4th Sunday of Advent
Text: Luke 1:39-56
Vicar Gary Schultz
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb... And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
The church has always rightly honored Mary, even traditionally calling her the Blessed Virgin Mary, taken from these words of Elizabeth here in Luke. But the church doesn’t honor Mary just for herself. When it was announced by the angel Gabriel to Mary that she would be the Mother of Our Lord, she said: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). And during her visit with Elizabeth, Mary sang: “My soul magnifies the Lord… for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.” Mary didn’t exalt in herself, but rejoiced that she would be blessed to be the Lord’s servant in the fulfillment of the Savior so long expected. Mary is revered in the church because of her important role in the life of Our Savior, for her role in Christ’s humiliation, in bringing God to His people.
Ever since the fall in the Garden of Eden, God’s people were waiting for deliverance. Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the garden, disobeying God’s will and bringing punishment upon all people for all generations to come. The fruit of the tree brought a curse upon mankind and upon all their descendants. There was now a need for God’s people to be delivered, to be saved from this curse of death. But Mary is the “second Eve.” By the fruit of her womb, Jesus Christ, God brings forth the promised salvation of His people, bringing righteousness for all people for all generations to come. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Certainly Mary should be rightly honored for the blessing of being the Mother of God, because the “fruit of her womb” brought God’s salvation to His people.
In today’s Old Testament, the prophet Micah speaks about the fulfillment for which God’s people were waiting. And just as God worked through the simple and unexpected means of the Blessed Virgin Mary, so also the place where God’s promise was fulfilled was unexpected. But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Bethlehem, a relatively unknown small town, would suddenly become honored for its place in salvation history.
The Lord, the Ancient of Days, promised a Savior at the time of the fall in the garden, so the Savior’s origin is from of old, from ancient days. Finally the time draws near for Our Lord to fulfill His promise to come to His people, to send a deliverer to stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord.
And he shall be their peace. This fulfillment of God’s promise brings peace to His people on earth. This “peace on earth” is not some nebulous, fairy-tale cooperation between the nations of the world. This is the peace which the world cannot give (Vespers Collect). In the midst of the wars and tribulations of the world, in the midst of sickness and injury, in the midst of disappointment and frustration, in the midst of the world’s holiday frenzy, he shall be their peace. Christ gives comfort and peace in the midst of our troubled lives in this troubled world. So that’s why He is the Prince of Peace – not to bring political stability or compromise between political entities. He’s not an earthly king, like many were looking for. His Kingdom is the church, and the church is at peace through the forgiveness that He brings. As members of the church, we have peace on earth in the hope that Our Lord’s coming brings.
God’s Kingdom in the Old Testament obtained God’s peace and forgiveness through sacrifices. They offered up bulls and goats and the blood was shed. The priests poured it on the altar, and sprinkled it on the people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life (Lev 17:11). But no longer do we sacrifice animals for peace and forgiveness, for when he said, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings… then he added, “Behold I have come to do your will.” He abolishes the first in order to establish the second.
He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. The old covenant of sacrifice is abolished. That means of granting peace and forgiveness was ended when Christ established the new covenant – the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. His body and blood were offered up to make atonement by the life. Now there has been payment for sin, for the curse in the garden of Eden and for every sin since. Sin is replaced with forgiveness, offered in that atoning body and blood every Lord’s day and on other festivals, when the sacrament is made available to those who wish to partake of it… (Ap XXIV). He comes to us today to give us atonement by His life.
The fruit of the tree in the garden brought separation from God, pain and toil on this earth, and death. But the fruit of the tree of the cross turns that all around. The life of Jesus offered up for atonement – that is, a payment, has made things right, that the sins which weigh us down may be quickly lifted by [His] grace and mercy (Collect). Christ’s atonement puts us back into the inheritance of a Garden of Paradise – the eternal dwelling of heaven.
Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And blessed are you. Blessed because of that fruit of Mary’s womb, the offering sacrificed on the cross to bring the blessings of peace and forgiveness, the fulfillment of what was spoken from the Lord first in the garden and later by the prophets. “Through [Christ] we have recovered both the seed of incorruption and the fruit of our heavenly inheritance, which we lost in Adam” (The Venerable Bede).
Let us rejoice and give thanks for the Blessed Virgin Mary because of the blessed fruit of her womb – Jesus Christ. Through this miraculous work of God, He comes to His people to restore life to us and we are eternally blessed and at peace.
“For know a blessed mother thou shalt be,
All generations laud and honor thee;
Thy son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold,
Most highly favored lady.” Gloria! Amen.
