[Mcgregorpage] McGregorPage #535, Advent 4, Dec. 24, 2006

[rmcgregoralbq at aol.com]

Advent 4, December 24, 2006

Micah 5:1 5a
Luke 1:46b 55 (or Psalm 80:1 7)
Heb 10:5 10
Luke 1:39 45[46 55]

 “Blessed Are Those…..”

What?!  Christmas is about the salvation of the world not just the 
salvation of the business year?  Christmas is about the sanctification 
of people not our self-indulgence?

I grew up in a home I considered to be poor.  It was poor because I had 
a Marx electric train, and my friend had Lionel O Gauge with electric 
switches.  It was poor because I could only get additions to my model 
railroad twice a year, birthday and Christmas.  Pouring over the Lionel 
Train Catalog, I would plan my gifts for the ensuing decade.  I thought 
electric trains were the answer to my yawning need, and I associated 
Christmas with that answer.  I am not unusual.  People do associate 
this celebration with their deepest need.  The problem is that we don’t 
understand our need or God’s answer.

Micah understood his people’s need for a government, a “shepherd”, that 
would provide them security in the presence of enemies.  He understood 
the answer in global terms because he understood God that way.  “...And 
they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the 
earth...”  (Micah 5:4)

The Psalmist understood that our need is for God to act and that we 
cannot control when or how God acts.  But, when God does act, it will 
be God who is glorified not we who are glorified.  That will meet our 
need precisely.   “Restore us, O God; let thy face shine, that we may 
be saved!”  (Psalm 80:3) The author of the letter to the Hebrews 
reminds the reader of the Scriptures that gifts are no substitute for 
relationship.  Samuel upbraids Saul for misunderstanding this (1 Sam 
15).  The Psalmist reflects on this in his own life (Psalm 50).  Isaiah 
(1), Jeremiah (7) and Hosea (6) proclaim as universal God’s desire for 
a relationship of love and obedience rather than the sacrifice of burnt 
offerings.  The message to the Hebrews is that our need is to be made 
Holy -- sanctified -- and the answer to our need is God’s act in Christ.

Luke lets us hear Mary sing, and what does she sing about?  A baby?  A 
manger?  Wisemen?  Shepherds?  Angels?  Not a one.  Where was her 
crèche?  No, when Mary sings, she sings an ancient song from an ancient 
need, the ancient and modern need of the oppressed, the poor, the vast 
majority of the people of the world, the people of low estate.  She 
sings a song with an ancient hope equally modern, that God will come 
and lift us up, that God has come and has lifted us up.

I have an electric train to put under the tree, but I am debating 
whether to lug it down from the attic this year.  I have all the things 
I once thought were the answer to my needs -- stereo, house, car, 
family, career, leisure -- and know that they are not the answer in the 
sense I thought.  No, it is the presence of God in human life that I 
need, in my life, yes, but in the whole human community.  I need the 
incarnation of God.  I can hear Jesus say as I look at the Christmas 
tree, “Roland, have you believed because you have seen toys and 
pleasures?  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

May these thoughts strengthen you.

An Open Letter to Fellow Pastors
>From Roland McGregor, United Methodist Pastor
 (an e-mail service)

[See Web Page address below for a Children’s Message coordinated with 
these lections.]

http://www.webspawner.com/users/ChildPage/

Multiple Sermon Starter Essays are available at
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      --Copyright 2006, Roland McGregor, all rights reserved—
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