December 22, 2002
Prayer of the Day
Stir up your power, O Lord, and come. Take away the
hindrance of our sins and make us ready for the celebration of your
birth, that we may receive you in joy and serve you always; for you
live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
Amen.
2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
{1} Now when the king was settled in his house, and
the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, {2} the
king said to the prophet Nathan, "See now, I am living in a house
of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent." {3} Nathan
said to the king, "Go, do all that you have in mind; for the LORD
is with you." {4} But that same night the word of the LORD
came to Nathan: {5} Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the
LORD: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? {6} I
have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of
Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent
and a tabernacle. {7} Wherever I have moved about among all the
people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal
leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel,
saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" {8}
Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says
the LORD of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the
sheep to be prince over my people Israel; {9} and I have been
with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from
before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the
great ones of the earth. {10} And I will appoint a place for my
people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own
place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no
more, as formerly, {11} from the time that I appointed judges
over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies.
Moreover the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house….
{16} Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever
before me; your throne shall be established forever.
2. the ark of God stays in a tent: For seven
years after the ark was captured by the Philistines (1 Samuel 4:11;
6:1) it remained in the land of the Philistines. The Philistines
feared it so they put it on a cart and it went to Beth Shemesh and
from there to Kiriath-Jearim where it remained for seven more years (1
Samuel 7:1), except for a time when Saul brought it into the army camp
(1 Samuel 14:8). David brought the ark to the city of David and placed
it in a tent (2 Samuel 6:10).
3: David consulted with Nathan concerning providing a house of
cedar for the ark, and Nathan advises him to go ahead.
4: Yahweh has other ideas. First, Yahweh does not live in a
house; he moves about in a tent (verse 6), second, Yahweh has never
asked any of the leaders of Israel to build a house (verse 7), third,
Yahweh will "make David a house," a metaphor for an eternal
dynasty (verses 11 and 16). This was a new thing because no dynasty of
royalty had existed in Judah before.
11. Moreover the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a
house: "It is… surprising that…there is a passage in
which Yahweh is spoken of in the third person, whereas he has
previously been speaking in the first. The small sentence looks
like a stereotyped formula which was handed down and has now been
left, as it were, in quotation marks as being the most important part,
which gives the main contents: the Lord will make a house for David,
i.e. will make him the founder of a dynasty." 1
Luke 1:47-55
{47} My spirit rejoices in God my Savior, {48} for
he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from
now on all generations will call me blessed; {49} for the
Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. {50}
His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
{51} He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the
proud in the thoughts of their hearts. {52} He has brought down
the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; {53} he
has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
{54} He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his
mercy, {55} according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever."
The Magnificat abandons the
usual role of the Psalm which is to respond to the acts of Yahweh in
the first lesson, and anticipates, liturgically, the annunciation in
the Gospel.
The elevation of the lowly and the deliberate
enfeebling of the powerful is the message of the song. The choosing of
the humble over the privileged or favored is a theme throughout the
Bible. God’s criteria for choosing are different from those we use.
God’s choice carries with it favor, protection and preferment, at
the expense of those who had acquired power, prestige and wealth
through human achievement.
Or
Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26
{1} I will sing of your steadfast love, O LORD,
forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all
generations. {2} I declare that your steadfast love is
established forever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.
{3} You said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I
have sworn to my servant David: {4} 'I will establish your
descendants forever, and build your throne for all generations.'"
Selah…. {19} Then you spoke in a vision to your faithful one,
and said: "I have set the crown on one who is mighty, I have
exalted one chosen from the people. {20} I have found my
servant David; with my holy oil I have anointed him; {21} my
hand shall always remain with him; my arm also shall strengthen him.
{22} The enemy shall not outwit him, the wicked shall not humble
him. {23} I will crush his foes before him and strike down
those who hate him. {24} My faithfulness and steadfast love
shall be with him; and in my name his horn shall be exalted. {25} I
will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers. {26}
He shall cry to me, 'You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my
salvation!'
Psalm 89, with its reference to
Yahweh’s covenant with David to "build your throne for all
generations," would seem to be the best choice as a response to
the first lesson.
26. He shall cry to me, 'You are my Father: In the
Gospel we are told: "the child to be born will be holy; he will
be called Son of God," which makes a connection with the Gospel.
Romans 16:25-27
{25} Now to God who is able to strengthen you
according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according
to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages
{26} but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is
made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the
eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith-- {27} to
the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever!
Amen.
