December 19, 2004
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Mindekirken, Dec. 19, 2004 God's Surprise Today's text is concerned about the birth of Jesus according to St. Matthew. The story of Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus is a source for meditation and surprise which can never be exhausted. It's really a surprise that God chose to do it that way when he was coming to this world. There are always new aspects that we can see. The story challenges us at different levels. Luke is the evangelist who gives us the most thorough story about the birth of Jesus. He also tells what happened when the angel Gabriel came to Mary to announce that she would be the mother of the savior of the world. Her response is one of the most beautiful texts in the whole Bible. It's called the Magnificat. Mary praises God because he intervenes to save his people. She looks upon herself as the humble servant of the Lord. With words more similar to those of the OT than the NT, she praises God who brings the powerful down from their thrones, and gives the oppressed, poor and hungry their right. Every Sunday, Mindekirken's choir gives us musical interpretations of biblical texts. I have asked the choir members to provide us with verbal interpretations of Mary's praise today. Here are some of the thoughts which have been inspired by these texts: No matter how improbable or unbelievable a situation may seem to us, nothing is impossible to God; a virgin conceiving a child is most likely no "big deal" to the Creator of our universe. Both Mary's cousin Elizabeth and Sarah, wife to Abraham, were well past their child-bearing years when they had their children, John the Baptist and Isaac respectively. Considering the difficulty many couples have conceiving a child, especially past mid-thirties, and even with all the technology these days, Elizabeth's and Sarah's pregnancies are just as miraculous. Contrary to expectations, God sent the Savior into the world as an infant - the child of a poor unmarried teenager. The world expected an adult, some mighty warrior type who would overthrow Roman oppression by vanquishing them with military might. As an adult, Jesus continued to confound his adversaries and the world in general by following the path God set for Him. We don't necessarily need to understand how God does what he does, just believe Jesus died for us. The "natural order" of this world will pass away when Christ returns. Not only will the "lion lie down with the lamb" (etc.), but as the Magnificat indicates "the hungry poor will be filled with good things and the rich will be sent away empty-handed" (I may have paraphrased a little). Those who have plenty and hoard their wealth rather than share their bounty will find themselves on the "other side" of the have/have not equation and will finally learn what it's like to be "on the outside looking in"; kind of like Lazarus and the rich man. Here ends the commentary of one of the choir members. I think it's interesting to hear that Mary's praise is understood as politically relevant today. It's understood as a message about sharing, an ethical challenge which turns out to be an obligation for us today. It's about seeing the weak, the small ones, the ones nobody else pays attention to. God doesn't come as a powerful warrior, but as a small vulnerable child. The commentary we just read mirrors trust in God as creator. Jesus was born by his miraculous intervention. And he will act again and create the perfect harmony where the lion and the lamb will lay side by side. The next commentary by one of the choir members is concerned about Mary who represents all those who don't belong to the establishment. Remember it was considered a shame to be pregnant out of wedlock, as Matthew emphasizes. Who is Mary talking about when she speaks of "the humble and meek"? Herself? Women? Poor people? Maybe she means Joseph-- he must have been pretty humble and meek: what a saint he must have been to be willing to refrain from sexual relations with his wife, and then accept the fact that she was pregnant, by the Holy Spirit, no less! The whole strange story has always been a symbol to me that "family" doesn't have to mean the "traditional family", and that raising children and contributing to the future of the world doesn't have to be limited to heterosexual couples who procreate in the usual way. Now there's a reason for rejoicing--we can all contribute to the future, all of us: male, female, rich, poor, humble, proud, straight, gay, young, old (remember Elizabeth got pregnant, too). All of us: the full variety of humanity, virtuous and sinful. Even all of us here today, equal in the eyes of God, all of us capable of helping to bring the gifts of the spirit into the world. Scary, isn't it. But then one would think that Mary must have been pretty scared, too! The concept of shame in having a child out of wedlock has changed dramatically within the last few years. Most children in Norway today are born out of wedlock. But that doesn't mean they grow up in bad homes. God went outside the traditional nuclear family when Jesus was born. Shame was not the only thing that pursued the holy family. What had happened was even considered sinful. Maybe we should be careful not to judge the lifestyle of other people…and as this commentary focuses: we can learn from Mary how to be used by God. We know that when the angel came and announced that she would become the mother of the savior of the world, she said: Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word. Glory be to God, the father, Son and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. Amen. |
The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church · 924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 · (612)874-0716 |