Pastor Dismer’s sermon from the fourth Sunday of Advent, Dec. 21:

“Since we are chosen recipients of God’s favor and grace, we need not be afraid by God’s call to action in our lives because He is with us and because nothing is impossible with God.”

Luke 1:26-38

Three Sundays ago, we began a new church year, on the first Sunday in Advent, by looking at the end of the story – the end of the age and Jesus’ second coming.

Today, on this last Sunday of Advent, we are going to look at the beginning of the story. We will look at Jesus’ first coming, by looking at the story of his mother, Mary.

Mary was just a young girl, probably a young teenager, recently engaged to Joseph.

In those days the engagement was the official act, which in essence decreed that the engaged couple were married. The actual marriage ceremony came later, when the family was ready.

And so, as our story begins, we look at Mary’s story. I suggest we examine not only what it meant to her, but also what it means to us.

At the beginning of this story, an angel appeared to Mary, an angel with a specific name: Gabriel! An angel who came to a specific person – Mary – in a specific place – Nazareth. An angel, let us remember, is a messenger from God: A messenger who brings a direct word from God.

The angel said to Mary: “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you. “Highly favored” could also be translated as “full of grace.” Either phrase makes Mary sound like a very special person. And she was very special, as are each and every one of us. But this is not why she was chosen.

The term “highly favored” actually meant she was the recipient of God’s favor. God had chosen her, and that is what made her “highly favored.”

Has anyone ever come to you as a messenger, bringing you a word from God?

You might not have recognized the messenger as “as angel,” but you might have understood that this was God’s word you were hearing.

We are each chosen by God, and “highly favored.” God’s gift of grace is as available to each of us as it was to Mary. And sometimes, if we are paying attention, we realize that someone has brought that word of grace to us, personally.

It might have been a friend who said to you, “I forgive you.” It might have been a child, who wrapped his arms around your neck and said, “I love you.” Forgiveness and love are both gifts of grace.

It might have been a total stranger saying to you, “I need help.” And in that moment you recognized God’s grace was available, and you could help.

When the angel spoke to Mary she was troubled. Who was she to be told that she was to receive God’s favor? Who was she to be told The Lord is with you? She may have felt as unworthy as we feel when God’s grace appears and blesses our insignificant lives.

And Mary was frightened. But the angel said, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.”

This was an amazing announcement. Mary could only respond with an honest question: How will this be? How could I, little me, nobody important, how could I be the one to carry this holy child so long awaited?

Surely we know this feeling. How often have we had challenges or opportunities arise, and have thought: Me? You want me to do what? And we have missed the message: fear not, the Lord is with you.

We may have wanted to meet the challenge, but a fearful inner voice said: “You can’t do that. You wouldn’t know what to do.”

Or a practical voice said: “You can’t do that now, you are too busy; you are needed here.” And we missed the message: fear not, the LORD is with you. Nothing is impossible with God.

Mary did not miss the message. May it be to me as you have said, she replied.

Mary heard God’s word. She heard his promise of grace. She heard that she did not need to fear. She was reminded that with God nothing is impossible.

Mary heard the message that she was invited to play a part in God’s plan for the salvation of the world. And she said “Yes.”

We are reminded by this beautiful story of Mary and the angel who brought God’s word to her, that we, too, can hear God’s word: in messages brought to us by loved ones and strangers; as we read our Bibles; and in worship: in hymns and liturgies, in sermons and prayers, in bread and wine.

We are reminded by Mary’s story that we are invited to play a part in God’s plan for salvation. It won’t be the part Mary played, but it will be the part God has for each of us.

We are reminded that we are highly favored – that we are chosen recipients of God’s favor and grace.

We are reminded that we do not need to be afraid by God’s call to action in our lives because God is with us, and because nothing is impossible with God.

With her permission, let me share a story of how this all became real one day for my wife, Karen.

A number of years ago, I was on my way to lead a Bible study in a home 25 miles away. Karen was getting ready to give our children their supper. The phone rang, and a policeman said to her: “Ma’am, is the pastor there? I need someone right away. I’m on my way to a home where a child has died. Paramedics are on their way. The husband is there and his wife will be home from work soon. She doesn’t yet know. He wants a pastor there. His own pastor is out of town, and his church secretary gave him your husband’s name.

Karen knew there wasn’t time to get a message to me. She said, “I’ll try to contact another pastor. Call me back in 5 minutes.”

She tried, but couldn’t reach any pastor she knew who lived nearby.

When the policeman called back, and said again, “Ma’am, I’ve just got to have somebody,” Karen found herself saying, “Well, I’m somebody. I’ll come,”

The policeman told her to meet him at an intersection she knew, and he would lead her from there. They arrived at the man’s house just as the wife also arrived.

Together they went in, and cried with and comforted the devastated couple. Later Karen and the policeman took the couple to the hospital, where the paramedics had taken the child.

Only on the way back from the hospital did the wife seem to realize that Karen was a total stranger. “Who are you?” she asked.

And Karen said, I will tell you my name, but what I hope you remember is that I am here because God sent me, to bring you his word and his comfort; and I promise I will be praying for you every day from now on.”

So that you know this story has a wonderful ending, I will tell you that a year later this couple appeared at a worship service with us one Sunday carrying a beautiful baby girl.

They told us this was their second miracle baby. The mother had had a kidney transplant, and her doctor told her not to risk having a child. Nevertheless, she risked her life to have her son, and she had risked her life again to have another child, this new daughter. They wanted us to know, and they wanted me to baptize her.

Today, with hope in our hearts, we come to the end of the waiting, the end of this season of preparation, the end of Advent. We are ready, with Mary, to welcome into our hearts, and into our lives, the Christ child, the savior of the world. And for whatever lies ahead, with God’s grace, we are ready. Amen.