Mary is not often the subject of
sermons in Protestant Churches. On the other hand, she is
frequently preached about and talked about in Roman Catholic Churches,
even though we know remarkably little about her.
The writers of the Bible all wrote
their books or letters to a particular people with a particular
message. Unlike a great deal of public opinion, the gospel writers did
not write history in a chronological sense. Let me illustrate.
Matthew is the most Jewish of
the gospel writers. His book is directed to the Jewish believers,
trying to convince them that Jesus is the promised Messiah so long
expected in that religious community. To make his point, Matthew begins his book
with a genealogy. Verse 1 says, The book of the genealogy of Jesus
Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. That places Jesus
squarely alongside the great Jewish Heroes, Abraham, and David. The genealogy begins with Abraham, and
follows an abbreviated family tree to verse 15 which reads, and Elide,
the farther of Eleazar and Eleazar the father of Matthan and Matthan
the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary of whom Jesus was born who is
called Christ. Isn’t it
strange, if Mary was with child by the Holy Spirit, that the genealogy
of Jesus comes through Joseph. For Matthew, it is paramount that he
show Jesus as coming in the line of David. Within the Jewish community,
blood lines and genealogical consistency are crucial matters. It was
even more true then than now.
Matthew spends a lot of time with Mary
going to Elizabeth, another woman who has delivered a miraculous baby,
like Hannah, the mother of Samuel and Sarah, the mother of Isaac of the
old testament. When Mary is convinced that she is a chosen vessel of
God, she sings the Magnificat, which was both, read and sung today by
Carolyn. It is not enough
that the Priest Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth should validate
Jesus. Matthew also has Kings from the East coming to adore this
child; leaders from afar who followed a star. They bring gifts and they
worship this child. This validates Jesus as a known quantity even among
the eastern seers. And the visit of the wisemen appears only in
Matthew’s gospel. Very
little else is known about Mary, other than a few passing comments
similar to any parent, such as, being upset when at the age twelve he
stayed behind in the temple to talk with the religious leaders, and the
concerns about Jesus trial and death.
Mark has a totally different reason to
write, and a very different audience to address. For Mark and his
purpose, the birth story is not important at all. It is not even
mentioned. Mark’s book begins with John the Baptist and the baptism of
Jesus, along with the validation from God at baptism, “this is my
beloved son in whom I am well pleased.” Mark concentrates on the trial and
the crucifixion. One third of the book of Mark deals with the
last week of Jesus life,
Luke’s audience is the humble, the
poor, the downtrodden and the marginalized, particularly women. With
that as his target, it ought not to surprise us that Luke has nothing
to do with ancestry or royalty. He wants the common touch. In Luke’s
gospel, it is the shepherds who come and witness the newborn. A
confirmation of the most lowly of workers in the era. Luke writes to Theophilus. He also
directs his book, The Acts, to Theophilus. Whoever he was, Luke wanted
to impress Theophilus of the love and service of Jesus to those whom
society did not serve. Like Matthew, Luke has Mary going to Elizabeth
for confirmation of her being with child. Luke also has Mary singing
the magnificat, as we heard, but the star doesn’t shine for kings and
eastern seers, it shines for smelly old shepherds, who come into the
city from the fields. Like Matthew, little is said about Mary after the
confirmation of her pregnancy and the birth of Jesus.
John is like Mark. He does not write
about the birth. Instead he launches into his book with a theological
statement about the word becoming flesh and coming to dwell with us.
John ushers us into the baptism story and the ministry of Jesus.
So little is known, yet throughout the
centuries, artists and musicians have created great windows, paintings,
statues, words and music all depicting Mary. Why is she so enduring and
so sought? Is it because
like mothers everywhere, we resonate to the picture of her birthing and
nursing and rearing the chosen one of God? Is it because
subconsciously, we know that Mary instilled much of who Jesus was into
him, just as mothers everywhere instill values into their
children. Or, could it be because Mary was willing to be the
servant of God even though she did not understand what it was going to
entail. No mother rears a child wondering if they will be killed while
still in their thirties.
I am impressed by this young woman, a girl really, who says, “Behold, I
am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your
word.” That’s the key.
If you and I are going to do great
things for God our response has to be, “let it be to me according to
your word.” That’s the pull of Christmas. That’s the greatness of
Mary. Are we willing to answer God that way this
Christmas? Are we willing to be whatever it is that God wants us to be?
Are we willing to set aside the familiar patterns we have come to love
in this Church, if by accepting new ones we can spread the love of God
to people who are not part of our fellowship now? Are we willing to
embrace people who used to come here but have wandered away? Are we
willing to do whatever is required to make Squamish United Church a
great Church in this corridor?
It seems to me that Mary’s song is for
all generations to grasp. How great the impact of the Christian Church
would be if believers attitudes were, “I am the hand servant of the
Lord, let it according to your will.” Mary’s song says to everyone who has
encountered God that God will be with us whatever happens next.
Emmanuel, God with us, is the good news of this season. If God can use an old lady like
Sarah, a despondent woman like Hannah, an elderly couple like Zechariah
and Elizabeth and a young girl like Mary, then God can use you and me. So let your souls magnify the Lord.
Let your spirits rejoice in God. Open your heart to allow God to use
you. Who knows, you too may hear the Angels sing. May it be so.