Author: lakewooducc

Scripture Lessons: Isaiah 35:1-10 and Luke 1:45b-55
Sermon: Mother Mary
Pastor: Rev. Kim P. Wells

Who here wants to be controlled? Who wants to be enslaved? Who wants to be
suppressed? How about dominated? Who wants to be kept down and kept quiet?
Who wants to be made poor? Well, if you don’t want to live under those kinds of
circumstances then Christmas is for you!

Christmas, despite the brainwashing we get from corporate America, Christmas is
about liberation. Christmas is a celebration of freedom and the end of captivity. It
is a story about God working through nobodies to liberate everybodies. This story
starts with the promises made in the Hebrew scriptures. It is manifested in the life
of Mary. And it comes to fruition in the ministry of Jesus. From the Christmas
story, we learn what is means to live liberated from religious and cultural
programming that constrains and controls and limits people.

This is all laid out in the Magnificat. We hear of the reversal of exploitation and
abuse – social, personal, moral, and economic. People are not meant to be kept
down, demeaned, and deprived. A world of equality and freedom for everyone is
at the heart of the Divine intention for humanity. The Magnificat tells us of God’s
dreams made real. Notice the verb tense in the Magnificat. The verbs are in the
past tense. These things have been done: Those regarded as lowly by society have
been lifted up! No special rights just human rights. They are looked upon with
favor by God. And those who were prideful, greedy, privileged, and corrupt, no
longer abuse or take advantage of others. What a glorious vision!

How would Mary have been woke to systems of oppression and degradation?
Well, to start with, she was part of minority group. Well, two minority groups, really. And we know what that means. As someone Jewish, she was part of a
minority class within the social system of the Roman Empire. A minority that was
being exploited by the Romans for labor and taxes. And she was a woman which
meant that her rights and opportunities were severely limited. She was part of the
underclass. The expendables. No civil rights for her. No ERA for Mary. We are
told that she goes along with God’s plan, makes herself available to God, takes the
risks involved, displays the courage needed because she knows what it is like at the
bottom. And she knows, her faith teaches her, that God has dreams of full
flourishing life for all people. And she wants to be a part of that.

Mary’s vision of reversal, conversion, and transformation is good news not only
for those made poor but for everyone. The causes of discord and conflict in
society are eliminated with the elimination of domination and inequality. Everyone
lives in peace. Everyone has what they need. Everyone can be secure. Everyone
can flourish.

As theologian Megan McKenna describes it, “Our God believes that downward
mobility is the way to usher in hope and to become truly human.” [Advent,
Christmas and Epiphany: Stories and Reflections on the Sunday Readings, p.
115.]

Here’s a story about that. A mother tells us: “When our three young sons were
each given an elf ornament for the Christmas tree, they began a yearly contest to
see who could place his ornament highest on the tree.

“Our oldest son, Scott, won for several years. When he finally got his elf on the
top of the tree, we knew the contest was over. Wrong. The next year our middle son, Kevin, taped his ornament to the ceiling above the tree. End of contest, we
thought. Wrong again.

“The next year, we could not find the ornament of our youngest son, Mark. It must
be on the roof, we decided. Wrong again. We finally found Mark’s elf on the very
lowest branch of the tree – with a note attached: ‘For whoever exalts himself will
be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.’ (Matthew 23:12).
“Needless to say, that ended the contest.” [McKenna, p. 116]

Christmas is about our liberation from all that prevents our full humanity. It’s
about getting out from under all that holds us down and keeps us captive including
upward mobility and competition. And how does this happen? How does this
reversal Mary sings about occur? That’s the magic of Christmas. We don’t get this
massive upheaval through a violent overthrow of the government, or a coup, or an
armed rebellion, or an impeachment. We get it through a baby. Through the
weakness of a child. As Marshall McLuhan noted, “The medium is the message.“
The radical promises of God are enacted through the gentle vulnerability of a baby
born to a nobody mother and father. God works these mighty deeds through the
nobodies of the world so that everyone becomes a somebody.

