"Letting God be God" - Luke 1:26-38 - December 11, 2005

"Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women." That is not a phrase we Protestants are very familiar with. But, if you were raised Roman Catholic, or have attended mass on a regular basis, you know them by heart. Mary is highly esteemed in the gospel and rightly so. She was the first disciple, the first to believe in Christ. Mary, probably at the age of thirteen, without any education and no privileges, was chosen to take part in the plan of bringing God's only son into the world. Mary's status in the Catholic Church may bother some folks, but no one can discount or deny her commitment and faithfulness to God's plan of salvation.

We could easily get wrapped up in the argument of the "virgin birth." But that has been debated for centuries and I will not attempt to either prove it or dispute it. For me, whether or not Mary was a virgin and whether or not she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit, does not affect my faith in any way. What impacts me is the how this story is relevant to us in our time and what it means for our faith.

In the December issue of Lectionary Homiletics, Rodney J. Hunter said, "What the mythic story of the Annunciation really teaches us is not that God performs magic, but that there is no human situation beyond redemption, that the angel can come into any human life, any family, any nation with the good news that we are not lost or forgotten, that good can come forth from every crisis by the creative working of God's Spirit."

Hunter's words really hit home for me. One of the major reasons I am in ministry today is because I believe many people are lost. And, if not lost, there are many folks who are feeling abandoned and forgotten, either by others or by God.

The fact that God chose a young woman in a society that was male dominant, in a place that was in the middle of nowhere and in an embarrassing situation (engaged and pregnant), may surprise us. But it says to me that God does not forget and that no one is lost or beyond God's care.

If for any reason you think you are totally insignificant just Google yourself. Google is a search engine on the internet. By entering your own name in cyberspace you will discover that you do indeed exist. You may feel that you are nothing more than a statistic, but a Google search will identify you in more ways that you can believe.

One time I looked up my own name for fun. I was not surprised to find myself listed on the church web page or in my high school directory. And it certainly didn't surprise me that my name would appear in obituary notices in newspapers. What surprised me was the number of places where I was quoted in a particular sermon, or someone referenced a sermon of mine in some article. I had no idea that my ministry was so far reaching.

Do you think Mary had any idea that her commitment and faithfulness to God would reach so far into the future and that her life would be such an integral part of the church? An angel came into her life and the world changed forever. I believe that an angel can come into any of our lives as well, because God does not forget us. With God we are never lost or forgotten.

What I truly find amazing is that God entrusted the most important person in history to the very least, an impoverished, oppressed, young woman with no rights and certainly no status.

Recently we have been hearing reports about the problems in New Orleans. Every level of government seems to be playing a blame game about who should have done what and who was responsible and who is going to make it all right. While people in high positions get a lot of media attention because they are persons of authority, they also have to take the criticism that comes with the territory. But, while agencies like FEMA or the Red Cross do many good things, God also works through "the very least."

For example, you have most likely never heard of Victor Martin. He is the manager of the Best Western Sterling Inn in Detroit. There was a family of twelve, including extended family, who arrived in Sterling in August, 2005. They had left New Orleans because they lost everything they owned. Martin got wind of their plight and opened his motel to them for temporary lodging. Through his efforts the local community rallied around the family and supplied them with resources to sustain themselves. The community gave them clothing, gas cards, food, toys, gift certificates and money. They helped to find jobs for those who could work. The children were enrolled in schools. Because of the outpouring of the generosity of the people in Sterling, Michigan, Earl Walker and his family made a new home in Sterling

Anytime someone opens their hearts with the love of God, the faithfulness of Mary lives on. In Sterling, Michigan it wasn't a young woman who became pregnant, but a community who was impregnated with the spirit of God. The way God works does not always make sense. No one can explain the devastation that happened to the thousands of people in New Orleans. Nor, can anyone explain the outpouring of support that thousands of people have received from thousands of nameless people who are committed to helping others. And no one can explain how Mary became pregnant.

