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Hope, for Mary and for Us

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“Hope, for Mary and for Us”

Luke 1:26-45 (1:38) – November 30, 2025

            I have a secret confession to make. I am greatly thankful that I have never had to take a job in retail. As I said to my husband this past weekend, I would have quit after the first day, simply because of the constant, cheesy, sometimes saccharin-sweet Christmas music that is piped in over the PA system at every retail store I go into. This is done for about two months before Christmas. And, that’s a long, long time to hear Christmas carols and songs, non-stop.

            And yet – and yet, as we consider this alternative Advent Bible reading from Luke chapter 1 today, I invite you to come with me back in time, to a time before there even was a Christmas. We are not only going to time-travel, but we are going to ocean-hop, too. Let us go to the modest home of a teenager named Mary, living with her parents in Palestine, around the beginning of the first century of the Common (or, Christian) Era.

            This teenaged girl – really, young woman, as she was in that time and place – had an angel visitation. We even find out the Angel’s name, Gabriel. The few times that the angel Gabriel appears in the Bible (that we know of), are times of great importance. Especially this appearance, when Gabriel heralds the birth of the coming Messiah! But, we haven’t gotten there yet. Mary is in her parents’ home when the angel suddenly arrives, about to upend everything concerning Mary and her life as she knows it.  

            Another very important fact: the country where Mary is living, and her people, the Jews, are under Roman rule. Palestine is an occupied country, like so many other regions and nations under the boot of Rome and the powerful Roman army. Palestine doesn’t sound much like a “Silent Night, Holy Night,” where “all is calm, all is bright.” Does it?

            Our mighty God does not wait until everything is perfect, or everything is calm and placid, to work wonders and miracles. God sent the angel Gabriel to a teenager in a modest house, in a country under military occupation. Not to the ruling classes, not to the king’s family in his luxurious palace, but to an unlikely young woman in a backwater town.

            Let us shift gears and move our focus to the modern day. Here in the United States, we have a great deal of internal struggle! Things today are certainly not perfect, or calm or placid. As we mark the first Sunday in Advent, the first candle on the Advent wreath is called the candle of Hope. Can you and I possibly find hope in an atmosphere of anxiety? Of uncertainty? Overwhelmed by pervasive negativity, with the American people’s attitudes filled with division, derision and defensiveness?

            Let’s return to Mary and the angel. How does Gabriel lead off in this conversation from Luke chapter 1? 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Admittedly, Mary wonders what on earth is going on! Dr. Luke tells us, Mary “was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.” I dare say you and I would be greatly troubled, too, if we were to encounter an angel!

            Sure enough, Gabriel announces to Mary that she is highly favored, and that “you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Mary probably knew her place in society of her time, as a female, as a second-class citizen. Mary “is common, ordinary, of little account in her world and definitely not the stuff of legends…and she knows it. Only after expressing her wonder and dismay, and then hearing again Gabriel’s affirmation and promise, does she manage to summon the courage to believe that God has indeed favoring her by working in her and through her for the health of the world.” [1] What was Mary’s response to the angel? 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”

We all know very well that our teenaged Mary became pregnant by the Holy Spirit, and gave birth to the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. We are well used to seeing Mary as a sweet, calm, quiet, almost docile follower of God’s will for her life. However, I would like to suggest that Mary was also a prophet! As a prophet, she would also be a bringer of hope to the world!

This prophetic role, this insight is a new way of looking at Mary for me. New for me, and I hope enlightening to you, too. As we consider the call of the prophets in the Hebrew Scriptures, and consider the call of Mary by the angel Gabriel, we see all the familiar, classic steps: we see God’s initial call, God’s task, the prophet’s objection, God’s reassurance, and the prophet’s acceptance of call. [2]

 I will say more about this next week, when we take a look at the Canticle that Mary sings, but I want to bring before us the earth-shattering idea that “Luke portrays her in a startling role: one that shakes up the way we’ve been brought up to think of her and invites us to stop observing her and start imitating her.” [3]

 I know that the Christmas carol “Once in Royal David’s City” calls mother Mary “mild,” and the typical portrayal of her on Christmas cards is calm, placid and docile. But, how can this mild depiction of Mary cause our hearts to be hopeful, today? Especially when it seems that the whole world is uncertain, the current political situation is contentious, and our society in the United States is fractured and broken?

