A sermon by Associate Minister Elsa A. Peters, December 19, 2010
Matthew 1:18-25
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way, but it’s that introduction that confuses. It complicates this sacred story. Now, it begins, as if this story of birth is mere a historical event locked in the pages of history. Now, this story begins, as if there is no way to separate the people and places of the past from our present. But, now is this moment. Now is right here. Now is in our time. So, shouldn’t this story be born in the ways that we choose to engage this story here and now?
That’s the hard part. We know the history, but it’s harder to understand the here and now. On Monday night, in the last gathering of our Advent journey Praying in Color, I asked the members of our small group to engage with a verse from this same gospel. As we attempted to pray for ourselves, here and now, I challenged us to hear these words spoken clearly and directly by our God who is with us, saying:
This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’
Now. Can you do it? Can you hear these words apart from the story that you know so well? Can you hear these words spoken to you right now? Can you imagine the messenger? Can you see the prepared way ahead of you? Can you see it now?
This gospel doesn’t make it any easier. This particular story of holy birth doesn’t leave room for an experience. It doesn’t leave space for the here and now because this author is determined to make this story fit. It has to relate to text in Isaiah about a young woman that will have a child, but this particular verse has nothing to do with the Messiah. The verse in Isaiah speaks of a young woman that will have a child. Not the Messiah. Just a child to remind a king long ago in the pages of history that God was with him. The king didn’t believe it. So, God sent Isaiah to remind this king of this simple truth. God says that this young woman will bear a child to be called Emmanuel. It’s not translated. The Emmanuel in this Hebrew Scripture is left there waiting to be experienced. Of course, that’s the problem. Like the king, we’re afraid to go looking for the signs of God. We’re not sure that God is really there because we don’t see God in the strange and wondrous events that are passed down from generation to generation in these sacred verses. God hasn’t spoken to us – and if he did we’d probably be back in therapy.
Now. We limit our imaginations so that God can only act by defying science and speaking through prophets. We don’t see those strange events right now. We don’t believe those that claim to be the voice of God. We dig our heels in and insist that it just doesn’t happen for us as it did for Joseph. We can’t remember the last time we awoke and immediately knew exactly what to do – if that has ever happened. No. Instead, we try to talk ourselves out of it. It wasn’t a sign. It wouldn’t happen in that way. Surely, it couldn’t have been God or an angel or even a prophet who actually spoke in that moment. It couldn’t be. It’s not possible. That just doesn’t happen. In this old sacred story, we can see that God revealed a possibility to Joseph in a dream. It’s just not as easy for us to imagine that God could appear to us in the very same way. Now.
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. What if those words were yours? What if they were spoken to you right now? What would take place in this way so that you could experience the birth of Jesus the Messiah? Would there be signs and wonders? Would there be shepherds and wisepeople? Or would this experience come to you in a dream? Now, how could you tell if it really is the Messiah that had come into your life?
The renowned preacher Fred Craddock observes that this is one of the mysteries of our faith. In the midst of Advent, we could give up. We could stop looking for God. It would be easy to do so but Craddock notes that it is the “tenacity of our faith which refuses to give up hope.” We keep looking – even in this gospel story where it seems God has finally come but it’s not clear yet what God looks like. We don’t need to understand it. We can hope. We can dream like Joseph. We can experience the story as our very own. We just need to allow ourselves enough imagination to step into this gospel account to allow it to unfold. Now. Like any expectant parent, awaiting their child’s birth, we can allow ourselves to imagine what this child will become and how much we will love her. It could happen again. This child could be your Emmanuel.
Now. In this gospel account wrapped so tightly with ribbon and scotch tape, this is the part that we can open. This is where the paper rips and allows us to see that this child will be called Emmanuel. This child will be the reminder that God is with us. There’s no scientific explanation. There’s not even a way to prove it. Trust me. Each year, I try to find some way to find some way to make the hope of Emmanuel more tangible, more accessible, more vivid; but my friends, it can’t be done in just one story. There’s no one sign that will reveal the hidden mystery that God is with us, but that is the miracle. It doesn’t happen in any one way but it happens in each and every moment that God chooses to be with us in this world. Now. We don’t need to ask her to show up. She’s already there. Now. God weeps when we weep. God laughs when we laugh. God stands beside us calling out for justice. This is the miracle that is so hard to grasp. God is with us. No matter what happens, God is with us. No matter what kingdoms might fall or what legislation might be passed. No matter who has died or who will be born. No matter where the journey leads or where it has been. No matter what, God is with us. Now.
We make the miracle so big and so grand that it seems impossible. You don’t have to believe in a virgin birth or that there is an explanation for everything that happens in this world. Instead, in this story where a man wakes up knowing exactly what to do, you’re invited to do the same. You’re invited to believe simply that God wants to be with you. Here and now. We know that it can happen. We believe that it has happened. And yet, in between those moments, we forget to look around us and see that is happening. Now. God is with us.