How God works is a mystery. But, God can do the impossible. Somehow, Mary resolved in her heart that God knew what was best. She said "yes" to a powerful God who works in mysterious ways. Ultimately it was all about letting go, and letting God be God. "Let it be with me according to your word," Mary said to Gabriel.

What better words to hear at this time of the year than "let it be." During the Christmas season people are stressed out, trying to get everything done. Those who are perfectionists end up losing it because they are trying to control things. What they discover is not everyone shares their passion for details. At some point they have to put their trust in others and accept the fact that they are not responsible for every detail in the universe.

In Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul, Lynn Robertson tells a story about her grandmother. Lynn was the mother of two very active boys. They were constantly making a shambles of her carefully decorated home. They would occasionally knock over a lamp or upset one of her arrangements.

One Christmas all of her children and their cousins were at her grandmother, Ruby's home. Ruby had just purchased white carpet. After twenty five years she was tired of living with the same ole carpet. She was overjoyed with the new look it gave her home.

Uncle Arnie gave everyone of the children a special gift for Christmas, a container of his prized, homemade honey from his beehives. The children were excited but as fate would have it, eight-year-old Sheena spilled her tub of honey on Grandma Ruby's new carpet. Crying, Sheena ran into the kitchen and right into Grandma Ruby. "Grandma, I've spilled my honey all over your brand new carpet," she tearfully said. Grandma Ruby knelt down, looked tenderly into Sheena's tearful eyes and said, "Don't worry sweetheart, we can get you more honey." "Let it be," grandma Ruby proclaimed. "Let it be," Mary said. Just, let it be.

The words, “Let it be” can mean more than just saying we shouldn’t get upset over milk that is spilt, or in this case, honey that is spilled on Grandma’s new white carpet. For Mary to say, “Let it be,” meant she was surrendering to the will of God. For Mary also said, “Here I am, a servant of the Lord.” God had a plan for her that was not of her own choosing. Her life was to turn out differently than she had envisioned. Aside from her faith, Mary was not prepared for her role in God’s plan of salvation.

What I hear more than anything during the Christmas season is the expectations and personal agendas that family and friends lay upon us. “You will be coming to our home Christmas Day, won’t you,” your mother emphatically states. “Don’t forget, the office party on Christmas Eve,” your co-worker reminds. But, those inferences can go much deeper. We are torn with conflicts because there are so many demands upon our time and energy. How do we choose?

It seems to me that Mary holds the key. She surrendered to a God who surprised her with a role beyond her wildest dreams. God selected her to help the world. Ultimately she did what God wanted her to do. I realize it’s not always possible for us to know what God wants for our lives. Each of us has to discern that for ourselves. Mary surrendered to that which she could not control. We can control where we go, what gifts we give and who we see. But, we can’t control the “feelings” or the “call of God” that encourages us to do something beyond ourselves.

Beverly Bartlett tells about the time she was Christmas shopping in San Francisco. She was in the midst of the crowds waiting impatiently for slow-moving buses and streetcars. Everyone was loaded with packages and she was having second thoughts as to whether or not all her relatives really deserved so many gifts.

She finally found a streetcar but there were no seats. People were jammed tightly together. She was exhausted and she virtually could not move. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a young boy, about five years old, tugging on a woman’s sleeve. “Would you like a seat?” He quietly led her to an open seat. Then he found another worn out shopper and led them to a seat as well.  He quietly moved his way through the crowded streetcar, finding seats for worn-out souls.

Then it became Beverly’s turn. “Come with me,” the little boy said. With a smile on his face he led her to an open seat. She happily placed her packages on the floor as the little Good Samaritan found another seat for yet another hapless shopper. Ordinarily, people on streetcars ignore each other but as more and more people found seats they began exchanging glances and conversations. Beverly’s attitude changed toward others and the usual frustrating experience of riding on a streetcar became much warmer and enjoyable. She was much more relaxed and aware of people around her. From then on she saw Christmas with a much fresher spirit. (from Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul)

This is the season to let God be God. Hopefully we will have the faith to let the God of the universe be in control. Hopefully we will come to accept the very least and let God work through whomever God chooses. "Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is truly with thee."

Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Sidney Ohio