"Annunciation" - Isaiah 40: 28 - 31; Luke 1: 26 - 38

A Sermon by Alex Evans, Pastor

Second Presbyterian Church, Richmond, VA

Sunday, December 20, 2020

Texts: Isaiah 40:28-31; Luke 1:26-38

“Annunciation”

            Nazareth. Jesus of Nazareth. We have all heard of Nazareth. 

            In Jesus’ day, Nazareth was a very small backwater town – mostly subsistence farmers, small shops, and working people. If it wasn’t for Jesus, it would have remained an insignificant hamlet. This is why the disciple Nathanael’s question is so memorable: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” 

            Today, in modern Israel, Nazareth is a bustling city in hilly western Galilee. Homes and shops and churches and mosques are squeezed in together amidst the hills. The narrow streets of Nazareth are crowded with scooters, cars, buses, and people. It is a city populated today by Muslims and Christians. And the town is dominated by the gray dome of a particular church – the Basilica of the Annunciation – which stands at the crest of a major hill. 

            Some of us from this church family visited this Basilica of the Annunciation about 20 months ago on the interfaith trip to Israel. This Basilica, completed in 1969, is built on the ruins of several older churches that date back to the 3rd and 4th century. The Basilica of the Annunciation is a massive and impressive structure. But what makes it most unique – the walls all around and through the church offer colorful depictions of Mary – numerous portraits donated from countries all around the world. This sacred place is a reminder of the widespread, worldwide appeal of Jesus’ mother. And then deep in the grotto of this huge and modern Basilica is a unique inscription – in Latin – which says, “the Word was made flesh HERE.” (see J. Martin, Jesus – a pilgrimage, p 32)

            Listen to the gospel that tells the story. Luke 1:26-38:

            26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”29But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32He 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. 33He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35The 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. 36And 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. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38Then 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.

            This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

            So, you can see why Nazareth, this insignificant village gains some notoriety. The passage says, and Luke always likes details, God is not far-removed and indifferent to human life and history. God – the God of the universe – in a certain time, the sixth month, sent an angel, Gabriel, to a particular location (Nazareth), and a particular person, Mary, with a very specific and world-altering message. It is known as the Annunciation. This is not just the announcement of news. This ANNUNCIATION is the affirmation that a new world order is coming into being – God’s order, God’s ways which are sure to reign. It is a proclamation that the world now has a new trajectory – in the coming of Jesus, Word made flesh, a trajectory toward the reign of God, the Commonwealth of goodness and hope, peace and light. 

            Check it out: the angel Gabriel comes to Mary. Our translation from the Greek has Gabriel speaking these words: “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” That phrase does not really convey the depth and breadth of what is happening. Sounds more like a visit from an alien in a spaceship. 

            But Gabriel’s visit to Mary – and Gabriel’s words – are really powerful and very important, because the Greek words are just loaded with love, affection, and grace, which do not come through in “Greetings, favored one.” The angel conveys how much God loves Mary, how confident God is in Mary, how filled with possibility she is because of God’s amazing grace and care for her. The Lord is with her! She is not just favored, but chosen; not just called but filled with God’s Spirit; not just an agent for God’s work but totally sustained by God’s abiding care.

            And then Gabriel explains what is to happen, which is a good thing, because Mary is pondering and perplexed by all this. Gabriel says what angels always say – “do not be afraid.” And then he sums up what is happening with God: Mary will become pregnant; the Most High God will become human; Mary will bear a son; his name will be Jesus – which means, “God saves.” A more appropriate name could not have been imagined. Through Jesus we will find life, not just a way to live, but the way to fullness, to peace, to wholeness, to justice. And his kingdom will be forever.

            Gabriel is the messenger of God who announces God’s plans for the world – do not fear; God cares so much that God comes in Jesus. He comes to save. And his kingdom will be forever. Mary is a huge part of this venture – this new world order announced in Nazareth.

            This is a great story. No wonder the inscription in the grotto deep in the Basilica of the Annunciation – “The Word became flesh HERE!” And it is an announcement not only for that time but for our time: the Most High God becomes a human; Jesus comes to save us; He is the way, the hope, the life of all; and his reign, his commonwealth, will be forever. 

