How can this be?

Meditation planned for Eastview Ebenezer service – Sunday, December 18th, 2011

Text: Luke 1:26-38


This Advent, our congregation has been exploring the way God's activity in our world interrupts our dad to day ordinary lives. A few weeks ago we read Jesus' words about his second coming, and how that will change everything. Then we heard John the baptist's message – that he was sent to prepare the way for the coming Messiah. Israel's history, and the entire world's history, was about to be interrupted. Advent is a season of interruptions. For this reason, it was especially appropriate for our congregation to celebrate baptism on second Advent. Our congregation usually celebrates baptisms in the Spring-time, at Pentecost – but this year we had three young people request baptism; an interruption in our regular Advent theme. These three were siblings in a family that had another interruption – a wonderful surprise in fact. The week prior to their baptism, these three became aunts and uncle for the first time – their older brother and his wife had a son. Children are, by far, one of the greatest interruptions in life – they change everything.

Our passage from the gospel of Luke highlights the surprise and the interruption of Gabriel's message. Gabriel barged into Mary's life, like a young child who, in the middle of the worship service, runs to the front of the sanctuary and starts making a racket – everything stops and you have to refocus. A young woman in her teens, Mary was astonished, shocked, perplexed. All her dreams were put on pause. All her plans shattered. With Gabriel's announcement, Mary had to step back and refocus.

But this interruption wasn't bad news for Mary. God had partnered with Mary in the most important plan in history – to bear a Son, the Savior of the world. Mary was a partner in this plan – but this was an unusual partnership – a strange interruption indeed. She was a virgin. Her and Joseph were engaged to be married. Virgins don't usually bear children into this world. Mary's response to the angel's announcement was: “How can this be?” How can I bear a Son?

We've come to expect this kind of response from people that hear God's call. When God made a promise to Abraham and Sarah, promising them many descendants, they also asked: “How can this be?... we are childless” When Jesus called out to Peter, who was fishing, and after he caught a boat-load of fish, Peter was astonished, “How can this be?... I am a sinner” And now, we read this story about Mary. God told her about his partnership with her in bearing the Messiah into the world, and her response: How can this be?... for I am a virgin.

How can this be? Maybe that's how we'd respond to, if an angel told us about something God wanted to accomplish with us in the near future. But think about the many years of your life. What are some of the things that God has accomplished through you? How many of you lived through the thirties? Or how many of you remember what it was like to live during the time of World War II? What if, as a young man or woman, and angel would have come to you and told you that God wanted you to partner with Him in the gospel, during those difficult times? How can this be?

Or think of your families. Think of the challenges that you've lived through. How many of you have had to bury one of your own children? How many of you have lost a spouse, a husband or wife? What if, as a newly engaged couple, an angel would have told you that you would lose your spouse or your child, and told you that God wanted to partner with You in keeping hope and faith strong? How can this be? Most of us don't get angels appearing to us, giving us a clear Word from God in that sense – but God is still partnering with us to accomplish His purpose. How can this be?

If those three young people, who were baptized, were told all the great things God had in store for them – I'm sure they'd ask the same thing. If, a few years ago, Judson, a young man in our congregation, had been told that he was going to be a great father, by Christmas 2011 – I'm sure he would have asked a similar question... but he is a great Father – and will be a great Father. With God's Spirit – our weaknesses aren't weak at all.

If an angel would have told me, at the age of 16, that I was gonna be a preacher – I would have laughed. How can this be?... I fear public speaking... besides, I want to be a mechanic. God's partnership with us interrupts our time-lines, our plans, but it also interrupts our weaknesses. Abraham & Sarah were childless – but they were given Isaac. Peter was a simpleton and a sinner, but Jesus mentored him into being the top leader of the early Church. I was afraid of public speaking... and God is still helping me with that. God not only interrupts our schedules – God interrupts our inabilities. “How can this be?”... the angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you... for nothing will be impossible with God.”

This Christmas, and in this coming New Year, what is the partnership God has in store for you? What activity is God inviting you to join Him in? I know; it's ok for us to join Mary in perplexity. In confusion. How can this be? I'm 70 years old, I'm 80... 90... maybe even 100 years old. How can this be? How can God still want me as a partner in His gospel plan? How... well, because God interrupts our weaknesses and gives us a way to be a witness to His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord. Like Mary, we are called to bear Jesus into the place where we live – to bear Christ's love to our neighbours. To show healing hands to those who are hurting. How can this be? Because the Holy Spirit is upon you and nothing.... that's right, nothing is impossible for God.

May God bless you and keep you as he interrupts your life with a new Christmas-time partnership. And may you join God, with courage and joy. Amen.