This month we have started a congregational conversation on Hope Restored.  We have heard preachers talk about all the wonderful ways in which we can feel connected both to each other and to the Gospel.  We have heard that restoration is possible, and is, in fact, a gift from God.  In preparation and expectation of this joyful holiday season, we have begun to light advent candles, adding a new layer to our churches way of worshiping, incorporating some of the traditions of our denomination into our local church.

And here we are, today is the third Sunday of Advent.  That means that after today, there are less than two weeks till Christmas!  That means that we are finishing up our shopping, decorating, planning our menus, and catching up with loved ones. It occurred to me, that this season is really hard on some people.  For some people, this is a rough time of year.  Their loved ones are too far to visit, leaving them feeling lonely.  Maybe this is the first year that they can’t afford to invite a houseful of guests.  Maybe this is the year that their family issues have become public knowledge and they are having a hard time listening to the murmurs.  During this holiday season as we sit around and catch up with each other, I dare you to ask, did you hear what happened to Mary?

Please, join me in reading Luke 1:1-4[1],

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.  With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Now, most of you are asking yourselves what does that have to do with Mary? Luke was introducing us to his investigative report[2] of Jesus’ story.  Luke was not claiming to have been there, he was not saying he knew anything from personal experience, instead, Luke was writing to believers who had already heard the stories and he was letting us know he wasn’t merely spreading gossip, but rather telling us what really happened.

Meet the Pregnant Virgin (Luke 1:26-38)

Understand that each part of a story has a purpose.  When we talk about people, we need to be careful because what we know is only part of a bigger piece of their story.  Imagine the scene around your Christmas table: an honored guest, a stranger, sits next to you and as you talk you realize you have a friend in common…did you hear what happened to Mary?  The Reverend Penny Lowes[3], wrote the story in this way:

What I’m about to say is true.  In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent an angel named Gabriel to the village of Nazareth in Galilee.  Gabriel appeared to a virgin named Mary who was engaged to be married to Joseph, who was descended from King David.  Upon seeing her, Gabriel said: “Good morning! You are God’s beautiful daughter.  May God be with you!”  As you can imagine she was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was going on.  But the angel assured her, “Mary, you have nothing to fear, God has a surprise for you. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son you’ll name Jesus.”  Mary couldn’t imagine this and said to the angel, “How can this be?  I’ve never been with a man.”  Gabriel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, God’s spirit will hover over you and the child you birth will be called Holy, the Son of God.”  And that’s not all – your cousin Elizabeth is six months pregnant with a son as well.  Truly, it happened this way, a long, long time ago.

Mary was young, unwed, and pregnant.  I am sure people had a lot to say about her “situation.”  I cannot imagine it was easy for Mary to have people talking about her, talking about her unborn child, idly spreading her story.  What a scandal!  The Bible tells us how to act in these situations, in 2 Thessalonians 3:11-15 Paul warns the church, “We hear that some among you are idle…they are busybodies.  Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.  And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right…Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed.  Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.” 

Her confidante, Elizabeth (Luke 1: 39-45, 56)

You may be wondering what we can do when we are faced with similar situations around our tables.  Remember that God restores us to the position He promised us, even when others try to pull us down[4].  I know that when I feel people are talking about me, dragging me through the mud, even if it’s based on lies and half-truths I feel bad, and I feel embarrassed and I want to hide.  And that is when I am most in need of a friend.  

So, imagine we are sitting at a kitchen table and I have just talked to an Angel who turned my world upside down.  He told me truths about myself and confirmed some of the stories I have heard about my cousin, Elizabeth:

What I’m about to say is true.  I ran to my cousin’s house when  Gabriel told me what he told me.  I couldn’t get there fast enough.  For months, I had been hearing that her husband had gone mute.  Only God knows what he saw, what he heard that took the words right out of his mouth!  I had heard so many things…I couldn’t tell you who I was more concerned about, it was like suddenly I realized that as much as people were talking about me, wow, my cousin’s story was part of my story…I had to be with her…

And Finally, Here Is Jesus (Drawing out the Implications)

Be a friend.  Be a friend to someone else, always!  Don’t just be a friend during the good times, when the party is going strong.  Be a friend during the bad times, when the party is over and it is time to clean the mess.  That is when true friendships are born, in the tough times.  Jesus, the reason for this season is that type of friend.  We have not met him, yet.  But we soon will!

Conclusion

The holidays are a time when we catch up with loved ones, a time when we get to hear stories from people and about people who, maybe, we have not seen in a while.  I ask that we be present, and mindful as we catch up with each other.  Be a “Good Stewart of Friendship”  Be a confidant!

Please join us in the upcoming weeks as we conclude on Christmas morning: Breakfast with Jesus. 

May God bless you and give you peace!