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Vicar Gary Schultz
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb... And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
The church has always rightly honored Mary, even traditionally calling her the Blessed Virgin Mary, taken from these words of Elizabeth here in Luke. But the church doesn’t honor Mary just for herself. When it was announced by the angel Gabriel to Mary that she would be the Mother of Our Lord, she said: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). And during her visit with Elizabeth, Mary sang: “My soul magnifies the Lord… for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.” Mary didn’t exalt in herself, but rejoiced that she would be blessed to be the Lord’s servant in the fulfillment of the Savior so long expected. Mary is revered in the church because of her important role in the life of Our Savior, for her role in Christ’s humiliation, in bringing God to His people.
Ever since the fall in the Garden of Eden, God’s people were waiting for deliverance. Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the garden, disobeying God’s will and bringing punishment upon all people for all generations to come. The fruit of the tree brought a curse upon mankind and upon all their descendants. There was now a need for God’s people to be delivered, to be saved from this curse of death. But Mary is the “second Eve.” By the fruit of her womb, Jesus Christ, God brings forth the promised salvation of His people, bringing righteousness for all people for all generations to come. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Certainly Mary should be rightly honored for the blessing of being the Mother of God, because the “fruit of her womb” brought God’s salvation to His people.
In today’s Old Testament, the prophet Micah speaks about the fulfillment for which God’s people were waiting. And just as God worked through the simple and unexpected means of the Blessed Virgin Mary, so also the place where God’s promise was fulfilled was unexpected. But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Bethlehem, a relatively unknown small town, would suddenly become honored for its place in salvation history.
The Lord, the Ancient of Days, promised a Savior at the time of the fall in the garden, so the Savior’s origin is from of old, from ancient days. Finally the time draws near for Our Lord to fulfill His promise to come to His people, to send a deliverer to stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord.
And he shall be their peace. This fulfillment of God’s promise brings peace to His people on earth. This “peace on earth” is not some nebulous, fairy-tale cooperation between the nations of the world. This is the peace which the world cannot give (Vespers Collect). In the midst of the wars and tribulations of the world, in the midst of sickness and injury, in the midst of disappointment and frustration, in the midst of the world’s holiday frenzy, he shall be their peace. Christ gives comfort and peace in the midst of our troubled lives in this troubled world. So that’s why He is the Prince of Peace – not to bring political stability or compromise between political entities. He’s not an earthly king, like many were looking for. His Kingdom is the church, and the church is at peace through the forgiveness that He brings. As members of the church, we have peace on earth in the hope that Our Lord’s coming brings.
God’s Kingdom in the Old Testament obtained God’s peace and forgiveness through sacrifices. They offered up bulls and goats and the blood was shed. The priests poured it on the altar, and sprinkled it on the people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life (Lev 17:11). But no longer do we sacrifice animals for peace and forgiveness, for when he said, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings… then he added, “Behold I have come to do your will.” He abolishes the first in order to establish the second.
He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. The old covenant of sacrifice is abolished. That means of granting peace and forgiveness was ended when Christ established the new covenant – the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. His body and blood were offered up to make atonement by the life. Now there has been payment for sin, for the curse in the garden of Eden and for every sin since. Sin is replaced with forgiveness, offered in that atoning body and blood every Lord’s day and on other festivals, when the sacrament is made available to those who wish to partake of it… (Ap XXIV). He comes to us today to give us atonement by His life.
The fruit of the tree in the garden brought separation from God, pain and toil on this earth, and death. But the fruit of the tree of the cross turns that all around. The life of Jesus offered up for atonement – that is, a payment, has made things right, that the sins which weigh us down may be quickly lifted by [His] grace and mercy (Collect). Christ’s atonement puts us back into the inheritance of a Garden of Paradise – the eternal dwelling of heaven.
Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And blessed are you. Blessed because of that fruit of Mary’s womb, the offering sacrificed on the cross to bring the blessings of peace and forgiveness, the fulfillment of what was spoken from the Lord first in the garden and later by the prophets. “Through [Christ] we have recovered both the seed of incorruption and the fruit of our heavenly inheritance, which we lost in Adam” (The Venerable Bede).
Let us rejoice and give thanks for the Blessed Virgin Mary because of the blessed fruit of her womb – Jesus Christ. Through this miraculous work of God, He comes to His people to restore life to us and we are eternally blessed and at peace.
“For know a blessed mother thou shalt be,
All generations laud and honor thee;
Thy son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold,
Most highly favored lady.” Gloria! Amen.
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
posted by Luther Memorial Chapel at
12/27/2006