Apparently in the 1970’s, the government of Guatemala banned the Magnificat
because it was considered subversive, politically dangerous, and they were afraid it
might incite riots among the oppressed. [Weekly Seeds, Dec. 15, 2019, Kathryn
Matthews. See
https://www.ucc.org/weekly_seeds_choose_to_be_courageous?utm_campaign=ws
_dec15_19&utm_medium=email&utm_source=unitedchurchofchrist ] Obviously
the government did not understand the Magnificat, Mary, or the ministry of Jesus.

They were right to see that the Magnificat had power, but they were wrong about
the nature of that power. Jesus doesn’t foment an armed take over. He enacts
God’s radical reversal by calling for repentance, forgiving sins, healing the sick,
casting out demons, eating with outcasts, and dying a redemptive death.
Everything is transformed and turned over, but no life is taken. Life is given. For
the good of the community. This is the power of love and it is even more feared by
those in control than the power of violence because love cannot be confiscated or
locked up or suppressed or exiled. Love finds a way.

Mary lived in perilous times when things were not fair. Greed and exploitation and
abuse of power were rampant. She herself was made poor and denied basic human
rights. And yet she sings of God’s justice and setting things right because she sees
the capacity of God to work through those who are poor and weak. She sees God’s
promises fulfilled not through military might but through the vulnerability of a
baby.

The promise of Christmas is a world in which we can lay down our pretenses and
give up protecting our privilege. We can live full and free. Christmas releases us
from bondage to the expectations and institutions that hold us captive.

Once there was a young businessman who was working hard to get ahead in his
corporation. He was moving up bit by bit. As part of his strategy to continue his
corporate climb, he decided to invite his boss and the other vice presidents of the
company to his home for a dinner party. All the plans were made with a caterer – a
formal dinner party, servers, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, an elegant meal.

Now, the young corporate climber had a 6 year old son. So, for weeks ahead of the
dinner party, the father coached the young boy in how to behave. The child was instructed about what to do with each utensil, how the food would be served, not
reaching for things across the table, no elbows on the table, drinking from a
stemmed glass, and all the other good table manners that were important on such
an occasion.

The boy knew this dinner party was very important to his father so he was
determined to behave well.

The evening came. Cocktails were served. The guests sat down at the table and
the meal began. Water and wine were poured. Soup was served. The conversation
was lively. The father glanced at the son and smiled. All was going well. But the
boy was very hungry and saw the basket of rolls in the center of the table and,
forgetting his father’s instructions, he reached for the rolls. He knocked over his
water glass. And then, as he pulled his hand back, he knocked over the wine glass
of the guest seated next to him.

He was horrified. He looked in terror at his father. The father saw his son’s
distraught face and immediately knocked over his own water glass, then his own
wine glass. Then he laughed and said to his son, “Come on, let’s clean it up
together.” [McKenna, p. 118]

That’s God’s message to us at Christmas – Come on, let’s clean it up together.
Mary will show you how. Jesus will help. Amen.

A reasonable effort has been made to appropriately cite materials referenced in this sermon. For
additional information, please contact Lakewood United Church of Christ.

Joseph

Yes, Mary figures much larger than Joseph in the nativity story from Luke.  But in the gospel of Matthew, Joseph has a bigger role.  As the story unfolds in Matthew, Jospeh appears to be in the dilemma of being engaged to someone who is pregnant by another man.  The idea here is that the father of the child is God/the Holy Spirit.  There is speculation that if Mary was pregnant by another man it could have been the result of rape by a Roman soldier stationed nearby while a large Roman building project was underway.

In any case, Joseph is presented as being in a fix.  And then he has a dream and in the dream he is told to take Mary as his wife, anyway, and not to divorce her, even quietly.  And Joseph follows the instruction he is given in the dream. 

