Download 1 For three months Mary stayed with her cousin Elizabeth. They had

Rev. Daniel Mackey
Advent Midweek 3
December 17, 2014
Luke 1:26-38
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Muncie, Ind.
For three months Mary stayed with her cousin Elizabeth. They had a wonderful
visit, which is recorded in our lesson. Do you notice what happens in our reading?
Mary goes to Elizabeth’s house and gets praised and exalted. Elizabeth says, “Blessed
are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” What about the fruit
of Elizabeth’s womb? Mary is coming to help Elizabeth during Elizabeth’s pregnancy.
Shouldn’t Elizabeth be praised, she who could not conceive who has now conceived a
son? Elizabeth’s circumstances are miraculous too, are they not? Might not seem fair.
What about my happiness? What about my honor and glory? Those are the
demanding questions of the world, the demanding questions of our sinful flesh. We
see it with Leah and Rachel fighting over Jacob’s love, also with Saul despising of
David because of God’s favor. Not only them, but us too. It’s all about me, right? We
begrudge the happiness of others. They have, why don’t I? And many people will feel
that envy and bitterness come Christmas morning. So-and-so got such-and-such! I
wanted one of those! Maybe not just with possessions but also with prestige and what
others think about you. Who gave the better gift?
But does Elizabeth begrudge Mary’s joy? No, she does not. Mary’s visit to her is
of great happiness. Elizabeth is content with what the Lord has blessed her. God has
ended her barrenness and given her a son! And how does Mary react to Elizabeth’s
praise? Does she bask in the exultation? No, she directs the glory to God. She sings,
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” Mary doesn’t
make it about herself (though many have tried to make the seasons of Advent and
Christmas about this young woman). No, she makes it about God!
Both Elizabeth and Mary exclaimed what God had done for them. Mary glorified
in the Promised Messiah and Savior in her womb; Elizabeth rejoiced in John leaping in
her womb and the visitation of that Savior. God’s and His blessings are the focus of
their relationship. And in God there is no envy; bitterness has no place. He alone is
worthy of the blessing and the praise; He alone deserves the glory. Again and again
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throughout Scripture we see boasting is in the Lord. The proud are humbled. He who
humbles Himself is exalted!
Each thing we have, as much or as little as we have, is a gift from God. When
we remember this, it allows us to be content with what we have. As St. Paul says in
Philippians 4, he has learned to rejoice whether in want or in plenty. “Rejoice in the
Lord always. Again I will say, Rejoice.” The gift of contentment from God frees us to
love others properly. This is the mind of Christ: “Love is patient and kind; love does
not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not
irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.”
This love is the basis of all Christian relationships. Mary and Elizabeth’s relationship is
a perfect example.
They trusted each other, confident in the other’s honesty. A true Christian
means what she says. If one is friendly, the other knows this friendship is from the
heart. If one chastises or rebukes the other, she knows it is constructive criticism,
given with love and concern for the soul. If one sins against the other, the one sinned
against knows it was done, not in malice and meanness, but in weakness. The sinner is
forgiven as soon as her sin is recognized. And the result is that the two become
closer, having greater unity and love. True Christians also always approach each other
with respect, just as both Mary and Elizabeth did. Each rejoices when the other
rejoices. Each regards herself a greater sinner than the other. She is therefore
honored to receive a visit from even the humblest Christian. Why? Because she knows
that even the humblest Christian carries within herself the spirit of the Lord Jesus
Christ, just as Mary carried Jesus in her womb. We know that, in our fellow Christian,
Christ is making a visit.
My fellow Christians, Christ has visited His people and redeemed them. It is as
we confess in our creed, “Who for us men and for our salvation [He] came down from
heaven.” To each of us and for each of us God has given His greatest gift, His Son.
Earthly things don’t even compare with this heavenly blessing! All things become
fading shadows in the brilliance of this great gift. Who gave the better gift? God did;
He gave His Son, Jesus. And for whom is that gift? It’s for you. Therefore, join Mary in
her song, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”
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