The Fourth Sunday in Advent, 12/22/2013

Sermon on Matthew 1:18-25, by Amy C. Schifrin

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; 19 and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; 21 she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emman′u-el”(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

All the way through Advent we cry out to God to stir up his power and come, to stir up his might and save us. Then we cry out to him to stir up our hearts to receive him, to stir up our wills to believe him. Stir up we cry out, for our salvation is by his hand.

He who breathes his Spirit and the world is created; He who breathes his Spirit and night is shattered into day; He who breathes his Spirit and the Red Sea parts; He who breathes his Spirit and the prophet speaks his word—the word of him who rules the world in love.

Stir up your power, O Lord and come—and his angels do—one after another, on rocky hillsides, in warriors camps, in deepest dreams. Do not be afraid, they whisper; Do not be afraid, they shout; Do not be afraid, for I am with you.

In times of exile, in times of warfare, in times of personal family crises, God comes and rules our hearts by such a word. And that’s just how it was for Joseph, a righteous man, that is, a who trusted in God’s righteousness, in God’s judgment, in God’s mercy, and in God’s commands. This is a man, who although he first thought his intended wife had been impregnated by another man, did not seek vengeance upon her, nor did he seek to her have disgraced. He did not seek to have her stoned, as was well within his legal right, and thus, put to death. For though he believes that he cannot be with her, he has no desire to hurt her. It is thus, to this man that the angel of the Lord now speaks, and it now this man who believes.

Joseph, Son of David, the angel calls him, Do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

As the psalmist cried, Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved,” so Joseph, a man filled with God’s righteousness hears the response of all the ages, She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. And it is the face of this son who will shine upon Joseph and upon Mary, and upon us all, for it is for all people that the prayer of the Psalmist will be answered, so that we may be saved.

Joseph did as the angel of the Lord commanded him to so. He took Mary as his wife and named the baby, Jesus, which means, he saves, and this Jesus is called for our sake, Emmanuel, for God is with us.

In these final days of Advent time is turned around. We remember who is coming just as we hope to see the One who came. We make our homes ready to receive relatives and friends from afar or we pack our bags and head out to our homelands. In some ways we are like Joseph and Mary on the road, and in others we are like Joseph and Mary as parents with expectant hearts, seeking to welcome the newborn Son of God, whatever our home or stable may be. Like the nesting instinct of a pregnant mother, we seek to make a place for the One to come, and our hearts will be restless until the radiance of that infant face shines upon us. We look down in wonder and thanksgiving, but it is little One who blesses us with his holy presence.

And this little One, this promised Saviour of our God, conceived in Mary’s womb by the breath of God, the power of the Holy Spirit, will bring a healing peace. He will bring an end to fear—even our fears—and will bring to us the completeness we need, so that we may at last trust that our future is in his keeping. He is with us, even unto the end of the age, for in breathing life where none had yet existed, his everlasting promise will shape our eternal hope.

As you prepare for his coming, Do not fear, and do not be distracted by the flurry of activity that clogs the roads and the inns. Just as Caesar Augustus called a census, the gods of every age will call us to stand in their lines. This world will always offer its idols for our consumption, but in their midst God will come as he did to Joseph and Mary, so that as the Saviour of the nations comes, you will be ready to greet him. Amen.

Director-elect, North American Lutheran Seminary, The Rev. Dr. Amy C. Schifrin
Strawberry Point and Monona, IA
E-Mail: amy schifrin

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