Fourth Sunday of Advent (B) 2017

+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.

Text: Luke 1:28
Theme: “The Lord Is With You”

Dear friends in Christ Jesus,

When the angel Gabriel makes an appearance it’s a clear sign that something is brewing. The wheels were set in motion. The routine lives of some ordinary Jews were about to be radically altered. The Jewish nation was about to witness the fulfillment of the prophets’ words. The entire world was about have the divine plan of redemption disclosed to it. For the Jew, the covenant with Abraham was crescendoing to a beautiful climax. As the Spirit said, “He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His offspring forever."1 For the Gentile, it was a preview of the future blessings extended to the entire human race. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.”2

Was Mary happy when she first heard the news? We can’t pretend to understand the sense of perplexity mixed with hope that Mary must have felt when it was announced to her that she would be the mother of God. Joseph probably felt like he was the last to know. The angel told him in a dream, “She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save his people from their sins."3 Wow! How could either one really come to terms with it? Like any normal couple, Mary and Joseph had probably talked about their future plans together. How radically that now changed!

Christmas is always advertised as a time for cheerfulness. But, fleeting, superficial indulgence is not the intent of this Christ Child. People are desperate for happiness. They will take all kinds of shortcuts and risks to find it. They will endanger the present. They will compromise the future. That’s not new news, of course. It is the perennial proclivity of the populous. “They” doesn’t mean anonymous or generic people. It means us. The Spirit never directs preachers to construct paper tigers. Nor is the word of God for academic amusement. Tools that bar the gates of hell and prize open the gates of heaven are not play things for children.

The Scriptures speak to us with all of our warts and failures. God doesn’t address us as ideal subjects able to attain perfection. He knows us too well. He knows the darkness doesn’t vanish from our lives just because it is Christmas. We fall into predictable cycles that sink us deeper into ourselves and pull us further away from God. Selfishness can lead to overindulgence. Overly indulgence can lead to addiction. Addiction can shatter relationships. We are all addicted to sin which is expressed in our desire to preference ourselves above others. If, in our vocations, we are pulling away from those we are called to serve, then we are also pulling away from God. We sin against God when we sin against others. We serve God when we serve others.

We when realise, that our greatest need is met, then we no longer have happiness, we have joy. We no longer just have satisfaction in the moment (God doesn’t begrudge this to us), we have complete contentment regarding eternity. We see things through a different lens, from a different perspective. In retrospect we realize angels have attended to us. We see how God has kept things in motion even when we have slammed on the brakes. We see how God has cushioned our fall when we have dived headlong into disaster. We are still tired of sin, but we have a quiet confidence that it cannot defeat us.

It doesn’t mean at all that we won’t have struggles, hardships, and frustrations. Christmas is not a magical tonic. It doesn’t mean we will be immune to doubt, depression, or disappointment. But it does mean that we learn to not overvalue fleeting things or undervalue spiritual things. “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole and yet forfeits his soul?” Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear? But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”4

The name Jesus means Saviour. God doesn’t forsake the humanity He created. He doesn’t abandon those who turned against His will. Neither does He try to rectify the situation from a distance. Rather, He takes upon Himself our human nature. He unites with His fallen creation. “For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.”5 This one man, Jesus Christ, and Him alone among men, is also the almighty God. He is power, wisdom, glory and strength. He is righteousness, holiness, and majesty. He is humility, gentleness, and compassion. The Christ Child in the manger is the victim of the cross and the conqueror of death. The Scripture says, “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil.”6

The annunciation is not merely historic information. It is an important witness to God’s valuing of life from the time of conception. Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit, a miracle. Still today, every conception is a miracle that requires the power of God. Christmas is a time to reflect on how God cherishes those who are most vulnerable, most fragile, most at risk. Jesus was born into humble circumstances. That was no coincidence. He was sheltered only in a stable. But that’s just what human eyes see. The Most High God cradled Him with divine protection. When we feel most at risk and vulnerable, when our faith is tried and test, the Holy Spirit draws us deeper into the love of the heavenly Father.

After Gabriel explained to Mary in her perplexity that nothing was impossible with God her response was filled with trust. “‘I am the Lord’s servant,’” Mary answered. ‘May it be to me as you have said.’”7 We can do no better this Christmas than to say with Mary, “Let the will of God be done.” He is not a tyrant. He is not aloof. Immanuel means God with us. He is with us as Saviour. He is with us as Servant. He is with us as Shepherd. He is with us this Christmas and for all eternity. Amen.

+ In nomine Jesu +

Fourth Sunday of Advent
24 December 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt

1 Luke 1:54-55 2 Isaiah 9:2
3 Matthew 1:21 4 Matthew 6:31, 33
5 Colossians 2:9 6 Hebrews 2:14
7 Luke 1:38 8 See Isaiah 55:11
9 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24