Also in Matthew, after Jesus’ birth, Joseph is told in a dream to take his family and seek asylum in Egypt.  

Two dreams are given to Joseph that guide his actions as a husband and father.  And he follows through on what he is advised in the dreams.  Dreams are a way of moving the story along and giving God a channel for communicating with characters in the story.  Joseph’s dreams give him God’s direction.

Well, maybe we are not going to be given dreams that lay out our course of action so directly, but surely we are being offered the guidance that we need for the living of our days.  Surely we are being guided and directed in our behavior and our choices.  But what are we choosing to listen to?  What are we choosing to give power over our thinking and actions?  Do we let past pain control us?  Do we let our hurt feelings dictate our behavior?  Do we follow the dictates of anger?  Is vengeance our guide?  Or greed?

Joseph chose to listen to love.  He chose to trust forgiveness and reconciliation over what was legally permissible.  He chose to give up his home and livelihood to protect his family.  The way of love was difficult and costly for Joseph.   He was setting a good example for Jesus who would later choose to give up his life.

 Maybe in addition to thinking about what we are doing for others for Christmas and what gifts we are giving, we could consider what we are giving up, for love.

 Prayer Many, many people find themselves in difficult situations.  Situations where trust is needed.  Situations where forgiveness is needed.  Situations where healing is needed.  We know what that is like.  May we look for the path of love that is life-giving.  Even when it is difficult.  Amen.

BELIEF + DOUBT = SANITY

This phrase is painted on the wall of the Hirshhorn Art Museum in Washington, D.C.  The installation was done by the artist Barbara Kruger.  I love this image!  I think it is a wonderful expression of the best of faith.  

But this phrase is in a secular art museum.  So I don’t think it was intended only as commentary on religion.  I was talking with someone about the phrase, someone who has little use for religion.  He liked the phrase, but said he didn’t put much store in belief.  He was associating it with religion.  But I reminded him that people believe in all kinds of things – like freedom, love, an economic system, a political system, the theory of evolution, hard work, certain moral values, etc.  People believe in all kinds of things beyond the realm of religion.  

And I think whatever the belief, the equation still holds up:  BELIEF + DOUBT = SANITY.    Without doubt what you believe in becomes fanaticism, extremism, or blind obsession.  And we see plenty of that in religion.  But we also see it in other areas.  Like politics.  People these days seem so entrenched in their political views that they are losing their grounding in sanity.  “Don’t bother me with the facts.”  

As I have listened to the impeachment hearings in Washington, D. C. I have heard plenty of belief without doubt.  So, where is the sanity?  Before they vote on impeachment, the members of congress should spend some quiet moments contemplating Kruger’s phrase:  BELIEF  + DOUBT = SANITY.  We might get a little more sanity out of Congress.  

So, as Christmas approaches, and we reflect on our faith, hold on to your doubts.  Ask questions.  Expect your views on matters of faith to change.  Because that is sanity.  That is spiritual health and wholeness.  And give thanks that you are part of a church that encourages belief and doubt as well as sanity.

Prayer Reflect on what you believe in.   What is important to you?  Consider your doubts.  Give thanks for your beliefs and your doubts and how they work together to give you a solid moral, spiritual foundation for your life.  Amen.  

Guadalupe!

Dec. 12 is the saint day for the Virgin of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico.  She may actually be the most venerated “Mary” in the Catholic Church.  And she seems to resonate even beyond Catholicism.

Just a brief encapsulation of her story:  An indigenous peasant, Juan Diego, was walking over a hill near Mexico City when he was stopped by a vision of the Virgin Mary.  After several visitations and the appearance of roses in his tunic in the dead of winter, Juan Diego convinces the local bishop to build a church where the Virgin asked for one to be built.  The church is there today, though it is not open to the public because it is no longer structurally sound.  But a beautiful new church was build nearby and today thousands of people will be at the church to venerate the Virgin of Guadalupe.

