Foretaste of the Sermon to Come
A little nibble of the Revised Common Lectionary.
Sunday’s texts are Micah 5:2-5a, Psalm 80:1-7, Luke 1:39-55
Our congregation is a lover of Holden Evening Prayer, and its gorgeous handling of Mary’s Annunciation and Magnificat. Here is a nice version if you would like to listen to it while reading. https://youtu.be/JAFMMITXTmI
Scripture is so amazing — read the words from Micah:
But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
from ancient days.
Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labor has brought forth;
then the rest of his kindred shall return
to the people of Israel.
And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth;
and he shall be the one of peace
Isn’t that exactly what happened? God’s Word is the key for Mary. In her Magnificat she tells God’s story from the Hebrew scriptures, and focuses on God’s promise, found only in his Word. God’s promises are fulfilled in his Word, which will be her Son Himself. Jesus the Word will be he final fulfillment of all of God’s promises.
Her powerful, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled,” in response to Gabriel’s troubling annunciation, is pure faith. It’s pure belief in God’s Word. It’s knowledge that God’s Word is an active, creative enactor, and she is ready to be the one through whom it will be enacted.
Words to live by, aren’t they? Lord, I am your servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.
Amen.
