Christmas 1 - Holy Cross Slapton - 30 December 2018

Reading 1 Samuel 2

¹⁸ But Samuel was ministering before the Lord—a boy wearing a linen ephod. ¹⁹ Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. ²⁰ Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to the Lord.” Then they would go home.

²⁶ And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favour with the Lord and with people.

Reading Colossians 3

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia.

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory.

All   Alleluia.

Gospel Luke 2: 41 - end

The boy Jesus at the temple

⁴¹ Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. ⁴² When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. ⁴³ After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. ⁴⁴ Thinking he was in their company, they travelled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. ⁴⁵ When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. ⁴⁶ After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸ When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.’

⁴⁹ ‘Why were you searching for me?’ he asked. ‘Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?’ ⁵⁰ But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

⁵¹ Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. ⁵² And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Sermon

1. One of great Christmas readings—Hebrews chapter 1
God’s final word: his Son
1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. ³ The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

2. Today similar reading—Colossians 3—contrast doctrine of Hebrews 1 about nature of Christ—with ethics of Colossians—how we should behave.

3. Budgens—orderly queue at one basket till—member of staff opened up check out. Woman at back of queue dived in—unloaded shopping onto belt. Loud argument from woman in middle of basket queue—reply from woman’s daughter—can’t you see she’s 81 and in poor health? Argument raged on until both had left store.

4. No sign of forbearance—embarrassing to staff and customers—probably still seething throughout the day and beyond—affront to her dignity as a person—should have asked individual in front of her in queue to be served first before jumping in.

5. What conclusion can we draw about two protagonists—woman and her mother who jumped the queue—and woman who felt affronted because she had been waiting longest? Can we judge their personalities from the way they behaved? What about Vicky and me—kept our heads down—avoided confrontation—would have behaved like a doormat to avoid unpleasantness?

6. As I was thinking about today’s sermon—confrontation led me to reflect on how we should behave towards one another.

7. It seems that Christians are to ‘put on’ certain characteristics so that they live these qualities—they do not merely ‘have’ them. They are not just traits, but actions which define Christian living. As Christ lived, so Christians are to live.

8. If this is so—the difference should be obvious in the way we behave. Justification should not be by faith alone—but by works and faith combined—one leads to the other—both are intertwined.

9. Five virtues— compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience—are actually attributes of God in Christ—we are not commanded to show them as desirable in themselves—the ethical way to behave—but because we are to copy Christ himself.

10. These ‘virtues’ describe the character of active Christian living—as God’s chosen people who are called out of the ordinary realm of human existence to be especially dedicated to God because God loves them. The Christian community lives as it embodies the very gospel by which it was called—and that is what it now proclaims.

11. The rationale of all this—is not just that we follow Christ—but as the passage says: Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

12. This gospel reading is addressed to the Christian community as a whole—the word ‘you’ is consistently in the plural form—the gospel is personal but certainly not private.

13. Over all these virtues—we are to put on love and peace— Άγάπη—that characteristically self-denying form of Christian love. The kind that would help an 81 year old woman in poor health to unload her shopping—the kind that would sing to God with gratitude in their hearts—the kind that would not hold back from admonishing wrongdoing but teach and encourage others—the kind that continually gives thanks to God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen—Come Lord Jesus.

Advent 4 – 23 December 2018 – Wingrave Methodists

Collect

God our redeemer, who prepared the Blessed Virgin Mary to be the mother of your Son: grant that, as she looked for his coming as our saviour, so we may be ready to greet him when he comes again as our judge; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

(or)

Eternal God, as Mary waited for the birth of your Son, so we wait for his coming in glory; bring us through the birth pangs of this present age to see, with her, our great salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Reading—Micah 5: 2 – 5a

² ‘But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
    one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
    from ancient times.’

³ Therefore Israel will be abandoned
    until the time when she who is in labour bears a son,
and the rest of his brothers return
    to join the Israelites.

⁴ He will stand and shepherd his flock
    in the strength of the Lord,
    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
    will reach to the ends of the earth.

