1st Sunday of Advent

Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 2:1-5
New Testament Lesson: Epistle: Romans 13:11-14
Gospel Lesson: Luke 1:26-38, 2:8-19

My name is Mary. I am in my late teens. I suppose you could best describe me as a common woman. Some would say middle class--but lower middle class at that. My parents are ordinary folks--nothing flashy--nothing wealthy--not important people. Just good--God fearing keepers of the law. They raised us to be decent people. With a respect for others and a love for neighbors. We believe in God's covenant and promises and try to keep the laws of the Torah. We are happy people. I am looking forward to my new life. I am engaged to Joseph. Arranged by my parents, but I could do far worse. From what I know Joseph has been training to be a builder--an independent contractor at that. On top of it with that wavy dark hair he's even cute. Good husband potential. We do enjoy each other--we will have a good marriage.

***

Mary. Yes, its still my name. A simple girl with a simple life in a simple home, loving God and neighbor---simple enough. Well, at least I thought so. Simple enough until the other day. There I was, minding my own business doing what mother had asked me to do. Everything was quiet and peaceful--I was alone with my thoughts and daydreams. But all of a sudden and out of the blue---right there in the middle of the day---there he was. Pinch me--but I was not dreaming. There he was and he introduced himself to me as Gabriel. And although I had never seen one before, I knew that somehow and someway this was some sort of a Godly representation. I didn't really know what to expect next. I blinked my eyes and he was still there. Then he spoke, "Greetings, favored one. The Lord is with You."

Hmm. It seemed so odd. What for a greeting was this. Favored one---he called me favored one. What does that mean? The Lord is with You. Okay. Yes, I do believe that. Why was he telling me this. I started to shake. What did he all know about me, and how did he find all this out. Had I done something wrong? Was God in some way angry with me? What was the deal. Then he said, "Do not be afraid. You have found favor with God." And while I can't imagine it now, for some reason I was able to not be afraid. I was able, in the moment, to let go of my fears and trust in God's revelation. That is an important aspect of faith---letting go of your fears long enough to trust in God's revelation to you. Letting go of your fears long enough to try and hear God's Word coming to you --even in ways that you would never expect. God's Word came to me, "You will conceive and bear a Son and you will name him Jesus. He will be great; he will be the Son of the Most High. There will be no end to his kingdom." I was filled with so many questions, How could this be? It was not physically possible for me to be pregnant.

The voice, it said, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the most High will overshadow you. He will be called Son of God." In that instant. I pondered. I wondered. I doubted. I feared. I questioned. In that instant. I also accepted. I welcomed. I invited. I trusted. I hoped. I expected. I said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your Word." Had you quizzed me about the moment, or had you told me all this was going to happen there is no way I would have ever believed you. But it did happen. Even now---only days since my visit with the heavenly messenger--I could doubt it. And I do. But I also expect it to happen. I expect that I am pregnant. I can't explain it. I can't even understand it. But I expect its true. I hope. And I accept this---by God's grace. My faith in God teaches me about expectations. We expect so much in life. We expect everything to go our way. A perfect life with everything arranged according to plan.

I guess that is what I expected. But that is not the way it works. You have to take what happens in life and deal with it. The way you deal with it is to accept it by God's grace, and accept the help that the Holy Spirit will offer. This whole pregnancy issue---it won't be easy for us to explain--but nonetheless I have the expectation that God will work it out and work it through in my life. I will serve the Lord. I expect to do as the Lord wants.

***

Here I am. Me, Mary. I am exhausted. Nine long months of waiting for this night. And now its come. Not in the comforts of home. But here in Bethlehem. Here in a stable. A manger. But he looks healthy. My Son. We have named him---Jesus. Jesus. Oh, you tiny little baby. So peaceful. So beautiful. So humble there on the hay. I remember the Words, "He will be great; the Son of the Most High. There will be no end to his kingdom. The child will be called the Son of God."

I trust that. But you are my little one. Part of me. Bone of my bone. Flesh of my flesh. You are my baby---now and forever---my sweet little one. I don't know what comes tomorrow---I don't know what you will become. I know the words of the messenger. But all I know is I love you. I am your Mom. I trust in God's wisdom. Like I say, I don't know what tomorrow brings--but I trust in God's wisdom for that. I am ready to love you; ready to do for you all that a mother will. When you feel joy--I will feel it. When you feel pain--I will feel it. We are on a life long journey together. You and I. My Son, I am your Mom. Shepherds here. Strangers. People we don't know. They say they have come to see you. They say the angels sent them. Ten months ago, I would not have believed them. But I have come to expect the unexpected. The Holy Spirit has helped me to hope in that which I have not logical explanation. Faith Mary, faith. They say they have come to praise you. To PRAISE you. To praise YOU. My Son.

They said the angels said that you were born the Savior. The Savior. I know the promises of the prophets. You? YOU? You the Messiah? "My soul magnifies the Lord. My Spirit rejoices in God." I wait in eager expectation for what will happen. Tonight you are born. My Son. My little one. Tomorrow. The next day. The next years. I don't know what's coming next. I don't know. But I hope---I expect God will guide me. I want you to learn that. I want you to learn that early on in your life. My little one. Expect the unexpected. Life won't go according to your plan. Expect the unexpected to happen. Who would ever have expected shepherds in the night coming here to a manger to proclaim you Savior and praise your name. Jesus. Yes, Expect the unexpected. But do in the hope that God is there.

Yes God is there. In all your questioning. In all your not understanding. In all your doing. God is there. God is your hope. Lean on God. One day, one day words will be written in a letter called First Thessalonians, and those words will encourage that we "strengthen our hearts in holiness." Ah, we do that, we do that by leaning on God. God is our hope. In God I hope. I trust. I am Mary, your Mother, and I hope. I trust. That you will hope and trust in God.

***

Amen.