Welcome to Pastor Jack Buckley's weekly blog and podcast.
You have three ways to hear his weekly message:
- Read Pastor Jack's GODblog.
- Listen now to an audio of the scripture reading and Pastor Jack's sermon.
- Listen anytime. You choose the time and place. Download Pastor Jack's GODcast to your MP3 player.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Christmas Is Not For Sissies
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Luke 1:46-55
We tend to sentimentalize the Christmas story, and understandably so. After all, babies make us smile real wide and go all soft inside. (I hold my new grandson Mateo and I'm simply mesmerized by his warmth, his sweet smell, the very heft of his little body in the crook of my arm.)
This Sunday's Gospel story was about not one, but two babies in the making. And about their awestruck mommies to be. For these are miracle babies! Mary is pregnant even though she's a virgin; her cousin Elizabeth is pregnant even though she is old beyond normal child-bearing years.
And now we get to listen in on their excited conversation about it all.
At one point, Mary breaks into singing, in praise that God has chosen her of all people to be Messiah's mother. Amazing grace! But then her song takes a surprising turn. She praises God for turning the tables on this world's proud and powerful and privileged few, in favor of the weak and lowly masses. Like herself.
And so, suddenly, in the midst of our "Away in a Manger" anticipation of the "holy infant's" birthday celebration we're face to face with some radical reorganization of the world's agenda. And the church's too, as a matter of fact.
There have been times, in the course of human events, when reading or preaching on Mary's song was considered a subversive act. Imagine that! Imagine, too, what might happen if this passage were read on Tuesday, January 20, 2009 when our new President takes the oath of office with his hand on a Bible.
This Advent reading makes it crystal clear that Christmas is not for sissies. Young Mary is one strong soul. And we had better be, too, if we're at all serious about following the man her sweet soft baby grew up to be.
Listen to the GODcast!
posted by Jack Buckley at
5:36 PM
<< Home
|
|
 |
|
|
