lowly one, humbling the proud of heart. You have cast the mighty down from their thrones, and uplifted the humble of heart, You have filled the hungry with wondrous things, and left the wealthy no part. 1 Marty Haugen has set these words in such a lovely context, that we can sing it week after week without hearing their radical claim. But they are radical words, and they make us wonder if we really know Mary as well as we imagine. So what do we do with these words? I suppose we could attribute them to youthful naïveté. We could consider Mary to be an idealistic teenager, who still had a lot to learn about the world. But before we are even able to get very far down that road, we end up in the fourth chapter of Luke, where Jesus delivers his first sermon to his home town congregation. He quotes Isaiah and says: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord s favor. [St. Luke 4:18-19] Which brings up the obvious question, right? Are you a Democrat or a Republican? Because our problem today is that so many of us have become so locked into our own partisan political agenda that our only response to a message like this is that half of us say the government ought to do it, and half of us say the government can t do it and while we go on arguing about what the government should or shouldn t do, the proud are still proud, the powerful are still enthroned, the lowly are still low, the hungry are still hungry, and the rich are still filled. So we re stuck where we are. Unless unless we re able to step away from the political bickering for long enough to understand what God is calling us to consider here. We may not all agree what the government s role ought to be, but it seems clear what our role ought to be. We worship the 1! from Magnificat, by Marty Haugen. Holden Evening Prayer (copyright 2011 GIA Publications, Inc.)

3 Wednesday before the Fourth Sunday in Advent; Cycle B (December 14, 2011)! 3 one who declared that his purpose was to bring good news to the poor, and whose mother was glad about the possibility that he would become God s way of filling the hungry with good things. It only makes sense that we would do our best to continue addressing those same concerns that seemed so important to him. Jesus once said that the only way to enter the kingdom of heaven is to do it like a child. Wouldn t it be nice if we could do that in this instance? Maybe instead of trotting out all the over-used political arguments, we could just develop the habit of bringing a bag of groceries to share with Covenant Cupboard every Sunday. Maybe instead of looking for Bible passages that support what we want to believe about the poor, we could just look for the ELCA Good Gifts website and fund a pig, or a mosquito net, or a micro-loan for someone in a developing nation. Maybe instead of worrying how many con artists are mixed in with the truly needy, we could just place one of these hunger banks in the middle of our family table, and drop a coin in for every person who enjoys a meal there. Lifting up the lowly. Filling the hungry with good things. This is what Mary imagined, when she thought of the child who was to be born. I m content to let God worry about which of the powerful should be dethroned, and which of the rich should be sent away empty. But while I wait to see how that turns out, I think I ll see how my family can work a bit harder to lift up the lowly and feed the hungry. Maybe you ll join us. I hope so. Amen. David J. Risendal, Pastor Gospel Lesson; English Text: In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you. 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. 34 Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I am a virgin? 35 The angel said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God. 38 Then Mary said, Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word. Then the angel departed from her. 3 Gospel Lesson; Greek Text: 26 Ἐν δὲ τῳ µηνὶ τῳ ἕκτῳ ἀπεστάλη ὁ ἄγγελος Γαβριὴλ ἀπὸ του θεου εἰς πόλιν τη ς Γαλιλαίας ᾑ ὄνοµα Ναζαρὲθ 27 πρὸς παρθένον ἐµνηστευµένην ἀνδρὶ ᾡ ὄνοµα Ἰωσὴφ ἐξ 2 A list of Bible lessons for the coming weeks is available at 3 St. Luke 1:26-38, New Revised Standard Version Bible ( 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America).

