Difference between revisions of "Sermon for December 11th, 2016"

Revision as of 21:38, 9 December 2016

Luke 1:46-55

46 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47     and 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.”

Mary's Song of Praise: According to the Promise

• Mary's observations are in the aorist tense. God has already done these things? Is doing? Will do?
• Pride as the root of all sinfulness, everything else flows from that.
• Jesus' core teachings are anticipated in his mothers prayer.
• Seven strong verbs: God is a God of action in this world. This is not spirituality, this is politics.
• Since we are all made in God's image, we are to see God in each other, and therefore work for justice for all.
• To be pregnant is to be hopeful. And anxious. And patient. And reliant upon God.
• Luke 4:18 - Jesus says pretty much the same thing, also in past tense (quoting Isaiah).