SERMON 4 th Sunday of Advent December 19, 2010 Isaiah 7:10-16 Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 Romans 1:1-7 Matthew 1:18-25 Brothers and sisters in Christ, grace to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus, who is the Christ. Amen. A few years ago, there was a public service announcement on television where the opening image was a close-up of a young teenage boy running for all he s worth. In the background the announcer spoke of how, as a boy, this young man had dreamed about what he would be when he grew up. Then as the camera pulled back from the young man, you could see two police officers in hard pursuit. You then hear the commentator conclude with these words; what he didn t dream of, was growing up to be a drug dealer. So how is it that one attempts to describe dreams that turn from hope to despair? Perhaps the Scottish poet Robert Burns put it best. You might know Robert Burns as the one who wrote Auld Lang Syne, which many of us will be singing in a couple of weeks on New Year s Eve. However, after seeing his brother chasing a helpless field mouse, Burns wrote these words; But Mousie, thou art no thy-lane, In proving foresight may be vain: The best laid schemes of Mice and Men, Gang aft a-gley,
The best laid schemes of Mice and Men, often go astray. When this poem was first published, it moved a critic named Snyder to write: the tragedy of the mouse has become the tragedy of Burns himself, and of all heart-broken folk who review the past with regret, or await the future with misgiving. What lead Snyder to make such a statement was that prior to November of the year 1785, Burns had lost both his father and a brother. Therefore, as he wrote this poem, he was in a state of loss and grief. So what do we do? What do we think? What do we say, when all of our plans turn to dust at our feet? You re fired! I m leaving you for good this time! It s cancer! There s been a terrible accident! I m 14 and I m pregnant with no husband! What words can restore broken dreams? This is how the birth of Jesus came about. A young teenager named Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child. I find it interesting the way this is worded. Somehow it takes away the hurt and the pain; but before they came together, she was found to be with child. Let s call it like it is. Joseph s fiancé was pregnant, and they hadn t had sex. Can you imagine the hurt, the anger, the confusion Joseph must have been experiencing when he found out? Think about it. However, we are told that because Joseph was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he decided to end the engagement quietly. What do you do when all of your plans turn to dust at your feet? You pick up the pieces the best you can and you go on. One step after another. You wall away the pain and you go on. Much like Joseph did. It s what we all do.
Well, let s continue with the story. But first, think about this: what if God had entrusted you or me to decide who would give birth to the son of God, the savior of the world? I wonder who we would have chosen. As good faithful churchgoing people, we would have probably first formed a committee or a task force to decide on the best parents. Then there would have been a selection process until we arrived at the ideal couple. I would guess that we would have chosen a well adjusted upper middle class couple who had good jobs, a nice house in a safe neighborhood, good health, a solid marriage, and a good amount of money in the bank. I don t suppose an unmarried teenage mother and her carpenter fiancé would have stood much of a chance. You see, in many ways, Mary represents the kind of people who have been rejected by humanity throughout the ages. She was young, unmarried, and pregnant. And so at this early stage in the story, Joseph s response seems normal. Shocked by her sudden pregnancy, his instant reaction was to ditch her, to cut his losses. So he decided to quietly drop the engagement. However, before Joseph would make his decision known, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said; Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. As I listen to this part of the story, I think about listening to the comedy of Bill Cosby. Can you just hear Bill playing the role of Joseph: Ya, Right! Am I on Candid Camera? Come on God, you gotta be ribbin me, this story is crazy! Who in their right mind would believe a line like this? But when Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and took Mary as his wife. What on earth was Joseph thinking?
The songwriter/musician Michael Card gives us a glimpse at what might have been going through Joseph s mind. Close your eyes and listen to his song entitled; Joseph s song. Lord I know He s not my own. Not of my flesh, not of my bone. Still Father, let this baby be The Son of my love. Father show me where I fit Into this plan of Yours. How can a man be father to the Son of God/ Lord, for all my life I ve been a simple carpenter. How can I raise a King? How can I raise a King? O Lord, how can I raise a King? How can I raise a King? But suddenly Joseph understands. He remembers the words of the prophet Isaiah when he declared that a virgin would give birth to a son, and he would be called Emmanuel which means; God is with us. That is the truth Joseph grasped after the angel announced his message. That is the word that gave Joseph the courage to go ahead and take Mary as his wife, and raise that child as his own. That is the message the angel proclaimed; God is with us. God is with all of us. Not just Mary, not just Joseph. God is with all of us. With you and with me, in the story of our lives. It is the story of a God who chooses the most unlikely candidates as vessels to bring forth God s Kingdom.
It is the promise of the ages. God is with us. God is for us. And God will work his wonders in our lives if we will let him. Just as God did with Mary and Joseph. Though our best laid schemes of Mice and Men often go astray, a life given over to the Christ child means that God will be with us, and that means that we can live with hope. Amen. May the peace that passes all understanding be with you now and for life everlasting. Amen.
When you were born, you were each given something that was very important to you. It is something that you will use your entire life. It is something that you share with other people. Can any of you tell me what this gift might be? Your name Now I know most of your names, but did you know that names sometime have a meaning. Do any of you know what your name means? My name means spear thrower I would guess that some of you even had your names before you were born. Jesus was given his name before he was born. God told Joseph and Mary to name the baby Jesus. Do any of you know what the name Jesus means? It means; The Lord Saves. This name was important because Jesus was sent by God to save the world from sin. Jesus had other names, too. He was also called Emmanuel, which means God with us. Jesus was God s son, but he was also God himself who came to earth to be with us. He also had other names such as Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. All of these names tell us about Jesus. But during this time of year we think mostly of the name Emmanuel, because at Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus, when God is with us. Let us pray Our Lord Jesus, Emmanuel, come and live in our hearts. Thank you for being with us and coming to our world at Christmas. Amen.