The incorporation of Guadalupe into the Catholic pantheon is important because she came through an indigenous person and appeared as an indigenous person.  She represents the incorporation of the indigenous veneration of the goddess into the Catholic faith.  Guadalupe is a beautiful example of the universalism of Christianity bringing together different cultures and traditions which all point in the same direction – a Divinity of love for all people.

 Of course this kind of syncretism is not new to the Catholic church or to any church.  Every church, in every setting, incorporates cultural practices, traditions, assumptions, and, yes, biases, into its identity.  The Christianity we know is rife with European and American influences.  Sometimes it is hard for us to see these influences because we are so familiar with them.  To us, they are like the air we breathe.  It’s easier to see them in Christian practices from other cultures like the Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexico or the Christian Church in Malaysia where God is referred to as Allah.

Remembering the Virgin of Guadalupe reminds us that God is present in humanity, all of humanity.  There is no human creature that is not created to be a bearer of Divine Love.  Our faith is intended to be universal.  And in order to be meaningful to all cultures and peoples, many different practices and rituals and customs and images are needed.

Our job is to make sure that our expression of Christianity is built on the solid foundation of the teachings of Jesus.  Advent is just the time to remind ourselves that “Jesus is the reason for the season.”  

Prayer We give thanks for the many expressions of Christianity around the world.  We give thanks that our faith is intended to bring light to all people in all times, all places, and all cultures.  May the universal light of God show us the way to valuing all people, treating all people with dignity, and  honoring the Divine image in each and every person.  Amen.  

crisis

crisis: 1 a :  the turning point for better or worse in an acute disease or fever    b : a paroxysmal attack of pain, distress, or disordered function    c : an emotionally significant event or radical change of status in a person’s life – a midlife crisis

2    : the decisive moment (as in a literary plot) – The crisis of the play occurs in Act 3.

3 a : an unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which a decisive change is impending: especially : one with the district possibility of a highly undesirable outcome            – a financial crisis           – the nation’s energy crisis    b : a situation that has reached a critical phase            – the environmental crisis          – the unemployment crisis

This is what the Miriam – Webster Dictionary has to say about the word crisis.  It implies a temporary state of affairs, a state of transition.  Critical, yes, but a passing phase in a process.  

Recently in listening to the NPR program “Marketplace,” the commentator was talking about what is going on in the economies of Brazil and Argentina.  We were told that these two economies are experiencing “low levels of crisis.”  

A low level of crisis?  What is a low level of crisis?  Crisis by definition is an intense state of change or distress.  Low levels of crisis.  What is that?  How can crisis be at a low level when it is specifically a time that is critical?  Crisis is also a time of transition, a temporary state, and low levels of crisis somehow sounds on going.  Can there be a low level of crisis?

Well, while I can’t defend the phrase “low levels of crisis” I feel like this is what we are living.  It seems like we are in an ongoing low level of crisis.  With the natural environment unraveling around us and mass shootings an almost daily occurrence and the growing wealth gap and the escalation in hate crimes and prejudice, it seems like we are living in a continuous low level of crisis.  (I am not including the impeachment in this list because that is a genuine crisis.)

The celebration of the birth of Jesus is a reminder of a turning point, a radical change, a significant event.  With this birth we are given the way to peace, to wholeness, to joy, to meaning, to life in all its fullness and abundance.  We don’t have to live in low level crisis mode any more because Jesus has been born.  He has given us another way.  We are free to create our own reality of hope and promise.  We do not have to let ourselves be buffeted by the messages around us that seek to destabilize us and make us fearful so that we are easier to control.  May we embrace the temporary critical crisis that is Advent so that we may make the decisive change to living God’s dream of “Peace on earth, good will to all.”  

Prayer During these Advent days, may we live into God’s reality of life and blessing for all.  May we be part of dismantling the systems and power structures that diminish life.  May we give ourselves over to the way of love.  Amen.