            We need to hear that message. I need to hear that message – especially now as we await and anticipate relief from a pandemic: do not be afraid; the Most High God comes among us, comes to save us.

            We need to hear that message, especially as we have so much un-ease and uncertainty among us: the Proud boys showing up with terror in the streets, continuing concerns about our democracy, and ongoing worries about the future of our common life. Do not be afraid; the Most High God comes among us, to save us, and his reign will be forever.

            We need to hear that message, especially as we long for justice, and calm, and joy to emerge in the land. Can we have equal justice for all? Can we find our way toward better housing, better education, better hope for all God’s children? Can we stop killing each other? The Most High God comes to save. And he shall reign forever and ever.

            That is the message of the Annunciation – God’s new order comes into the world. Gabriel appeared to Mary in Nazareth – the Word became flesh there. 

            Now, we might ask: did this really happen? Could this have happened?

            All the stories that we have of Jesus emerged as people experienced him, heard his teaching, saw his miracles, found inspiration from his ways. As he moved around the region, people were so helped and moved by Jesus and his ways. Eventually, people wrote down what he said and what he did. This is where the four gospels come from. Some decades after Jesus’ life and teachings, his death and resurrection, the written accounts – the good news of Jesus Christ - emerged. 

            This story about Mary and Gabriel – this Annunciation at Nazareth – somehow found its way into Luke’s story of Jesus. Maybe it happened just like this. Maybe it was something else that happened – like a powerful dream for Mary. But here is what we know – Mary was a very young woman – a teenager – with no connection to anyone from an insignificant place – whose life became deeply tied to Jesus, son of the Most High God, who came to save, whose reign promises to be forever.

            And here is what else we know – with the encounter with Gabriel – who tells her that she has found favor with God – Mary says, “here I am, servant of the Lord.” She was free to say “no,” but she said “yes.” It had to be the Holy Spirit at work. She does not ask Joseph for permission – that would certainly have been remembered and recorded in a patriarchal society. She does not say to Gabriel that she must consult with her father – which could have been expected. She agrees to be the servant of the Lord – someone with no power agrees to bring the powerful into the world – “Let it be with me according to your word.”

            Who knows if it happened exactly like the story – but Mary – maiden girl from Nazareth becomes a key player in the coming of God into the world.

            When we know about the greatness of Jesus and his transformation of the world through his words and deeds, the Annunciation only helps us appreciate more how significant Jesus intends to be for us and for the world. 

            When we know that Jesus’ coming intends to change the whole world, it makes sense that his coming was announced – the Annunciation - to his mother, Mary, and everything about her was transformed along the way, just as we are all intended to be transformed when we encounter Jesus coming into our lives.          You know, it is always rooted in trust. Could Mary trust what God planned for her? Could Mary be used by God for God’s promised coming – the Commonwealth of God in the world? 

            From all that we know, Mary trusted and became a servant of the Lord. And when we, like Mary, can say “Yes” to God, everything about us will be changed too. In fact, when we – as we see with Mary – can say “yes” to God, we might hear Gabriel’s final message for our lives, for our times: “Nothing will be impossible with God.” Imagine that – nothing will be impossible with God!

            It is not ever up to us to figure everything out. It is always up to us to be open and faithful to all that God is doing in us and in the world. 

            It is not ever up to us to know the mysteries of life – past, present, or future. It is up to us to be open and faithful to God – who comes among us in Jesus, who calls us to love and serve, who works in and through us – to promote the healing of the world. 

            Annunciation: Nothing will be impossible with God. May it be so. Amen

Prayer of Commitment – Move in our midst, Holy God. Speak to us in ways that get our attention. Teach us not to fear, but to live with courage and commitment. We seek to follow Jesus Christ, Savior of all. Amen

Alex W. Evans, Pastor, Second Presbyterian Church, Richmond, VA preached this sermon for Sunday morning worship on December 20, 2020. This is a rough manuscript.