There are Pauline doxologies in
Romans 11:36; Galatians 1:4-5; Philippians 4:20; Ephesians 3:20-21; 1
Timothy 1:17. Scholars doubt that this doxology is Pauline. However,
"Even if not authentically Pauline or originally part of Romans,
it forms a fitting conclusion to the letter, for it catches the spirit
of the Pauline message of the letter: from of old God in his wisdom
has bound up salvation with Christ Jesus, and the mystery of this wise
decision has now been disclosed." 2
Now God has determined that the mystery which once
belonged exclusively to Israel shall also include the Gentiles,
another case of the exaltation of the lowly.
Luke 1:26-38
{26} In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent
by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, {27} to a virgin
engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The
virgin's name was Mary. {28} And he came to her and said,
"Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." {29} But
she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting
this might be. {30} The angel said to her, "Do not be
afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. {31} And now,
you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him
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
ancestor David. {33} He will reign over the house of Jacob
forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." {34} Mary
said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?"
{35} 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 to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. {36} And
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. {37}
For nothing will be impossible with God." {38} Then
Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me
according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.
26. the sixth month: The sixth month of
Elizabeth’s pregnancy (1:24, 36).
Gabriel: "God is my hero/warrior." 3
Gabriel together with Michael (Daniel 9:21) and Raphael (Tobit 3:17)
are the three angels specifically named in the Old Testament and
Apocrypha.
30. you have found favor with God: Mary is a woman, Joseph’s
descent from the house of David is noted but Mary’s lineage is not;
she is a virgin, so an empty vessel; but God has favored her, and
"nothing will be impossible for God."
32-33.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 ancestor
David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his
kingdom there will be no end: Gabriel’s words renew the eternal
promise to David and bestows it exclusively on Mary’s son, Jesus.
See Daniel 7:14. "House of Jacob" is a traditional term for
Israel, as, for example, in Exodus 19:3.
34. I am a virgin: Literally, "I do not know a man,"
a euphemism for sexual relations. "Mary’s words explain the
description of her in 1:27. But they should not be translated…’I
am a virgin.’" 4
35. The Holy Spirit will come upon you//the power of the Most High
will overshadow you: The two phrases are in synonymous
parallelism; the Holy Spirit and the power of the Most High are
equated. See Acts 1:8; 8:16 for the expression of the "coming
upon" of the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament there are many
places where Yahweh "puts" or "sends" his spirit
on someone, or his spirit "comes" or "rushes" upon
them or "fills" them or "takes possession" of them
(Numbers 11:17; 29; 24:2; Judges 14:6; 2 Chronicles 24:20). All these
expressions indicate the granting of special power and special
responsibility placed on the recipient by God. "The use of it
here in connection with the conception of Jesus is unique and is not
to be understood of any sexual union." 5
See also Matthew 1: 18, 20 for the indication that the Mary’s child
is "from the Holy Spirit." Elsewhere in Luke the Holy Spirit
"comes," "rests" and "descends," on
Elizabeth, Zechariah, Simeon, and Jesus (Luke 1:41; 67; 2:25; 3:22).
38. Then Mary said, "Here I am…." Abraham (Genesis
22:1, 11), Isaac (Genesis 22:7), Jacob (Genesis 31:11; 42:10), Moses
(Exodus 3:4), Samuel (1 Samuel 3:4), a psalmist (Psalm 40:7) and
Isaiah (Isaiah 6:8), respond in the same way to a divine summons.
let it be with me according to your word: Mary’s submission
to God’s will is complete. She has no doubt in the power of God to
accomplish what had been announced. Any misgivings she may have had
about the personal consequences of such a pregnancy are ignored.
Reflection
We make plans and work to accomplish them. We
strive to develop our highest potentials and seek to impress others,
especially those who can reward us, with our accomplishments and
potential. We do this though we know that God’s criteria differ from
ours, and that he regularly chooses those who have little or nothing
to recommend them. It was not the size or the quality of the people of
Israel that attracted God’s favor. First, he loved them, and then he
chose them. It was not Mary’s beauty or wisdom, not her family or
accomplishments, not her virtue or her piety. It is inexplicable on
any human standard. And Jesus, son of an unmarried girl, descendent of
an impotent dynasty of an impotent nation; he will be great, he will
be called the Son of the Most High. How improbable, and yet how
typical of God, the God we worship.
What should we learn from the typical and
improbable? We should learn not to anticipate them, but to celebrate
them and rejoice in their unexpectablity. Our efforts to impress and
find favor work well enough in this world, but we have been chosen in
spite of them. Our piety and virtue are a proper exercise of who we
are and what we are called to be, but God’s will will be done in
spite of them. We have been given the Gospel of Christ and the promise
of forgiveness and eternal life, and God will accomplish the
redemption of his creation in spite of our possessing them.