            While Mary’s specific task is specific to her, the prophetic call remains open to everyone. God can call each one of us to a prophetic role, especially at this time of Advent, at this grateful and expectant time of year when people are looking up, looking outward, looking for hope. We can all be like Mary, the prophet, bearing good news to everyone.

            Alleluia, amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

[1] https://www.workingpreacher.org/dear-working-preacher/favored-ones

[2] http://www.patheos.com/progressive-christian/mary-reluctant-prophet-alyce-mckenzie-12-17-2012.html

[3] Ibid.

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Your King Comes to You

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Matthew 21:1-11 – April 9, 2017

Jesus Palm Sunday - Giotto di Bonde, Entry into Jerusalem 1304-06, Fresco, Cappella Scrovegni Arena Chapel, Padua

“Your King Comes to You”

Has anyone here ever been at a really big “welcome home” celebration? I am thinking really, really big! Like, after the Cubs won the World Series last fall, and they returned to Chicago in triumphant victory. Or, after the Black Hawks, the White Sox or the Bulls won their championships. Has anyone experienced the joyful, expectant feeling of the crowd? The wild cheering and celebration as the focal point of the parade came into view?

Imagine that level of celebration, and then add an additional layer. The country of Israel had been under the heel of various world powers for several centuries. The Roman government was the current dominating overlords, and an ever-present occupying force. By Jesus entering Jerusalem in the way He did, He fulfilled a well-known prophecy from the Hebrew Scriptures. In addition, by doing this He was claiming the mantle of Messiah, the Anointed One of God. As Zechariah said, “Tell the city of Zion, ‘Look, your king is coming to you! He is humble and rides on a donkey.”

What about the crowd gathered there in Jerusalem, for the Passover holiday? Emotions run high when you are in the midst of a crowd. Higher highs, lower lows, all kinds of extremes. As Rev. Adam Copeland said, “Whether they are for sport, political protest, or public worship, gathering with thousands inevitably changes our mood and actions. I have never felt as alone as in a rival team’s stadium filled with thousands of home-team fans. I rarely feel as important as when I’ve gathered with others to protest unjust laws or call for social action. I get Goose bumps when I’m able to recite the Lord’s Prayer with a few thousand other worshipers.” [1]

What was the crowd looking for from Rabbi Jesus? This Messiah, Anointed One?    

A companion question: what were the disciples looking for from Jesus? From their Rabbi and leader, whom they had been following for months, even years? I remind everyone that there were more than just twelve men following after Jesus. There were more. Maybe Peter’s wife, maybe others’ wives or sisters. Women, other men, maybe even some children and youths. Many of these had been faithful in following Jesus for some time, and they were true believers. Faithful followers.

St. Ignatius of Loyola was a man of deep prayer. He instructed many in the way of deep, significant prayer. He had a special way of praying, which can also be used for reading the Bible. Ignatian spirituality, prayer and bible reading have been adapted from his instructions.

St. Ignatius would have us put ourselves into the biblical scene. Imagine yourself right there, on that Palm Sunday morning. I invite you to choose a place to stand: either among the crowd, observing, cheering; or among the disciples, close in to Jesus and the donkey. Perhaps even take the donkey’s point of view! Let us all immerse ourselves into the narrative. Hear the raucous noises and roar of the crowd. Feel the jostling shoulders as we jockey for position, to get the best view of the parade. Because, that is what it is! A procession! A joyful entrance into Jerusalem, the historic capital city of King David!

