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2nd Luke 1:39-56 12.8.2013 RUMC

How does he do it? I always wondered. How does do it? As a child eagerly anticipating morning, Santa’s perennial journey always seemed so delightfully impossible to me. And so, I wondered… how does he do it? How does he make it to every single house in just one night? How does he make those fly? How does he have room in his bag for all of those toys… or, for that matter, how does he have room in his belly for all of those ? How does he get up and down the chimney? How does he do it? How does Santa Claus do it? It all seemed so delightfully impossible. But I wasn’t a skeptical child. Those questions didn’t make me doubt. In fact, the more impossible the Santa Claus situation seemed, the more magical it became. Every Christmas morning was sheer magic – in part, because Santa Claus had overcome the impossible every Christmas Eve night. And so, every Christmas Eve, I would put out the cookies and milk, head excitedly to bed, and wait for Santa Claus to do the impossible… again. The story of Christmas is indeed a delightfully impossible story. And it’s not just the stories of Santa’s flying reindeer and midnight visits and bag full of presents that are wonderfully, magically, delightfully impossible. Those are just the Christmas “trimmings,” after all. No, the real story of Christmas – the story we find in the words of scripture, the story of Christ’s birth in the manger of – is even more wonderfully, miraculously, delightfully impossible than the Santa Claus wonders of my childhood. We heard that in our first scripture reading, as you might recall. Earlier in worship, we read the scripture passage known as “the .” In that passage, we watched and listened as the angel appeared to an unassuming young woman named Mary, bringing her great and impossible news: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him . He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:30-32, NRSV). Now Mary is – shall we say? –

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2nd Advent Luke 1:39-56 12.8.2013 RUMC understandably puzzled by the angel’s words. She is a young, unmarried virgin, after all. And so, she wonders… I’m going to be… pregnant? … but with… wha… how? “How can this be?” she asks the angel (Luke 1:34, NRSV). And Gabriel replies: “The Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God” (Luke 1:35, NRSV). Simple enough, right? So glad Gabriel cleared that up! But Gabriel then goes on to say something that somehow makes it all make sense: “For nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37, NRSV). For nothing will be impossible with God. A virgin will conceive a child. The creator of all things will become part of the creation. The Lord of heaven and earth will become a helpless, fragile, precious baby in a manger. Lofty choirs of angels, shepherds from a nearby field, wise ones from far-off lands, and stars shining high in the heavens will all herald this moment – the moment of the birth of God. It all seems impossible, of course… wonderfully, miraculously, delightfully impossible… but Gabriel reminds Mary (and all of us who are listening and peering over her shoulder) that “nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37, NRSV). It is there, in that verse, in that reassurance from the mouth of the angel Gabriel, that we find the “two little words” of this passage, the two little words that make all the difference. “Nothing will be impossible with God,” Gabriel tells us (Luke 1:37, NRSV). He doesn’t say, “Nothing will be impossible.” He doesn’t say, “Nothing will be impossible if you try real hard and believe in yourself.” He says, “Nothing will be impossible with God.” With God. Those two little words make all the difference in this verse, in this scripture passage, in this Christmas story, in our Christian story. “Nothing will be impossible with God.” The impossible story that begins with Gabriel’s words to Mary continues in our second scripture reading for today, in a continuation of that same chapter from the gospel of Luke:

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2nd Advent Luke 1:39-56 12.8.2013 RUMC

[Luke 1:39-56, NRSV] 39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. 45And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’

46 And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.’

56And Mary remained with her for about three months and then returned to her home.

Now, at first glance, this isn’t the most “impossible” story of scripture. It might even seem straightforward. Mary (filled with a mix of excitement, fear, joy, and trepidation, no doubt) visits her relative Elizabeth (who is, herself, quite miraculously pregnant). When Mary arrives, Elizabeth’s child leaps in her womb. She is suddenly “filled with the Holy Spirit,” and begins to speak words of blessing upon Mary (Luke

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2nd Advent Luke 1:39-56 12.8.2013 RUMC

1:41, NRSV). Mary, in turn, sings words of joyous praise and holy vision, known throughout the centuries as Mary’s Magnificat. A visit. A blessing. A song. It may not seem like the most “impossible” story, especially when compared to the other more fantastic parts of the Christmas narrative… but it is a deeply compelling passage. It is compelling because it shows us an entirely new side of Mary. In the previous passage, throughout her encounter with the angel Gabriel, Mary is quite a tame figure: one part bewildered young woman, and one part obedient servant. Yet in this passage, the one who was once bewildered and obedient is now downright prophetic and powerful. She, an unassuming young woman, speaks in a way that is deeply reminiscent of Israel’s great prophets of old. She praises God’s graciousness, holiness, and mercy. She then imparts a vision – a counter-cultural vision of God’s justice on this earth. Hear her vision again: God has “shown strength with his arm,” Mary tells us. “[H]e has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty” (Luke 1:51-53, NRSV). She speaks this vision with joy and with strength. She speaks this future vision in the past tense, as if a deep faith assures her and gives her the confidence that God will indeed bring these things to pass.1 She speaks a vision of justice, one that turns the world on its head. So while her visit to Elizabeth is not so “impossible,” her vision – when viewed in light of the realities of her world, and of ours – seems quite impossible. Mary’s vision is one of role reversal. In her vision, those who are proud and powerful are humbled, while those who are lowly are exalted. Those who are hungry are suddenly satisfied and filled with abundance, while those who have enjoyed wealth, extravagance, and privilege will be in want. It is an absolute, utter role reversal – one that expresses God’s values, conveys God’s concern for the poor, and imparts God’s vision of justice.