⁵ And he will be our peace

Reading Hebrews 10: 5 - 10

⁵ Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:

‘Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
    but a body you prepared for me;
⁶ with burnt offerings and sin offerings
    you were not pleased.
⁷ Then I said, “Here I am – it is written about me in the scroll –
    I have come to do your will, my God.”’

⁸ First he said, ‘Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them’– though they were offered in accordance with the law. ⁹ Then he said, ‘Here I am, I have come to do your will.’ He sets aside the first to establish the second. ¹⁰ And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hymn 2

· xxx

Gospel Luke 1: 39 - 55

Mary visits Elizabeth

³⁹ At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, ⁴⁰ where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² In a loud voice she exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! ⁴³ But why am I so favoured, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfil his promises to her!’

⁴⁶ And Mary said:

‘My soul glorifies the Lord
⁴⁷     and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
⁴⁸ for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
⁴⁹     for the Mighty One has done great things for me –
    holy is his name.
⁵⁰ His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things
    but has sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful
⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants for ever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.’

Sermon

Sang Magnificat every Sunday—know little about it—sung by Mary who prepares to visit Elizabeth her relative or kinswoman.

Zechariah is country priest—not rich or distinguished—belonged to priestly division of Abijah. Elizabeth his wife—both elderly and unable to have children. Shame and disgrace—judgement of God added to her sorrow at being unable to conceive.

Zechariah on duty in Temple—vision of angel announcing Elizabeth will conceive—baby will ne a delight and joy—name him John—John Baptist will be ‘great in sight of the Lord.’ John will announce coming of the Lord—forerunner

Zechariah struck dumb following vision of angel Gabriel until he had named his son.

After his tour of duty as priest—Zechariah returned home—Elizabeth became pregnant—remained in seclusion for 5 months—God has taken away my disgrace she says.

Gabriel had busy time—sent by God to Mary—betrothed to Joseph—addressed her as highly favoured by the Lord who is with her. Not sure this greeting would prove accurate.

After the annunciation—Mary indicated her acceptance of what the angel announced—“May it be to me as you have said. We may only wonder and reflect on what would have happened had Mary declined—how many other young women had been asked?

Mary had her share of disgrace—very young woman—did not count in society—given in marriage as a possession and had no say in her future. Worse, pregnant and unmarried—her family shamed and disgraced—Joseph thought about breaking off the betrothal and walking away from the transaction quietly as a kindness to her.

In our terms—Mary far from blessed—this may have been reason why she travelled to visit her kinswoman Elizabeth—whose disgrace had been mitigated by her pregnancy.

Mary could not have known what the future might bring—sadness turned to joy then catastrophe. We sang Simeon’s song Nunc Dimittis alongside Magnificat every evening—but did not include the prophecy that followed:

³³ The child’s father and mother marvelled at what was said about him. ³⁴ Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, ³⁵ so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.’ Luke 2

This is background to Mary’s Song—Zechariah’s Song follows it—Simeon’s Song is in next chapter.

Songs important in Scripture—over 200 in all—of which 150 are Psalms. Songs stir us and unite—songs can be laments or triumph—pleas to God for justice—calming songs like David sung to King Saul—many others.

Why did Mary choose to sing? What was she actually saying? Her song harks back to Hannah’s—mother of prophet Samuel:

Hannah's Song, 1 Samuel 2:1-10
Hannah prayed and said,
"My heart exults in the LORD; my strength is exalted in my God. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in my victory.

Both Hannah and Mary rejoice in their God—and take heart in the promises given them by God—that He considers, cares for, and does great things on behalf of the lowly, not just those who are mighty and powerful

Both identify that what God is doing for them, he is also doing for all people.

Both Hannah and Mary sing a song that can be, or should be, our song in this Advent season. As we have prepared for the coming of the Christ Child, we too can sing in thanksgiving, in celebration, in remembrance, and in proclamation of the promise made to our ancestors.

Like Hannah, and Mary, and Elizabeth too, this is the time for us to indulge in celebratory joy in the promises that come to us in Jesus. Let us raise our voices, like Mary in a great cry, magnifying our God.

Amen