St. Thomas’s Episcopal Parish

Newark, DE

Fourth Sunday in Advent – December 18, 2011/Year B

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38

The Reverend Paul W. Gennett, Jr.

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May my words reveal the greater glory of God.

AMEN

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“How can this be …” The words from the Annunciation story today echoed in my office at a church I served early in my ministry. “How can this be …” The voice was also that of a young woman, although not as young as Mary was believed to be at the time of Gabriel’s visitation, but still  in her teenage years. A student at the local university, active in the church and our young adult ministry, full of life, joy, vibrancy, and a growing faith.

“How can this be …” Her wrenching sobs and flowing tears made speaking impossible at first. The cascading pain slowed enough that we could talk, and the story unfolded. It seemed that she was out with friends for an end of semester holiday party a few months earlier. She had a little too much to drink, which fueled amorous feelings toward one of the young men in the group, and then … Now almost eight weeks later she had not had her menstruation cycle. “I think I am a little bit pregnant” she finally whispered, eyes cast down on the floor, tears renewed in their flow. She could not face telling her parents, and thought of no one else she could talk to at this time except me. She had been awarded a full scholarship for her studies that would disappear if she had to leave the university for this! “This cannot be happening to me! “How can this be …”

“How can this be …” is the response we hear from Mary this day, but in a different way than the other young woman. Mary does not bring the wrenching sobs and flood of tears. Mary responds with wonder, humility, and openness to the One that filled her tiny room. Mary was never a little bit pregnant, but through her wonder, her witness, with a slight pregnant pause, Mary asks as well, “How can this be …” and moves to “Let it be …” for the life and salvation of our world.

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Throughout the Season of Advent, we reflect on “the mystery that as kept secret for long ages” as Paul begins from Romans. Advent is the opening of this great mystery based on the promise of God made long ago, made from the beginning of all that is.

The past two Sundays we have focused on the beginning and opening of this great mystery through John the Baptist. As a prophet, John witnessed to the Word since the beginning of all that is, now come into the world we know. Today, Mary receives and absorbs the Word made flesh through the Annunciation.

Luke’s story follows the patterns of announcing stories from the Old Testament, and in many ways parallels the annunciation of the birth of John. However, where his father Zechariah’s response to the angel’s message of the child his long barren wife Elizabeth will conceive is doubt – “How WILL I KNOW that this is so?” [1:18], Mary’s initial question moves to acceptance of this call by God – “… let it be with me according to your word.” While Matthew focuses on the fulfillment of prophecy, Luke focuses on the miraculous power of God through the Holy Spirit that overcomes any human bounds and bonds we may think exist.

What is unknown to us is why Mary would be the recipient of God’s grace in this way – indeed WHY does God choose Mary? Yet again, God calls the least, the last, and the lost ones by human standards to carry out the purposes of the Divine One of love. Mary gives to us this marvelous example of obedience, humility, a servant’s heart, and absolute trust in God! It is through this little known Mary that the salvation of the world is born in Jesus Christ. “How can this be …” moves to “Let it be …”, and this is the gift of Mary to each of us, the Christmas Presence, and the invitation to live our life in obedience, humility, a servant’s heart, and absolute trust in God year after year after year.

So what does Mary teach us yet again as we stand at the doorway to Christmas? For me, there are three teachable moments:

• First, Mary teaches us that no matter who you are, God can use you. When we have an interview for a job, often the question is asked what makes you UNIQUELY qualified for this position. God does not operate in these ways as we see in Mary. God is not as interested in why you are UNIQUELY qualified for serving God in the world. God is not as interested in your ability as your availability. No matter who you are, where you come from, how much you know or do not know, God can use you. The resistance that we raise is do we believe God can use us! Mary’s faithful response invites us to think again.

• Second, Mary teaches us that no matter what problems you face, God is with you. There are some things we just do not want to go through alone, such as Christmas for instance. I rarely find anyone who wants to spend Christmas alone. Similarly when we face problems that life will bring, we do not usually want to go through these difficult times alone either. There is ALWAYS one who is present to us through better and worse, health and sickness, well-being and in need, and that is God and our Lord Jesus Christ. I have no doubt Mary knew exactly what she would face in human terms by opening herself to God,  and Mary said Let it be …”

• Third, Mary teaches us that no matter what the promise, God will provide beyond our imagination and expectation when we believe. There are many birth stories in the Bible that were not quite in the usual way. An angel told Manoah that his barren wife would bear a son whom they would name Samson. Samuel, the final judge, the first prophet, and the anointer of God’s kings, came in answer to the persistent and persevering prayers of his mother Hannah. And we know the earlier story of the birth of John the Baptist.

In each case, even though the messenger’s news was beyond human belief, each one of these our ancestors BELIEVED! Mary did not understand all that was happening, and thankfully did not delve into a theological debate with the angel. Mary said Let it be …”

God can use you … God is with you … God will provide beyond our imagination and expectation when we believe … Mary asks, “How can this be …” and answers  “Let it be to me according to your word” for the life and salvation of our world.

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“How can this be …” A few weeks later, I saw the young woman again, and this time with a much different air about her than our previous meeting. Her menstruation cycle had returned, she was no longer a little bit pregnant. Yet this experience proved to be a seminal point in her young life. She completed her undergraduate studies, and then went on to complete a doctorate  in her field. Today she is a noted professor of theology and spirituality at a major university and seminary, and has authored a number of books on the spiritual life. Guess who her primary focus is for many of her writings? Mary.

Thankfully, for the life of our world, Mary opened her heart, her soul, and all of our being to God. Mary became more than a little bit pregnant, and through her faithful bearing of this holy child, she delivers the Advent mystery into our Christmas history.

Mary said, “How can this be …” and Mary proclaimed “Let it be to me according to your word.”

Mary said YES … and on this doorway to our Christmas remembrance, we are called to do the same!

AMEN