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2nd Advent Luke 1:39-56 12.8.2013 RUMC

Mary did not live in the world she envisioned – far from it – and nor do we. In our world, as in Mary’s, society is structured to keep poor people poor while making the rich all the more rich – for lifetimes, and for generations. The gap between those who “have” and those who “have not” is one that continues to grow. The burden of this poverty is overwhelmingly borne by those who are most vulnerable – especially children. In the face of these realities (realities of Mary’s world, and of ours), Mary’s prophetic vision of justice does indeed seem to be impossible. And yet, as the angel Gabriel has reminded us, and as Mary’s own unborn child will one day declare, “nothing will be impossible with God,” (Luke 1:37, NRSV).2 Mary’s vision may seem impossible, at least by human standards, and in the face of worldly realities. But nothing will be impossible… with God. Those two little words, and the God whose power they invoke, make all the difference. In case you hadn’t noticed, we now find ourselves in the midst of the holiday season. Ever since Santa Claus rolled through Herald Square at the end of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, children everywhere have been on their best behavior, trying to ensure that they end up on Santa’s “nice” list, rather than his “naughty” one. They’ve been composing their letters to Santa, addressing them to the , sending them off with their carriers, and enclosing lists of all of their deepest wishes for this Christmas. With visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads, they are envisioning what they want to see under the tree on Christmas morning. What if we were to do that, we, as followers of Jesus Christ? Not write letters to Santa, of course, and not ask for things we want for ourselves. But what if we were to take some time during this holiday season to envision something much more meaningful than sugarplums and presents? What if we were to take some time to envision what we might want – and more importantly, what God might want – for our world?

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2nd Advent Luke 1:39-56 12.8.2013 RUMC

You know, there’s a popular song that sometimes comes on the radio around this time of year. It’s been covered by any number of artists on a whole assortment of holiday albums, so I don’t quite know who originally made it popular. It’s called “My Grown-Up Christmas List,” and the chorus includes these words: So here's my lifelong wish My grown-up Christmas list Not for myself But for a world in need

No more lives torn apart That wars would never start, And time would heal all hearts And everyone would have a friend And right would always win And love would never end This is my grown-up Christmas list.3

That “grown-up Christmas list” is a vision, a vision of peace and wholeness for our world, just as Mary’s Magnificat was a vision of justice for our world. And perhaps the vision in these song lyrics seems just as impossible as Mary’s vision. I’m more of a skeptic now than I was as a child; I can admit that. A world without broken lives? Without warring nations? Without aching hearts? A world in which goodness and love always prevail? It seems about as likely as a world in which the rich and proud and powerful are brought low, and the poor and hungry and lowly are exalted. It seems about as likely as the Magnificat. It seems impossible. And yet, I think it’s a vision that our God – a God of love – could get behind. So, as impossible as it may seem… well… all things will be possible, with God. So… what about yours? What would you put on your grown-up Christmas list? What would you sing in your Magnificat? What holy vision for our world would you imagine? Think about it. Because I wrote this sermon, I admittedly had a little more time to think about it. When I envision God’s will and God’s hope for God’s world, I envision a world in

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2nd Advent Luke 1:39-56 12.8.2013 RUMC which no child will ever wonder if he will have food to eat, or if she will find shelter from the cold, on this or any night. I envision a world in which religion is a source of peace, rather than a source of conflict. I envision a world in which every human being knows and feels God’s love. That is my impossible vision, my Magnificat, my grown-up Christmas list. What about yours? I don’t know, maybe it seems silly. Maybe it seems like nothing more than a pointless mental exercise. But for what it’s worth, I don’t think it’s pointless. I think there is actually great power in God’s people envisioning God’s will and God’s hope for the world; in God’s people speaking that vision aloud with boldness and confidence, as if it is already a reality; in God’s people praying for that vision to become a reality. I think there is great power in God’s people envisioning those things that are only possible with God. I think there is great power in that, all on its own… and I also think that envisioning these things is a necessary first step in opening our hearts to God, so that God can in turn use us to transform those “impossible” visions into realities. And so, my friends, I ask: what is your impossible vision, your Magnificat, your grown-up Christmas list? Based on what you know and have learned about God (whether this is your first day in church or your ten-thousandth worship service, whether you’ve been studying the Bible for years or have just cracked it open for the first time), based on what you know and have learned about God, what is your holy and impossible vision for God’s world? What do you think is God’s vision for God’s world? Dream big. The more impossible, the better! What do you envision as God’s will and God’s hope for God’s world? Think on that, throughout these days of Advent. But don’t just think about it. Say it. Say it boldly and with confidence. Say it out loud. Say it in the past tense, as if God has already made it so. And then, pray for it. Pray for it deeply and fervently. Pray for it more than you ever wished for anything on your childhood Christmas list.

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2nd Advent Luke 1:39-56 12.8.2013 RUMC

As we journey towards Bethlehem’s manger, imagine God’s vision, speak God’s vision, and pray for God’s vision. It is the season of Advent, my friends. It is a time in which the angel Gabriel’s words are ringing in our minds and hearts. So in this season, may you envision the impossible, speak the impossible, and pray for the impossible. And above all, may you find inspiration in the angel’s words: that nothing will be impossible… with God.

Prayer

1 R. Alan Culpepper, “The Book of Luke: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections” in The New Interpreter’s Bible: A Commentary in Twelve Volumes, vol. 9, ed. Leander E. Keck et. al. (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1995), 55. 2 See also Matthew 19:26, Luke 18:27. 3 Linda Thompson and David Foster, “My Grown-Up Christmas List,” http://www.metrolyrics.com/grown-up- christmas-list-lyrics-amy-grant.html.

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