sermon excerpts: "Believing the Impossible"

Luke's account of the annunciation to Mary is a comforting and profound story that pretty much speaks for itself. She was an ordinary girl who was open to God’s world and word. A young woman, girl, is singled out to bring God's own presence into the world. Nothing is impossible with God.

Mary said yes to God, to that impossible task, to the unknown journey that awaited her and her yet unformed family. That, as much as anything is the miracle of the birth; that she willingly risked her life for her faith. Childbirth was no guarantee of a surviving mother or child.

What if she said no? Was that even possible? Would the whole thing been called off?

It seemed that so many pieces of the puzzle had to be in place for this birth to take place. Why was it in that backwoods area of Galilee that the King of glory, the all powerful Saviour, long-awaited Messiah of legend, would come to earth?

Consider all the characters here; we begin with Elizabeth who the story generously calls “beyond child-bearing years” and her husband Zechariah, a priest of the Temple. Both had resigned themselves to the fact that they would not ever have children now find themselves expecting a child; one who would be called John the Baptist.

There is Joseph, he who wanted to marry Mary, finds that she is pregnant and believes her story about the Spirit of God causing her pregnancy. He has no question about her fidelity or loyalty and is willing to go along for the ride. He, who is of the House of King David, would not be biologically related to his own son. For the molecular biologist or forensic criminalist would discover their DNA does not match. It takes a certain kind of man to be open to seeing this through, and Joseph of David’s line happens to be that kind of guy.

And of course there’s Mary. Her wonderfully poetic hymn which we read today shows of a deep trust in God’s love and a strong belief in God’s justice. She looks ahead to a better world and can actually see the part she has to play in bringing that about. Really, how much better would the world be if all parents committed themselves fully to the care and upbringing of their children?

The cynical might dismiss all of this as coincidence. Yet for all the pieces to fit together, it seems a bit much to not see what is a unifying hand at work. Random acts happen in the world, but the power of the life expresses itself and continues to break through, time and time again. This is not to say that God is a puppeteer pulling the strings and pushing us into an unavoidable course of action. If we are open to the Spirit’s direction, if we are aligned with God’s holy purpose things just seem to flow.

There is a quotation attributed to Goethe that reads:
Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.

All of which is to say that when we commit to a course of action, if we are right-minded and on the right track, all the resources we need will come to us. Setbacks don’t have to be seen as punishments. Every moment is an opportunity and that we may not see the good in our situation until after the fact.

Earlier we looked at how everything had to come together for Jesus’ birth: the people, the timing, their attitudes, it had to fit. Let us look at all the pieces of our lives then. Who is important to us, what is going on in all of our lives? What decisions are we all facing, struggling with, what gives us comfort and peace? We are always in a time of discernment, of testing what we are living, checking to see if it is what we are supposed to be doing with our lives. This may be something related to our church life, it may be personal or political. The fact is that there is always something down the road that needs our attention.

What then is the scary and promise-filled call that God has for us? What would the angel Gabriel say about the next stage of our life? Do we accept? Do we do as Mary and go along with it; trusting that things will work out somehow?

Can we let ourselves believe that everything is in place for us to do great things? Let us know that with God, all things are possible. And like Goethe urges, begin it!