Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Advent 2 - Midweek Service - 12-9-09

Advent 2, Midweek
One Year Lectionary,
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (December 9, 2009)

“The Sounds of Christ”

Readings:
Isaiah 40:1-5
Psalm 47
Romans 10:17-20
Luke 1:26-38

Sermon Form: Deductive
+INI+

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen

The text for today is as recorded in the Gospel reading of St. Luke the 1st chapter, especially the following verses.

Luke 1:26-38 (ESV)
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.


In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

Tonight in our mid-week journey of services centering upon the Senses of Christ, we consider the Sounds of the season. The sounds which help us to know that the Christmas season is upon us. And even more importantly the sounds that remind us that Christ has come for us, and Christ will come again. It’s pretty easy to consider sounds isn’t it? We are surrounded by sounds which warn us it is the time to begin thinking about the year-end celebration. In my youth we used to say we were offended if we heard of any store breaking the unofficial Thanksgiving Day barrier. That would be the unmarked and somewhat hidden rule of time that held back cash registers from ringing up wreaths and lights, until the turkey and stuffing had cooled down to room temperature. Now that line of demarcation, that sound barrier has been broken. Because those sounds of the holidays have flown over the turkey, passed over ghouls and goblins of Halloween, and now the sounds of the season begin sometime in August. Yes, you heard it right, in August. Have you already forgotten? Don’t you remember the sounds in the stores of the sprinklers, wheelbarrows, and garden rakes being removed from the shelves to make room for the Christmas trees and sparkly decorations?

Ah yes of course, now I remember. But we’ve become numb to the change and over the years our cries of disgust have turned to soft sighs. Now just a whisper of the question, “what has this world come to?” We hear the sounds of the season begin slowly sort of like the whine of a jet engine slowly gaining speed. The whirl of the holiday engines starting slowly and progressively move faster and faster as December approaches. First there is plenty of time, then as the gears of time continue to mesh, the rushing sound of shopping begins to intensify until there is a sudden jolt. It is the realization that the season is here and now it is time to emit the sounds of anguish for the lack of shopping time left.

Of course in the midst of all this there are the wonderful sounds of the parades, the concerts, the parties, the dinners, the sounds of glasses being filled, the carols of the season being sung all around us. Then again, for some, there is the sound of silence, the sound of being lonely, the sound of missing those who have been with us, the sound of that special voice that we must now wait patiently to hear again when we meet in heaven. Ah yes, the sounds of Christmas, the joy and the sorrow, the sounds of those who revel in excess, and the sound of those who must grovel because they do not have enough to make it through the next day. Whether we are of high or low position, whether we have many possessions or few, at times we all have rejoiced in the clamor of laughter, and we have also contemplated the deafening sound of silence from voices we wish we could hear again. Indeed, the sounds of the season evoke our minds to recall many reflections.

And over all those overwhelming sounds which blare in the wilderness of our minds, come the words of the prophet Isaiah proclaiming, “3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”(Isaiah 40:3-5)

It is the sound of the mouth of the Lord who comes to you crying so that you will hear. Through all the background din the sound of the glory of the Lord is revealed. And how does this glory come to you. St. Paul tells you to listen, “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ.”(Rom 10:17) That comfort comes to you through the sound of the Holy Spirit whispering faith into your ear. And that which you are given, your faith, that gift clings to Jesus Christ who has conquered all things, even death itself.

And how does Christ come into this world? By the sound of the voice of an angel who came to Mary the mother of Jesus, and the angel said to her, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!...Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.”(Luke 1:26-31) At the bidding of God, an angel spoke, and from the sound of God’s words, Mary concieved in her womb the very Son of God.

Mary heard from that angel the sound of God’s voice. The mouth of God spoke and salvation came into the world. And just for the record, Jesus did not come in an effort to create a marketing bonanza, to sell trees, toys, or Christmas cards. No, Jesus Christ came into this world so that you may hear of and receive the salvation which He has won for you. Jesus came for you, and you hear of His victory over our sins, and even death. And upon hearing the sound of the Triune Name in your baptism you were given a promise. This promise sealed your life, so that you would hear the sounds of a heavenly celebration greater than all the Christmas’ past, present, or of your future here on this earth.

Enjoy a blessed Christmas season. Listen to and hear all the sounds that make this season so dear to us, so very special. Yes, even those sounds which start quietly in August and build to a roar in December. This time of the Advent of our Lord is indeed a very special and wonderful time of the year. Yet make room also to hear the sounds of Christ. For Jesus Christ came for you as that baby in the manger, who would have cried out not just for the want of earthly food. It is the sound of the mouth of the Lord who comes to you crying to you so that you will hear of His love for you.

Hear now the sound of Christ’s voice who spoke, “this is my body, this is my blood given and shed for you, for the forgiveness of your sins.” In the sound of His words He gives you heavenly food. Hear the sounds of Christ on the cross who said to you, “It is finished.”(John 19:30) Know that though your ears be deafened by the rattle of earthly things, all the sounds of Christ’s words bring His victory over death to you. The sounds of the Christ-child, the Christ-man, the Christ who is the very Son of God bring you more than a very special and wonderful time of any given year. Indeed the sound of Christ’s words, bring you into His presence and in His voice you will hear the sounds of your future eternal bliss. Amen.

The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

AMEN
+SDG+

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