4 Wednesday before the Fourth Sunday in Advent; Cycle B (December 14, 2011)! 4 οἴκου Δαυὶδ καὶ τὸ ὄνοµα τη ς παρθένου Μαριάµ. 28 καὶ εἰσελθὼν πρὸς αὐτὴν εἰ πεν χαι ρε, κεχαριτωµένη, ὁ κύριος µετὰ σου. 29 ἡ δὲ ἐπὶ τῳ λόγῳ διεταράχθη καὶ διελογίζετο ποταπὸς εἴη ὁ ἀσπασµὸς οὑ τος. 30 καὶ εἰ πεν ὁ ἄγγελος αὐτῃ µὴ φοβου, Μαριάµ, εὑ ρες γὰρ χάριν παρὰ τῳ θεῳ. 31 καὶ ἰδοὺ συλλήµψῃ ἐν γαστρὶ καὶ τέξῃ υἱὸν καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνοµα αὐτου Ἰησου ν. 32 οὑ τος ἔσται µέγας καὶ υἱὸς ὑψίστου κληθήσεται καὶ δώσει αὐτῳ κύριος ὁ θεὸς τὸν θρόνον Δαυὶδ του πατρὸς αὐτου, 33 καὶ βασιλεύσει ἐπὶ τὸν οἰ κον Ἰακὼβ εἰς τοὺς αἰω νας καὶ τη ς βασιλείας αὐτου οὐκ ἔσται τέλος. 34 εἰ πεν δὲ Μαριὰµ πρὸς τὸν ἄγγελον πω ς ἔσται του το, ἐπεὶ ἄνδρα οὐ γινώσκω; 35 καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ ἄγγελος εἰ πεν αὐτῃ πνευ µα ἅγιον ἐπελεύσεται ἐπὶ σὲ καὶ δύναµις ὑψίστου ἐπισκιάσει σοι διὸ καὶ τὸ γεννώµενον ἅγιον κληθήσεται υἱὸς θεου. 36 καὶ ἰδοὺ Ἐλισάβετ ἡ συγγενίς σου καὶ αὐτὴ συνείληφεν υἱὸν ἐν γήρει αὐτη ς καὶ οὑ τος µὴν ἕκτος ἐστὶν αὐτῃ τῃ καλουµένῃ στείρᾳ 37 ὅτι οὐκ ἀδυνατήσει παρὰ του θεου πα ν ῥη µα. 38 εἰ πεν δὲ Μαριάµ ἰδοὺ ἡ δούλη κυρίου γένοιτο µοι κατὰ τὸ ῥη µα σου. καὶ ἀπη λθεν ἀπ αὐτη ς ὁ ἄγγελος. 4 Psalm; English Text 1.46 And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked with favor 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 forever. 5 Psalm; Greek Text 1.46 Καὶ εἶπεν Μαριάµ Μεγαλύνει ἡ ψυχή µου τὸν κύριον, 47 καὶ ἠγαλλίασεν τὸ πνεῦµα µου ἐπὶ τῷ θεῷ τῷ σωτῆρι µου, 48 ὅτι ἐπέβλεψεν ἐπὶ τὴν ταπείνωσιν τῆς δούλης αὐτοῦ. ἰδοὺ γὰρ ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν µακαριοῦσιν µεπᾶσαι αἱ γενεαί, 49 ὅτι ἐποίησεν µοι µεγάλα ὁ δυνατός. καὶ ἅγιον τὸ ὄνοµα αὐτοῦ, 50 καὶ τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ εἰς γενεὰς καὶ γενεὰς τοῖς φοβουµένοις αὐτόν. 51 Ἐποίησεν κράτος ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, διεσκόρπισεν ὑπερηφάνους διανοίᾳ καρδίας αὐτῶν 52 καθεῖλεν δυνάστας ἀπὸ θρόνων καὶ ὕψωσεν ταπεινούς, 53 πεινῶντας ἐνέπλησεν ἀγαθῶν καὶ πλουτοῦντας ἐξαπέστειλεν κενούς. 54 ἀντελάβετο Ἰσραὴλ παιδὸς αὐτοῦ, µνησθῆναι ἐλέους, 55 καθὼς ἐλάλησεν πρὸς τοὺς πατέρας ἡµῶν, τῷ Ἀβραὰµ καὶ τῷ σπέρµατι αὐτοῦ εἰςτὸν αἰῶνα. 6 First Lesson 7.1 Now when the king was settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2 the king said to the prophet Nathan, See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent. 3 Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with you. 4 St. Luke 1:26-38, The Greek New Testament, Aland, Kurt, Black, Matthew, Martini, Carlo M., Metzger, Bruce M., and Wikgren, Allen, ( 1983, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart). 5! St. Luke 1:46b-55, New Revised Standard Version Bible ( 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America). 6 St. Luke 1:46b-55, The Greek New Testament, Aland, Kurt, Black, Matthew, Martini, Carlo M., Metzger, Bruce M., and Wikgren, Allen, ( 1983, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart).

5 Wednesday before the Fourth Sunday in Advent; Cycle B (December 14, 2011)! 5 4 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: 5 Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? 6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. 7 Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, Why have you not built me a house of cedar? 8 Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; 9 and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever. 7 7! 2nd Samuel 7:1-11, 16, New Revised Standard Version Bible ( 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America).