December 22, 2002
A sermon by Rev. Dr. John K. Luoma
Christmas is only a couple of days away! How can we prepare ourselves to receive the magnificent message of Christmas? We know what doesn’t work and what can block us from receiving the magnificent message of Christmas. We’ve heard about it in our skits: stuff, stuff, stuff, rush, rush, rush! So, how do we prepare to receive the message? One way is to look at Mary. She was the first one to receive the Christmas message. How did she prepare? We can find out by looking at the Gospel of Luke. Luke has more to say about Mary than any other Gospel writer. Luke says that she is the first believer in what God would do in Jesus. She is a model for all of us.
So, how did Mary prepare to receive the message of Christmas? 1. First of all, she is thoughtful. She pondered the message of the angel. When Jesus was born, she pondered all the events she saw and heard. In these days before Christmas are we spending any time pondering what the coming of Christ means for us? What are the implications of a Savior having been born for us? Reflecting on the Christmas message, Martin Luther says that it really makes no difference that Christ was born, if he is not born in our hearts. In these days before Christmas will you spend any time pondering the meaning of the Christmas message for you?
2. Second, Luke tells us that Mary was obedient. Here is her response to the Christmas message: “Here am I, Lord. Let it be with me according to your word.” I find those to be some of the dearest words in scripture. In what ways could we show our obedience to Jesus in these days before Christmas? What would be something Jesus would want me to do in these days before Christmas?
3. Third, Luke pictures Mary as believing. Later in the story, when Mary goes to visit her relative Elizabeth, Elizabeth says of her, “Blessed is she who has believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” After the angel spoke to her, Mary could have ignored the angel. She could have disregarded the message and kept her head down until the angel left. She didn’t. She believed that God could accomplish what God promised. As we approach Christmas, are we focusing on the cynicism of a world that says people can’t change and that there is no hope or are we focusing on the Christmas message that says that God is at work and that things can change?
4. Fourth, Luke says that Mary was worshipful. Mary says, “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” How about us? Will Christmas be worshipful? Will we do the one thing necessary this week -- worship? Or will Christmas have some other center for us -- food, drink, gifts, family? All of these are good things, but they are not the reason for the season.
5. Fifth, Luke says that Mary was devoted. She did what the Lord directed as regards her child. She had him circumcised, and she went to Jerusalem and presented him to the Lord at the Temple. In relation to her care of Jesus, Luke says that she “performed everything according to the law of the Lord.” How dutiful are we in relation to our faith? Have our kids been baptized? Confirmed? Are they in Sunday School? Worship? Will they be at Christmas worship or will other things push Jesus out of the way?
All of these are excellent ways to prepare for the magnificent message of Christmas. And our Making Christmas Meaningful series adds one more, and this is certainly consistent with the life of Mary. It says: Quiet Your Heart for the Magnificent Message. So, if we follow Mary in no other way, here is one way we should follow her: In these next two days we should find a way to quiet our hearts.
Someone has said that “solitude is the ante-chamber of God; only one step more and you will be in God’s immediate presence.” Well, the language may be a little archaic, but we get the point. An ante-chamber is a small room that leads into the larger or main room. So, the writer is saying that if we will take the time to enter into the small room of silence, that will eventually usher us into the presence of God.
Now, this may not be the optimal time to do this, but I would like to lead you through a period of silence and reflection. We will enter this ante-chamber that is the first step to being in the presence of God. Hopefully, this will be an encouragement for you to find time for silence and reflection before Christmas so that you are prepared to receive the magnificent message. Listen carefully to my instructions and be patient. We will observe periods of silence of about 20 to 30 seconds. That will seem like a long time for some of us. Please endure.
Please close your eyes, take a deep breath, relax and just spend a few moments focusing on your breathing.
20 seconds of silence.
The Psalmist says that we should be still and know that God is God (Ps. 46:10). God is capable of dealing with the stresses we desire to give to him. When God does so, it is proper to praise him. So, think about the quality of God’s character you find most amazing and thank him for that.
20 seconds of silence.
What is the message that God has for you? Now that you have spent some time talking in your heart to the Holy Spirit, let’s allow God to prompt us with the message of love that the Spirit eloquently communicated that first Christmas through Jesus: I am with you. I am for you. I have come to help you.
30 seconds of silence.
In quietness and trust is our strength, Lord. In the depths of our heart, we listen to your strong, loving voice. Now, send us out into the world, in the hope that comes from quiet obedience, ready to articulate the message of love, forgiveness and hope that you give us in Jesus. Amen.
copyright 2001 by Rev. Dr. John K. Luoma