Can you feel the energy of that immense crowd? Jerusalem was full to bursting! People of Jewish ancestry had come to Jerusalem from all over the known world, to commemorate the Passover holiday. And, here were people welcoming this Messiah, this Anointed One, into the city like a king.

Can you feel the emotions of your fellow crowd members? What expectations are rising to the fore? Some desperate to throw off the heavy yoke of the Roman occupation, and so are delighted to see someone, at last, taking up the mantle of the Messiah! To call together the men of Israel and lead the Jewish army to victory! Some, I am sure, leery of this upstart Rabbi, and wondering how far He is going to get before the Romans scare Him off. And others, simply caught up in all the excitement of the moment, welcoming this Holy Man, this Miracle Worker, into the city of Jerusalem.

What were the expectations of those there, on that Palm Sunday morning? Sure, as our Gospel reading tells us, there was a large crowd around the city gate, ready to cheer and wave and make noise. The noise and celebration put the whole city into an uproar, turning things inside out and upside down.  In fact, the Greek verb in that phrase, “uproar,” is the same word used for an earthquake. Jesus shook up the people of Jerusalem, and He certainly stirred up the religious leaders and priests.

Let us fast forward, to the present. What are our expectations, right here, right now? What are we to do with this Jesus, riding in on a donkey?

Sure, there are many people in churches across the world today who are excited to celebrate another Palm Sunday. A highlight of the liturgical year, the beginning of Holy Week. Some are caught up in the pageantry and celebration. Others are content to wave their palms and observe things from the sidelines. Many, even, feel the solemn beginning of that sorrowful Holiest Week of the liturgical year. But, is there more?

The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem was so typical of Jesus. He did not blindly accept these short-sighted expectations that were foisted upon Him. Instead, Jesus knew who He was, and did not need to clutch any lofty or power-hungry or mean and angry persona to Himself. No, Jesus entered Jerusalem knowing exactly who He was. God’s much beloved Son, the Messiah, the Anointed One of God. He had all that kingly authority already.

Let us remind ourselves exactly why Jesus had come into the world, exactly why He began His preaching, teaching and healing ministry. He came preaching forgiveness and mercy. He came teaching love and reconciliation. He came healing people from physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual diseases. Jesus came to give us life, and life abundantly!

But, today, Jesus’s voice gets drowned out by countless distractions. “Choked as we are by all of our distractions and tranquilizers—our cars, our houses, our 60-inch televisions and 6-inch computers, our smartphones and gizmos and gadgets, all of our conveniences and drugs and entertainment—we are likely to lose sight of the gate into heaven.” [2]

So often today, many people’s attention gets pulled away from things of God. Some are too busy to see Jesus. Some are too worried to listen to His voice. Some today couldn’t even care if Jesus lived or died.

Let’s focus on people within the church, worldwide. Some celebrate and wave palms on Palm Sunday and are content to let the whole rest of Holy Week slide right by without it registering on their hearts, then slide right into the following week’s celebration on Easter Sunday without a second thought. [3]

Jesus rides into our midst today, humble and seated on a donkey. He asks us the pointed question: what is it we seek in Jesus? Have we lost sight of the forgiveness, mercy, love and reconciliation He offers? He offers it to us, freely.

We can ask our Lord Jesus to enter our hearts, and to help us to lay at His feet all that we have and are today.

God willing, may we say “blessed are You who comes in the name of the Lord.”

[1] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-adam-j-copeland/palm-powered-protest_b_5106331.html

“Palm Powered Protest,” Adam Copeland, ON Scripture, Odyssey Networks, 2014

[2] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship/lectionary-calendar/palm-passion-sunday1; The Preaching Notes are written by Dawn Chesser, Director of Preaching Ministries, Discipleship Ministries, dchesser@UMCdiscipleship.org

[3] http://www.workingpreacher.org/craft.aspx?post=1546 ; “To Be Continued…” David Lose, WorkingPreacher, 2011.