Sermon 12-11-2011  

Isaiah 7:14 & 49:11-13                                               Luke 1:26-38 and 46-55

“Mary’s Joy”

How long has it been since you’ve been speechlessly surprised?

PRAYER

“When the angel announced to Mary that she would bear the Christ Child, she was told that her kinswoman Elizabeth, barren and advanced in years, was now in her sixth month of pregnancy (1:36). So Mary went to the hill country of Judea to the home of Elizabeth and Zechariah, and after greetings were exchanged, Mary burst into song.

It is important to first of all note that the song is Mary’s not Elizabeth’s, as one would expect. The Magnificat is based largely on the song of Hannah in 1 Samuel 2… Hannah distressed that she was barren, tarried in the temple after a festival, weeping and praying for a child. The priest Eli, initially thought she was drunk. She made known her prayer, promising that if God gave her a son she would give the child to God. Her prayer was answered and she named the child Samuel. When she brought the child to the temple as a gift to God, she sang a Magnificat. The story so parallels that of Elizabeth and Zechariah that one would expect Elizabeth to sing as Hannah had done. Both women were older; Hannah was assured of a child while she was at the temple as was Zechariah; both had sons, Samuel in the one case and John in the other, were given to God under special vows, as they lived set apart for God. A few later manuscripts are so focused on the similarities between the two families that they have replaced Mary’s name with Elizabeth as in Luke 1:46. (In the biblical tradition, it was not common or fitting) for a young virgin girl to sing Hannah’s song.  The tradition of God granting a son to elderly childless couples is well established: Abraham and Sarah, were given Isaac,… and here Elkanah and Hannah, were gifted with Samuel. In the tradition of God blessing the barren, John now comes, and to that history he belongs. But when the tradition is interrupted, the old is new and the familiar is strange. God is doing a new thing!

Had Elizabeth sung Hannah’s song, it would have been said that God continues to be gracious to the barren, as of old. But when the Virgin Mary sings, it must be said that God’s grace is not as of old, but new and strange and surprising and beyond understanding. This child will not be as Isaac or Samuel or John, but will be the Son of God.” (Fred B. Craddock, John H. Hayes and Carl R. Holladay. Preaching the New Common Lectionary, Year B, Advent, Christmas, Epiphany. Abingdon Press, Nashville, TN. 1987), pg. 35-36

        What happens before the song? “The annunciation, yes that shocking moment, that took Mary’s breath away when the angel of the Lord, Gabriel appeared to her with his proclamation. Mary’s response in that text is muted, as we find her nearly speechless by the power of the angel’s words.

        At some point, Mary, just has to say something! Wouldn’t you? And so when Mary does find her voice, the words gush forth in a torrent of wonder and praise… the venting of her most deeply held emotions.”

(Brueggemann, Year B, p. 35-36. (paraphared for more drama).

“And Mary said,

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;

he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,

According to the promise he made to our ancestors, Abraham and to his descendants forever.” (Luke 1:46-55)  

“What is the Song of Mary but a song of a futuristic newness and hope for the people of God… Her song opens with joy and praise that God has favored a handmaiden of low estate. But only briefly does she speak of herself. She sees God’s grace and goodness toward her as but a single instance of the way of God in the world. God blesses the poor, oppressed and hungry…(and at the end) God will bring down the proud and rich oppressors and exalt those who have been disfranchised, disregarded, and dismissed. The most remarkable quality of the song is that the justice of God will bring to pass what is spoken of in the past tense: has shown strength, has scattered the proud, has put down the mighty, has exalted the lowly, has filled the hungry, and has sent the rich away empty-handed.” (Fred B. Craddock, John H. Hayes and Carl R. Holladay, ibid, p.36-37)

“The Magnificat is the most revolutionary document in the world.’  

(Hear again,) the three revolutions of God. First, he scatters the proud in the plans of their heart. In Christianity pride is brought down. That is a moral revolution. Secondly, he casts down the mighty – he exalts the humble. Christianity puts an end to the world’s labels and prestige. This is a social revolution. Thirdly, he has filled those who are hungry… those who are rich he has sent away empty. In Christianity we want a society of equality where no one dares to have too much while others have too little, where every person desires to get only to give away. That is an economic revolution.” (Barclay, Luke, 15-16)

“Why the past tense verbs if all these events have not happened yet?

To celebrate the future as a memory, to praise God for having already done what lies before us to do: this is the way of the people of God. Without this song of praise, justice in society become like arrogant projects…”

 (Fred B. Craddock, John H. Hayes and Carl R. Holladay, ibid, p.36-37)

We, as God’s people are called to be the voices of history, taking this revolutionary message of Christ to a world in need of a spiritual revolution that started with Mary’s song and continues with your song and mine. If we are silent…

“Who, then, will remain to say, “My soul magnifies the Lord.”? ” (Ibid.) 

BENEDICTION

Let us sing a new song of hope, peace and joy!

God is doing a new thing! Do you not perceive it!

We are the people of God sharing the light of Christ in the world!

Come Lord Jesus! Come again!  Amen!