Here I am

 

SERMON

December 24, 2023

Luke 1:26-38 

Over the past few weeks, I have participated in several Zoom meetings with the Archbishop of Jerusalem and the diocesan clergy who are serving churches in Ramallah and Nablus on the West Bank. The meetings, organized by the Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations, were and will continue to be, important windows into the work of that Diocese and the massive challenges its archbishop and clergy currently face as they continue to serve their congregations and community in the midst of war. 

These Zoom calls have been heart wrenching. Fr. Fadi, rector of St. Andrew’s in Ramallah, reported that the terror and profound grief experienced throughout the West Bank have left all of its citizens “in shock” and in the midst of a deep economic and spiritual crisis. Fr. Fadi’s parishioners wonder aloud in the midst of their prayers for peace, “Why is God silent.” Tears and terror are ongoing, unceasing throughout both day and night.

Fr. Jameel in Nablus reported that his congregation members and indeed the entire community of Nablus insist that “We all need hope”, but then quickly add, “Is there really any hope?” 

By the end of each of these Zoom calls we on the U.S. side have been left speechless and desperately seeking ways in which to reach out to these brothers and sisters, all members of the Anglican Communion. All God’s beloved children. These calls have been, and I am certain will continue to be incredibly painful and profoundly tragic experiences.

Despite the grim reality of their war-torn world, however, Frs. Fadi and Jameel along with their parishioners continue to express a fundamentally deep faith and commitment to Jesus Christ. They display, even in the face of such shockingly grim circumstances, a commitment to Christ that is most incredibly moving.

This deep faith and commitment to Christ was emotionally expressed by Fr. Jameel when he responded to the interviewer’s question, “Will you all want to relocate when it is possible?” saying “No, we will never move. We cannot desert this Holy Land. We cannot abandon Jesus. God is asking us to stay here.”

“We cannot abandon Jesus. God is asking us to stay here.” Very, very powerful words that can only stem from the courage, resilience, and commitment that is based on an extraordinary faith in God’s heavenly kingdom. 

Today we hear the incredibly beautiful and quite wondrous story of a young teenager’s life changed forever by the appearance of the Angel Gabriel. Can you imagine how frightened this innocent unmarried young woman must have been? In a flash her simple and settled life was filled with the unknown. Luke tells us that initially Mary was perplexed. She was stunned and bewildered. Who is this apparition? What is happening to me?

The apparition, the Angel Gabriel, understands Mary’s distress and offers calming words, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” The angel announces that Mary will now become pregnant. That her child will be a son. That he is to be named Jesus and that he is to be called the Son of the Most High. That he will reign over a kingdom. A kingdom that will have no end.

Mary, still perplexed, wonders aloud, “How can this be for I am still a virgin.” The angel responds, “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.”

Can you imagine how frightened and confused this young girl must have been? How terrifying for an apparition to inform you that God will send the Holy Spirit to come you and that as a result you will become pregnant. No marriage. No father. Just a baby who is destined to be, according to the apparition the Son of God; the Lord of a kingdom that will know no end.

What if an ancient interviewer had asked Mary, “Will you leave this place? Would you prefer to escape from this terrifying new reality that has become your life?” Mary, still perplexed, overwhelmed would have answered, “No. Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be according to [his] word. 

“Here I am, the servant of the Lord.” Mary’s commitment to God in this one brief sentence echoes the words of so many others tested by God throughout biblical history; Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Moses, Hannah, Samuel, David, Esther, and the Prophets to name just a few, and now most certainly the clergy in the Diocese of Jerusalem.  Men and women chosen by God to ensure that his Holy Word, will be a continual presence throughout creation. Men and women who face perplexing, confusing, terrifying situations with courageous faith saying, God is asking us to stay here. God is asking us to ensure that his kingdom will know no end.

Mary’s obedience to God’s call should act as a hallmark for us Christians, the present-day stewards of Christ’s good news, the present-day heralds of God’s desire for us all to live a life filled with peace and love of self and neighbor, now and to the end of time.

Mary’s overcoming the apprehension, perhaps downright terror, at the sudden appearance of the Angel Gabriel and the announcement of her immanent pregnancy, her soon to be motherhood of a holy child despite her virgin status, is a model for those of us who are prayerfully striving to welcome God’s angel into the life of the St. Simon’s congregation, to hear his/her command for us.

And, once that commandment is heard, most assuredly in wonderment and fear of a journey into the unknown, will we as Mary say, “Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be according to [his] word?” Will we have the courage to act on God’s call for us as we enter a new year which promises to be filled with, as yet, many unidentified challenges?

The Jerusalem clergy’s commitment to courage, presence, and leadership in listening to and hearing in their hearts God’s call to remain in the Holy Land despite the anxiety and fear that was clearly visible in the recent Zoom calls. The continual prayer and commitment to Jesus Christ and his gospel of love demonstrated by their many congregation and community members despite the ongoing terror, death, and grief that is now a part of their 24/7 war-torn lives, these also are, most assuredly, models for those of us who question the challenges that God is commanding St. Simon’s to face at this moment in time. Will we in the face of such disruptive challenges say, “Here I am Lord; let it be according to your word?” 

This morning we arrive at the close of Advent. Four weeks of prayer and reflection during which we anticipated the arrival, once more, of the Christ child, the Son of the Holy One. This evening our period of anticipation ends, and we will joyfully celebrate the incarnation of God’s Word, Jesus Christ, who will walk with and among us throughout our journey with him to Jerusalem, to the cross, and beyond.

In celebration we will sing many beautiful hymns filled with words of wonder and praise. The service will end, as always, with the 205-year-old hymn Silent Night. As we sing this final hymn, we will light our individual candles in a darkened nave. The candles, of course, represent the Light of Christ. By lighting them we are committing to bring the Light of Christ into the world.

Silent Night, holy night, Son of God, loves pure light radiant beams from thy holy face with the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord at thy birth, Jesus, Lord at thy birth.

Tonight, as our candles shine in the darkness let us pray that we will continue, as God’s community at St. Simon’s, to seek his command of how best to be the radiant beams of Christ’s holy face, the Light of Christ in the world. How we will face and overcome the challenges of taking our candles, our little stars of light, out of these four walls and into the community?

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that, if I do this,
You will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore I will trust you always
though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Thomas Merton