Luke 1:39-45
December 22, 2024
This past summer athletes from all over the world came to Paris to compete in the Olympics. The competition is intense, athletes make sacrifices and train for years for simply the privilege of competing in the games, and winning a medal involves being completely prepared physically, emotionally, and mentally.
But imagine if the Olympic committee from our country decided every four years to randomly chose one person from the United States to participate in the games. No matter how old or young you are, no matter if you are an athlete or not, one person will be asked to join team USA to compete with athletes from around the world. Now, imagine, if the Olympic committee called you the night before the opening ceremonies and said they have chosen you to participate in the games. So you need to fly to Paris to participate in the 800 meter hurdles and the long jump. So, would you go? Or would you try to get out of it by saying something like, “I have never done hurdles, and you don’t want me to compete in the long jump. Do you know how old I am? I’m not an athlete and I would just look foolish. Plus, I can’t leave tomorrow and fly to Paris. I have to work, I have a family to take care of; why don’t you call someone else.”
Obviously that is not how the Olympics work, but in a sense that is how God works. God picks ordinary people like you and me, and He asks us to do great things for Him. It doesn’t matter how old you are; if you are too busy; or if you are not prepared. There are times when God interrupts what you are doing and says, “I want you to do something great for me.”
This is what happened to Mary, the mother of Jesus. She was an ordinary girl, a sinner like all of us, probably in her middle teens, living in a small town, and was engaged to be married. Then one day God told her through an angel that she was pregnant and would give birth to the Savior of the world. This had to be a huge shock to Mary and I’m sure she wondered, “Why me?” It also had to be very difficult for her as she was engaged, but had never been with a man in such a way to be pregnant. How would she explain this to her family? Would they believe her that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit? Would you believe your child if they told you such a thing? What would others think of her pregnancy without being married? Mary knew that people would probably look down on her and talk about her behind her back, so she decided to go and see her cousin, Elizabeth, to sort through why God had chosen her to give birth to the Savior of the world, and to celebrate the news of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. Elizabeth then confirmed Mary’s pregnancy as we are told in verse 41 that “When Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb.” That baby inside of Elizabeth would be John the Baptist and he leaped when he heard Mary’s greeting – which was the voice of God’s joyful promise that a Savior was coming to the world.
What God did to Mary is similar to what God sometimes does to us. Sometimes God interrupts your life and says to you, “You are the one I have chosen to do something big,” and you might wonder, “Why me?” Maybe God has given you the challenge of taking care of an aging parent or loving difficult relatives, or being the strong one in the family. When that happens how do you respond? Do you complain? Do you try to resist God’s plan for your life? Or do you respond like Mary?
Upon hearing this unbelievable news, Mary is amazed and she responds with a humble faith. In the verses following our Gospel lesson, Mary says, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.” Mary was stunned, but honored God had chosen her and she is filled with wonder.
What would it take for us to be amazed and filled with wonder today? It’s a little harder to be amazed or surprised in our world of technology and advancement, isn’t it? We have been to the moon, the bottom of oceans, cured diseases, and we can talk to people around the world on hand held devices – all of which I think make it difficult to get excited about the many miracles that take place daily among us. Millions of dollars have been spent this year on Christmas trees, lights, and decorations. In fact, many people have paid more for Christmas presents and parties than they have given to God for His incredible gift of His Son, Jesus. Many homes look beautiful and impressive with their decorations, but that doesn’t mean they are filled with wonder and awe at the mystery of this child that Mary will bear.
Jesus gathers us together today and it’s like He is saying to us, “Do you see what I see? Do you hear what I hear? There’s no question that people around you and throughout the nation know it’s Christmas. Your magazines, TV, and social media ads are packed with Santas and sales. But who can tell from these pages and pictures that this is the week we remember the words of the angel: ‘Unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord?’” People know it’s Christmas, but many of the TV shows which bear the word, “Christmas” in their title do not reveal the significance of this day nor its blessing for all of humanity. As a result, too many people are entering this week completely ignorant of God’s love. Either they never knew or they have forgotten the awe and wonder of this season, that God came to this world as one of us.
What do you want for Christmas this year? Do you want love? Well, everyone wants to be loved. Unfortunately our best friends drift away. Parents pass away. People we thought we could trust betray us. So if you want love, then look in the manger and see God’s love. His is a love that sacrifices. It is a love that gives its best. It is a love that cannot be turned away by something you do wrong. It is not destroyed because we are less than perfect. In fact, God came to Mary, not because she was perfect, but purely out of his grace and love for her. God did great things for Mary, and God also does great things for all of us. Instead of condemning us for our sins, God has mercy on us by sending His Son, Jesus, who takes our sins away.
What else do you want for Christmas? Security? We all want security. Just look at life. Think of the things on your car that break just after the warranty expires. Look at our “smart” appliances and how they do not last like the old ones. Look at people who once promised each other to be together “in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, as long as we both shall live” who are no longer married. If you want security, then look in the manger. Jesus had a secure position in heaven that He gave up to be your Savior, so that all who follow Him might be secure.
What do you really want? Do you want to feel important? Jesus thought so much of you that He was willing to die so you could live. Do you want a life that is fulfilling? Jesus came so that people could have life and have it abundantly. Look into the manger this Christmas and see all that is good and pure and fine. Look into the manger and find hope and happiness. Look into the manger and see the Son of God born for sinners. This, Mary knew, was good news of great joy, it was something worth singing about as Mary realized that God was turning her into a person that she had never planned to be, someone that all generations could call “blessed.” And if you were to ask Mary if she would change anything, I’m sure she would say “no.” God turned her life upside down. He asked this teenage girl from a small town to do something big. But God also gave her the faith and strength to obey, and filled her with joy, as she carried out God’s plan.
Remember this, when God challenges you, when God turns your life upside down. God loves to ask people to do big things and when He does that to you, remember that He will also give you the faith, courage, and joy, to carry out God’s plan in your life. Ultimately, God is working on you, turning you into a person that maybe you had never planned to be. But that’s how God works. May He bless you, just as he blessed that young, surprised girl Mary, many years ago.
