Christmas Eve. 9.30 Eucharist .Welwyn: Principle Text: Luke 1: 39-45: Others: Micah 5: 2-5a and Hebrews 10: 5-10: Colin Hull

Good News for a terrified girl

Preface- Sandra Campion
(Sandra had recently died)

Before I begin I just want to say a few words about Sandra. As a fellow Reader I thought she was one of the best and credit to the office and ministry she exercised.
Her preaching and teaching was always delivered with authority and directness, and often with some dry humour. For that she will be badly missed, as well as her fellowship and friendship within the ministry team. We pray for Lucy and Peter and other members of her family at this difficult time.

Prayer
Lead me Lord and may Your word be found in our hearts and lives.

Introduction: The bad news about Gabriel’s Message

A teenage girl becoming pregnant immediately faces some daunting prospects; When and how can she tell her parents? Will the father of the baby stand by her? In modern day Britain maybe it does not matter so much. Her parents may shout at her but she is unlikely to be in any physical danger.  But we should remember pregnancy outside of marriage is sometimes looked upon much more harshly in some other cultures, and even in the case of rape is not always treated with any sympathy.

There was an item of news recently that the law is being changed in Pakistan.  At the moment under Islamic law if a woman cannot prove with four male witnesses that she was raped she can be stoned to death. A strange stipulation since most rape takes place out of sight of anyone else. Thankfully there are moves to replace this seemingly inhuman situation.

Mary in her time and culture would have faced similar daunting prospects after the visit of the angel Gabriel to inform her she was to be the mother of the Messiah. In the first instance his news was not good for Mary!

Consider this…Not only was she mystified and probably a little over-awed by Gabriel’s visit she was probably terrified out of her life and further thought may have left even more terrified. She is young woman, probably a teenager, betrothed to a man and expected to be virgin on her wedding night. Will her betrothed believe something that is quite frankly an unbelievable story? How is a young woman who is going to be pregnant to explain this? Everyone is likely to demand “who is the father?” Her inability to give a reasonable answer would lead her into more trouble. Under the contract of betrothal Joseph could have had her stoned to death for unfaithfulness.

Something of this danger is portrayed in the recently released film “The Nativity Story”. In this drama Mary does not know Joseph very well. As with many arranged marriages of the time it was possibly a family arrangement rather than a love match. Joseph and she were to some extent strangers and Mary would have no way of knowing what his reaction will be to her strange news. Lets face it “God is making me pregnant” is not going to very believable.

In the film portrayal Joseph has a nightmare about being asked to cast the first stone.  Of course he is the sort of man who will not do this. But Mary does not know this. Mary was potentially at risk of her life. Would Joseph accept her explanation and still go ahead with the marriage? Besides this, was her vision real? It was a strange and overwhelming experience.

Mary has one bit of help in the angel’s message.  Apparently her elder cousin Elizabeth who all her adult life had been childless was also going to be having a baby. At least if she goes to see Elizabeth she will be able to talk about her own strange vision and all it means. Mary hopes for a sympathetic ear and to be able to sort out what she has to do. So off Mary goes on a long 2-3 day trek from Nazareth. The actual place is not known mentioned in Luke but there is a traditional church site called Ein Karem near Jerusalem. That would have been a long journey from Nazareth. So she arrives at Elizabeths’s house to check out the angel’s other message and see if she can make sense of what is going to happen.

Surprise ! Elizabeth knows before Mary tells her!!

Luke’s story implies that Mary had not spoken to Elizabeth before Elizabeth declares the joy of receiving the Lord’s mother in her presence. As Mary had arrived and shouted her presence Elizabeth had a stirring in her belly that she interprets as divine message. Her baby knew! She knew. Also Mary can see for herself the angel’s words have come true, her elder cousin, long childless, is obviously pregnant as the angel told her. The angels words were proved true. We should also note that Elizabeth’s words about Mary being blessed and favoured also echo the angel’s greeting to her. She is blessed and will be bearing the Messiah.

I can imagine that all these words from Elizabeth would have been a comfort and relief. As a result of Elizabeth’s words Mary is able to respond in joy to the news and her own future. She sings some words made famous and used in the church’s liturgy at the Evening office; The Magnificat.

“My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my saviour..”

The song admits to her realization that she is blessed in what is about to happen to her.

“All generations shall call me blessed”

It also has a strong emphasis on the past acts of God, caring for the lowly and marginalized, and confounding and shaming the powerful and rich and those who think they are all OK. And it concludes with the realization that God is fulfilling His ancient promises to Abraham and his descendants.

No need to fear

Mary’s angelic visitation and message need no longer be a fearful thing. God really had been planning all this. If God had told Elizabeth without her needing to then it showed this really was a God-given event and that He was looking after her. Perhaps after all she would find that others would accept her strange news and help her to cope with all the uncertain times ahead.

Mary’s return home

Mary’s return home is not told in Luke’s gospel but a story in Matthews’ gospel focuses in Joseph’s response. Of course he is alarmed and shocked. She still has to get him to believe her. Initially he wrestles with this strange news. He is not going to let her be hurt. He will settle things quietly and send her away to be looked after.

But a final change of heart comes from God’s third intervention when Joseph has a dream and is asked to still make Mary his wife. Joseph will do the right thing and protect her from shame and harm, risking his own reputation. God had provided a good man who would protect her and her son.

Facing terror and the uncertain.

The focus of Luke’s story is about Elizabeth knowing through the Holy Spirit that Mary will be the mother of the Messiah and Mary’s song in response. Mary’s lowly estate will be used by God to fulfil purposes in bringing the Messiah into the world and confounding the rich and powerful. But maybe, as I have suggested, the visit was also a necessary confirmation and a sign to Mary that she was indeed blessed by God and not in the danger and trouble she may fear. God has ordained it all and everything is under control. It should give her comfort.

Mary had said “Yes” to God and He was not going to let her down. What He was doing was a huge great thing and He was not going to desert His favoured servant who was going to be His means of action.

So a message that arises for us out of the story is “don’t worry”. God has His blessed people in his care. He stands by those who stand with him and work for him. He has already seen ahead what needs to be faced and will make provision. It does not guarantee we will have a trouble free life but He does not ask of us the impossible and equips us for all we have to face. If by circumstances we are thrust into a new fearful and uncertain situation we are not left alone in it to cope with it.

I guess most of us would like to sail along with few things to trouble us, hoping each day will bring joy and peace. We hope we will have good health and happy circumstances. But we know the world is not always like that. We will often be suddenly confronted with new and sometimes uncomfortable situations that might give us great anxiety.

Some may worry about things most of the time. Insignificant things may bringing dread and worry about the future. When serious illness does strike there may be worry about loved ones nearby as well as ourselves. We may face fears of approaching death or loss of someone close. We may anxieties about any big change to our lives, personal or financial security.

God helped Mary by showing He had provided for her and her strange new future and he will provide for all our uncertain futures too. I hope you can all go into Christmas and the new year with that confidence, no matter what the future may bring.    A-men