Whatever else we may learn in Advent, we might only
learn this: grace is gracious, it cannot be calculated or predicted,
measured or controlled. It can only be expected, and then celebrated
when it comes in ways that never occurred to us. "The way must be
made ready for heaven, and then it will come by some other; the
sacrifice must be made ready, and the fire will strike on another
altar." 6 Then, because God has
chosen well (all his choices are good), we will say, "Here am I,
the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your
word."
Hymns 7
With One Voice (e.g. 762v), Hymnal Supplement 1991 (e.g.
725s) and LBW (e.g. 32).
E=Entrance; D=Hymn of the Day; I=First Lesson,
II=Psalm; II=Second Lesson; G=Gospel
721s --E--Awake, Awake
(633v)756s --D/P--Sing of Mary,
(634v)28 --D--Saviour of the
87 --I--Hail to the
16 --P--I Will Sing
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730v --P--My Soul Proclaims
692v --G--For All the Faithful
632v --G--The Angel Gabriel
34, 42, 57, 323, 733s |
Prayers of the People 8
A: Mary offered herself for the fulfillment of God's
promise. We also lift up our hearts to say, "God of all
faithfulness," and respond, C: Hear us, we pray.
A: For the church, that it may not turn aside from the gospel but more
urgently proclaim its truth, as it awaits the Messiah. God of all
faithfulness. C: Hear us, we pray.
A: For the nations, that they may not make armaments the greater good
over the needs of food, shelter, and health of their citizens. God of
all faithfulness. C: Hear us, we pray.
A: For artists of all kinds, that the expression of each may edify and
strengthen that which is truly human among us. God of all
faithfulness. C: Hear us, we pray.
A: For the business community, that the worth of people may be valued
and profits be kept in fair proportion. God of all faithfulness. C:
Hear us, we pray.
A: For all Sunday schools, that the sense of privilege in teaching and
learning of the Christ may be kept fully alive. God of all
faithfulness. C: Hear us, we pray.
A: For families, that they may offer rest, comfort, and hope. God of
all faithfulness. C: Hear us, we pray.
P: Tarry not, O Christ, that we may know your full glory.C: Amen.
OR 9
Presider or deacon
As we wait with pregnant expectation for the coming of Jesus, let us
offer prayers to God who sends his Son in the womb of a virgin.
Deacon or other leader
For the coming of Jesus Christ in power and glory. For the coming of
Wisdom to teach and guide us. For the coming of Emmanuel, the hope of
all the peoples. For the peace of the world, and for our unity in
Christ. For N our bishop and all bishops, for the presbyters,
for the deacons and all who minister in Christ, and for all the holy
people of God. For the church throughout the world and the faithful in
every place. For the leaders of the nations and all in authority. For
justice, peace, and freedom among peoples of the earth. For travelers,
for the sick and the suffering, for the hungry and the oppressed, and
for those in prison. For the dying and the dead. For our deliverance
from all affliction, strife, and need. Joining our voices with the
blessed Virgin Mary and with all the saints and angels of God, let us
offer ourselves and one another to the living God through Christ.
To you, O Lord.
Presider
O Wisdom, breath from the mouth of God most high, who reigns from one
end of the earth to the other, and governs all creation with strong
and tender care, come and teach us the way of wisdom. Glory to you for
ever.
Notes
1 Hans Wilhelm
Hertzberg, I & II Samuel: A Commentary. London: SCM Press
Ltd., 1964, p. 286.
2 Joseph A. Fitzmyer, Romans: A New Translation with
Introduction and Commentary. New York: Doubleday, 1992, p. 753.
3 Joseph A. Fitzmyer, The Gospel According to Luke (I-IX):
Introduction, Translation, and Notes. Garden City, New York:
Doubleday Company, Inc., 1981, p. 328.
4 Ibid Ibid., p. 348.
5 Ibid., p. 351.
6 Charles
Williams, He Came Down From Heaven. Grand Rapids, Michigan:
William B. Eerdmans, 1984, p. 25.
"Cain could not guess ‘that the very purpose of his offering
was to make his brother’s acceptable,’ p. 26. C.S. Lewis comments,
"And this is what nearly always happens. The thing we thought
principally intended (but how can Omnipotence intend any one thing
more than any other?) comes to naught; what seems to us a mere
by-product (but what could be a by-product to Omniscience?) bursts
into flower" (Arthurian Torso containing The Posthumous
Fragment of The Figure of Arthur by Charles Williams and A Commentary
on the Arthurian Poems of Charles Williams. Oxford University
Press, 1969, p. 135).
7 http://www.worship.ca/text/wpch0203.txt
8 http://www.worship.on.ca/text/inter_b1.txt
9
http://members.cox.net/oplater/prayer.htm
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