Fourth Sunday of Advent, 12/21/2014

Sermon on Luke 1:26-38, by Bradley Everett

"Greetings favoured one! The Lord is with you.... Do not be afraid...you have found favour with God."

These first words of the angel Gabriel to the blessed virgin Mary, are familiar to us, but perhaps so much so that, because we know they are there, our eyes and even our ears skip over them and so we fail to truly see or hear this message of hope and blessing.

Which is unfortunate because these words, while first spoken to Mary in Nazareth are the same ones our Lord speaks to each one of us today. Granted, the angel Gabriel speaking these words to the blessed virgin was a much grander and more awe inspiring messenger than what you have before you today-me reading from the pages of Holy Scripture while many of you follow along in the service bulletin. And the fact that Mary was hearing these words for the first time may have had a greater initial impact than you hearing them for the umpteenth time.

But make no mistake, neither the form, nor familiarity, in any way diminishes the truth and power of these words for us gathered here today.

Each of us here today is favoured by God. It was because of the Father's abiding and steadfast love for you that he sent His Son Jesus, to be born of the virgin Mary that we might be saved from the bonds of sin and death.

The Lord also is with us here today. He is here as He promised to be wherever two or three are gathered in His name (Matt 18.20). He is with us, giving himself, His body and blood, to each one in the bread and wine of Holy Communion. His presence as real as the person sitting next to you-perhaps even more so as it is the presence of one risen and ascended, who has conquered death.

And as we have a Saviour who loves us deeply and dearly, one who by his own life, death, resurrection and ascension has forever liberated us from the power of sin and bondage of death, we have nothing to fear. The perfect love of God for us, embodied by our Lord Jesus Christ, doesn't just free us from fear, but as 1 John says, this love of God actively works to drives out fear as we are perfected by His love (1 John 4.18).

Of course when it comes to the matter of fear, there is no shortage of things that can tempt us to doubt or despair of God's love. A quick scan of the daily news with its stories of violence at home and abroad, death dealing fanatics, economic crises, social and societal upheaval, to say nothing of the anxieties and angst of a more personal nature which plague our thoughts, all can conspire to give us the illusion that we might somehow have more to be fearful of than Mary did. But to think that way is to miss the point of the message-there is simply nothing so horrifying or terrifying that can overwhelm God's love. It really doesn't matter which we would judge to be a scarier time and place-1 C Nazareth or 21 C Calgary-because the perfect and steadfast love of God is infinitely greater than any of it.

Likewise, to spend any time contemplating whether the blessed virgin's personal and existential angst was any greater or lesser than our own misses the fact that none of it is greater than the love of God.

Perhaps part of the preparation of this season of Advent is for the truth of this message to grow deep and firmly take root in our hearts and minds and lives. No matter what trials or tribulations befall us none of it is greater, stronger or more enduring than the love of God for us, in Christ Jesus. You are favoured of God. The Lord is with you. Do not be afraid...you have found favour with God. These are not seasonal sentimentalities. They are the very Word, the very truth of God to, for and about you.

Holy Scripture describes for us how God's Word formed and shaped Mary's life as she spoke her response of trust and faith "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word". May each one of us, by the power of the Holy Spirit respond likewise-entrusting our lives to God that we might continue to live in His love and grace holding fast to the promises He has made in Christ.

Bradley Everett

E-Mail: everettsts@gmail.com

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