For
Sunday, December 24, 2017, 4th Sunday of Advent, Year B, Readings: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; Canticle 15,
Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55);
Romans
16:25-27, Luke 1:26-38
Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with you. [2 Samuel 7:3]
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior; for he has looked with favor upon his lowly servant.
[Canticle 15/Luke 1:46-48]
...the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery...now disclosed, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! [Romans 16:25b-26]
The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And...you will bear a son, and you will name him Jesus...For nothing will be impossible with God." Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." [Luke 1:26-38]
And we still wait on this 4th Sunday of Advent, but the wait is much shorter than usual with the rare convergence of Advent 4 and Christmas Eve on the same date, and Christmas Day only a few hours beyond. The excitement and anticipation build as always at this time, but do we truly know why we are waiting? Or are we merely complacent in the midst of the excitement and sparkle of the lights and music and holiday-making? Are we filled with anxious questions such as: do we have that thing, or the other, or the stuff we need for the company, is the wrapping done, what time is it, when are they coming, when are we going? Of course those of us fortunate to have those lists and gatherings and events should enjoy it all. Yet, let us take a breath, and stop for more than just a moment to re-evaluate what our coming Christ-Mass is all about.
To say Jesus is the Reason for the Season sounds casually trite and indeed it isn't altogether true in a non-Christian context. In the 4th century, the newly Christian Emperor, Constantine, appropriated the Winter Solstice festivals of the sun and other deities from pagan religious traditions - the Celts and Egyptians for two examples - for the wholly Christian commemoration of Christ's birth. Perhaps he assumed that if they're going to party anyway, he would mandate a different reason. After all, none of the birth narratives in the Bible tell us a date or even a season when Christ was born. December 25th became the official date for the celebration everywhere in the Church under Pope Julius I not long after Constantine's decree. [By the way, the December Winter Solstice only applies in the northern hemisphere.] But after well over 2 millennia, the whole world is accustomed to "Christmas" on December 25th, though I suspect there are still quite a few Christians that celebrate the Winter Solstice, too. [Thursday December 21 this year in case you need to know]
This last Sunday of Advent is also a moment, rare in Episcopal/Protestant theology, to celebrate the crucial role of Mary in our Salvation - not merely as the Theotokos, God-Bearer - but even more so because she "...found favor with God." [Luke 1:30a] It is because of this favor acknowledging her devotion, because she heard God's word and believed, because she was faith-filled and faithful, that she was chosen to bring us the fulfillment of God's ultimate Promise, Jesus, the revelation of the mystery...now disclosed.
Let us take time to discover what Christmas and Christ really mean to our everyday lives, to dig deep and listen, to examine the promises we have
made in moments of true devotion and in times of crisis, the promises kept and
the ones we meant to keep in the moment they were made. How do we allow Mary's example of Let it be with me according to your word to manifest in our lives? It is time to begin again to find the Christ within us and let his light shine through us; to believe again, or for the first time, the angel's words, For nothing will be impossible with God.
In just this one day, in only a few hours, we
journey from the Annunciation to the birth of our Christ, the Son who forever outshines the sun.
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE,
PRAY
Leader: ~ God Almighty, Great and Merciful, purify our
souls and grant us the humility to live according to Your Word and Will. Awaken
our hearts to be eager in child-like anticipation for the coming celebration of
this Holy Infant, our Hope and our Redeemer.
O
Lord Most High
RESPONSE: Fill
us with Mary’s Wonder, Hope, and Trust
~
God Almighty, Great and Merciful, keep us vigilant and insistent as we advocate
constantly for the causes of compassion, peace, and cooperation among all who
govern in our World, in our Nation, and in our Villages, Towns, and Cities.
We pray especially for:
O Lord Most High
Fill us
with Mary’s Wonder, Hope, and Trust
~ God Almighty, Great and Merciful, comfort and
heal those who suffer with devastating illness, serious depression, or any life-limiting
circumstance, and give respite to all who give love and support. We now join
our voices to pray aloud for those in need…
O Lord Most High
Fill
us with Mary’s Wonder, Hope, and Trust
~
God Almighty, Great and Merciful, release us all from fresh and remembered
grief as our loved ones arise to boundless joy in everlasting life with You. We
pray especially for:
O Lord Most High
Fill
us with Mary’s Wonder, Hope, and Trust
~
God Almighty, Great and Merciful, we pause
in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions,
petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently…
O Lord Most High
Fill
us with Mary’s Wonder, Hope, and Trust
~
God Almighty, Great and Merciful, grant continuing renewal and energy to all
who have answered Your call in the model of Mary, and have inspired us by their
example in faithfulness, worship, and pastoral care. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
O Lord Most High
Fill
us with Mary’s Wonder, Hope, and Trust
The Celebrant adds: O God of Love and Glory,
detach us from earth-bound noise to listen deeply and experience the true Birth of Christ within and through us.
Infuse us with the obedience of faith that will guide us and
sustain us as we follow the path of our Messiah. We ask through the imminence
of the Incarnate Christ, and the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit, who together with
You are One God, our Strength and our Salvation, forever and ever. Amen.
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