Christ
is the Key to Unlocking Our Hearts
On
the fourth Sunday in Advent the church turns to Mary, the Mother of Our Lord,
as an example of humility and obedience.
Mary
is obviously stunned by the message of the angel that she has been the favored
and chosen one who will bear a son and will call his name Jesus, because he
will save his people from their sins.
Mary
is most likely young and if discovered to be pregnant out of wedlock could be
subjected to an honor killing, like the ones that we have heard about in the
news recently. In fact she questions the angel, “How can this be, because I
have no husband?”
She
is assured that the Holy Spirit will provide the answer and Joseph will step in
and take Mary under his wing to protect her and give her aid and comfort.
Our
focus on Mary always leads us to Mary’s song, the Magnificat. In this song Mary
sings God’s praises and describes herself as a lowly servant. She describes God
as turning the tables on the world and in this miracle of the Word made flesh
brings all people, especially the hungry and poor what they need, while those
who see themselves self-sufficient find themselves empty.
This week we are called to follow Mary’s example of humility and obedience, we are called upon to give thanks and to serve the one who is born in a manger in Bethlehem and who goes to a cross in Jerusalem.
Pr. Len
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