12-19-21 “Blessed are You Who Believe in!”

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Luke 1:39-45

“Blessed are You Who Believe in!”

I want to start with something funny. A Baker was asked to print 1 John 4:18 on a wedding cake. He forgot and instead printed John 4:18. Guess what they say: 1 John 4:18 is “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.” However, John 4:18 says, “For you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband.”

We often make mistakes in everyday life. When you see someone make a mistake, what do you do? Last Sunday, while having the communion service at St. Croix Falls church, I started saying, as I usually do, “The Lord be with you.” and people said, “Also with you.” I said, “Lift up your hands.” At that moment, I felt something was wrong because no one said anything, and so I looked at them. Suddenly, I noticed that I had made a mistake. I said again, “I’m sorry, lift up your hearts.” If they really would have lifted their hands up, what would I have done?

As you may know, we are having Craft Group gatherings this Advent Season. Every Wednesday, we learn how to make “prayer shawls.” Thankfully, Paulie Kratchmer teaches us how to knit the “prayer shawls” and how we prepare our minds and environments with prayers for making the prayer shawls. It is an excellent opportunity to learn about “prayer shawl ministry.” The prayer shawl is not a simple gift, but it is a mindful, thoughtful, and sprit-filled gift for those who are really in need of prayers and caring or those who need to be blessed. We all are involved, whether we are caregivers or care-receivers, because we love to care for one another in Jesus’ love. One of the good lessons I learned from Paulie is that “love which is shown by acts and words is a powerful lesson.”

I had learned knitting when I was in high school, but I had haven’t completed anything. This time, I wanted to experience knitting a prayer shawl with patience and prayers as my meditation in Advent. I started a prayer shawl, and when I ran out of yarn, I noticed that I had done something wrong because it was wider and shorter than I expected. I texted Paulie that my prayer shawl was wider and shorter. She texted me back, saying, “Wow, I am amazed you are done with your yarn so quickly. It could be used for a lap blanket. I am sure someone would love it.” She so encouraged me, and so I was able to finish it. I know it is not perfect, nor the normal shape. But, she said, “It is a perfect lap blanket.” And she helped me to finalize it. Finally, I completed it and am making another prayer shawl. I am sure my knitting is improving. Proverbs 10:12 says, “Love covers over all wrongs.” Again, when you see people’s mistakes, how do you see them? Remember, “Love not only covers over all wrongs” but also encourages others to go forth. I would say, “Love leads us to open our spiritual eyes, which can see God’s miraculous work.” Blessed are you who believe in God’s work.

Today is the Fourth Sunday of Advent. We lit the fourth Advent candle, hoping Jesus brings us “love” in the world. I hope you are ready to receive “the love” Jesus will bring to us. Jesus’ love may come to us in miraculous ways, such as feeding five thousand people, healing the sick, and raising the dead.

In today’s Scripture, we see God’s unbelievable miracle. Two women were pregnant unexpectedly: Mary and Elizabeth. Mary was a teenager, and Elizabeth was much older, what we’d consider a senior citizen. Both had experienced the blessings of God, but Mary’s case was unacceptable by society because she wasn’t yet married. It was not possible for our rational or scientific minds to comprehend because in Elizabeth’s case, she was too old to bear a child and in Mary’s case, she hadn’t been with any man yet. However, they both met an angel and heard the good news. Well, I’m not sure everybody thought of the news as good at that time. But, it must be amazing news for both of them. Mary was a poor and rural girl and a fiancé of Joseph, a carpenter; Elizabeth was a rich, higher-class woman because she was the wife of the Priest Zachariah. Both their babies were from the Holy Spirit. However, nobody argued about Elizabeth’s pregnancy, but there were many arguments about the Virgin Mary’s pregnancy, and are still going on today. However, according to the Scripture, both cases are the same for God’s work because “Nothing will be impossible with God.”

Today’s Scripture begins with the words “in those days.” “In those days” means when Mary met the angel Gabriel and heard that she would conceive in her womb, bear a son, and name him Jesus. However, Mary was afraid and asked the angel, “how can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the child is to be holy; he will be called Son of God.” The angel, as the evidence of God’s providence, said to Mary, “Now your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. Nothing will be impossible with God.” And, Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” (Like 1:26-38). And, at that time, Mary went to Elizabeth in a hurry. She may have wanted to visit Elizabeth and check on everything the angel said to her.

As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb leaped in joy. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” And she called Mary, “The mother of the Lord.” Elizabeth blessed Mary, the child, and those who believe that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!” If you might believe in both cases as God’s providence, you are blessed!

When I was in a Ph. D. program, working as a Teaching Assistant to my Advisor, I met a seminarian concerned about the Virgin Mary’s pregnancy. One day, he said in class, “I can believe every miracle in the Gospel except the Virgin Mary’s pregnancy.” I asked him, “Do you believe that Jesus walked on water?” He said, “Yes, I believe it because He is Jesus the Son of God.” I asked him again, “What about how Jesus fed five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish?” He answered confidently, “Of course, he could do it because he is the Messiah.” I asked him, “Do you believe that Elizabeth gave birth to John the Baptist in her old age?” He answered loudly, “Yes, I believe that because she was a wife of the Priest.” I said, “Do you think that God’s power is less than the priest’s?” He hesitated to say, “Well.” I said, “Even though her husband Joseph believed it, and accepted it as God’s providence, why are you concerned about the Virgin Mary?”

What do you think about it? I know that it is not easy to explain or understand God’s providence. It is not rational, but spiritual in nature. Let us think about God’s power of omniscience! Do you believe that God’s power is less than a man’s power? Who made man? Who created all of nature, the universe, and all creatures here on earth? Don’t make God’s power limited in your thinking. God’s thoughts and plans go over our thoughts. God can make things happen beyond our comprehension.

It is the season of sharing the love of God. Especially in this season, Jesus would bring love to those seeking to be loved. Let us pray for those who don’t believe in God’s providence and the incarnated God, the savior Jesus Christ in the Christmas season. Blessed are you who share God’s love. Blessed are you who believe in God’s miracles! Thanks be to God. Amen!