Scriptures: Luke 1:26-38; Romans 15:12-13; Proverbs 13:12; Colossians 1:27
Luke 1.26-38 (The Vine UMC—Advent Series, Sunday 1: Hope in the Time of Despair)
Why Mary? Is what we say. Why this Jewish girl? In this little village of Nazareth? In this little country of Judah? Why her? Which is EXACTLY what she was thinking!
Why me? “ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.” And then “How can this be?”
And even after her child was born, and shepherd’s came rejoicing, telling about the angels, Mary was still thinking, why me? “But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.”
Why Mary? Why Joseph? Nothing about their journey was easy. Both had to trust. They had to trust these messengers from God. They had to trust each other. They had to trust God. But it was not that easy. They had their parents and brothers and sisters to deal with. They had religious leaders to deal with.
The journey to Bethlehem was not easy. 9- or 10-days travel from Mary’s home, and she was 9 months pregnant. Did she get to ride a donkey? Maybe. But there is actually no mention of a donkey in the scriptures. But even if, it would not be easy.
It was most likely not a room at an INN that was not available, but the guest room at Joseph’s parents’ house that was not available when they arrived and started labor. Joseph was from Bethlehem (his hometown, which is why he had to travel there for the Roman census). And so, it was probably the family stables that were fixed up for the birth. To quote Adam Hamilton: “between contractions, Mary must have been forcing back the tears. This was not how it was suppose to be – giving birth in her in-law’s barn. . . We sing ‘All is calm, all is bright, round yon Virgin, mother and child. Holy infant, so tender and mild,’ but it was NOT like that. It was disappointing and depressing and hard. Life can be that way. And the long-awaited Messiah’s birth came in the midst of the messiness and disappointment and pain. He was born, not at home, not even in a guest room, but in a stable, among the animals, with a feeding trough for his first bed.”
But, even in the midst of these hardships, God was working to redeem the world. (Pause) God forces every circumstance to serve his purpose. (Pause) I do not think God brings hardship, but that God uses all circumstances, draws it all into his redeeming plan. This was not the journey that Mary and Joseph wanted to take. This was not the way either of them wanted this to be. But it IS what God used to bring his redeeming work into motion.
God redeems. God redeems that difficult, and perhaps dangerous journey, of a pregnant woman and anxious father. They were powerless to refuse the edicts of a violent government that needed a census so it could raise taxes for its militarily controlled empire. But God redeemed this journey for his purposes.
Why me? Is what Mary must have been thinking. And it is often what we think as well. Why me? Why did my dad have to die so young? Why me? Why did I have to loss that job? Why me?
We will all have to take journeys we do not want to take. Lay-off, or the closing of a factory. Why me? Battling cancer, as millions have, or are. Why me? The loss of a child. Why me? (Pause)
Life will have its disappointment, is discouragements, its overwhelming sorrow and pain. But there is good news, as there was for Mary and Joseph: God not only walks with us in difficult times, but God also redeems them. Brings them in line with his plan for redeeming all and everything. This is our hope. And our hope is rooted in this baby born into a difficult situation, with parents that wondered ‘why’, and couldn’t even find a ‘good room’ for the child to be born!
Romans 15: 12-13 reads, “ ‘The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.’ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in him by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
God is with us. God is greater. And we are invited to HOPE!
I invite each of us in the season of Advent to be open and receptive to the good news of salvation that Jesus brings, and will keep bringing in ever greater measure. It’s a simple invitation, yet not an easy one!
God is with us. God is greater. And we are invited to HOPE! Hoping seems to have a tension in our world right now – a tension familiar to Joseph and Mary, and to, believers in every age. God was with them. He showed up in their lives, multiple times – usually in unexpected ways, even though they were looking for him.
These days the invitation to hope is especially crucial. So many are feeling afraid or discouraged by the seeming strength of evil. Division, hatred for the other, and lack of empathy are toxic currents in our culture. Our social media culture is tirelessly stealing away our rest and sweeping us along, enticing us to keep moving and keep distracting ourselves. Now, more than ever, there is the invitation to allow God to be with us. We can remember the ways he has already shown up, be open to the surprising ways that he is showing up even now and expect him to increase and expand his blessings upon us in the days ahead. To truly hear the invitation of Paul in this season, and throughout our lives, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Commenti