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 Sermons | Passionate worship

This sermon was preached by Pastor Keith Cardwell at Swift Presbyterian Church.

Dec. 6, 2020 | Second Sunday of Advent

Do Not Be Afraid To Bring Peace
Luke 1:46–55

 T ODAY WE CONTINUE the season of Advent, which is an ancient tradition of the church that helps to prepare our hearts for Christmas. Our Advent theme is “Do Not Be Afraid.” Our Bible reading is called the Magnificat. A Latin word that means to magnify or highly praise the Lord. We commonly call this the Song of Mary.

This morning we lit the peace candle. Peace, internal peace. Communal peace. World peace. Political peace.

In the time of Jesus, religion was inseparable from politics. In the Roman Empire, political leaders held religious office. Emperor Augustus was considered a divine being and political leader. “His name has an equivalent meaning in English as ‘Commander Caesar, Son of the Divine.’ ” Luke presents Jesus Christ, Son of God, as counter to Caesar. A nonviolent King who resists Roman imperialism. Understanding the political environment of the gospel of Luke is crucial to understand the Magnificat, Mary’s song of praise.

† † †

JESUS CHRIST WAS BORN somewhere around 4 BCE. This year was an unforgettable and challenging year for the Jews. It’s the year when Herod the Great died. There’s always a danger of rebellion or invasion when an empire or country is in a state of transition. When Herod the Great died, the Jewish folks rebelled.

Syrian legions, under the direction of Rome, were sent to crush the rebellion. They burned the city of Sepphoris in Galilee and reduced its inhabitants to slavery. That’s important because Jesus grew up in Nazareth about 4 miles from Sepphoris. Those who could not hide from the Syrian legions were killed, raped, and enslaved.

Those who survived lost everything. Mary and Joseph, Zechariah and Elizabeth would have witnessed this horrific act, perhaps seen, or helped refugees pouring into Nazareth. Mary’s Song is sung against this backdrop. Jesus would have grown up in the shadow of this devastating event.

† † †

THE JEWS BELIEVED that the only way to overcome the imperial power of Rome was through God’s intervention. Everyone anticipated God’s intervention. Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Mary anticipated God’s redemption from Rome’s brutal dominion.

The Romans imposed heavy taxes on the Jews. They had to choose between collaborating and resisting the Romans.

I read this week of a second-century town in modern Bulgaria. Following the death of a Roman emperor, the town chose to support a candidate for emperor who failed to gain the title. In order to appease the new emperor, the town sent a gift of 700,000 denarai (remember, one denarai is equivalent to a day’s wage) in an effort to keep the peace. Because Rome keeps peace by brutality.

† † †

MARY’S SONG ECHOES the social upheaval and economic exploitation. The Romans economically exploited the Jews and took advantage of their natural resources. Those who were socially impacted by the Roman imperialism experienced poverty, hunger, and disease.

The Jews could barely subsist from day to day. They longed for a Messiah to bring some form of physical and spiritual healing. There was no way for them to improve their social life, which created resentment against Rome.

† † †

GOD ACTS on behalf of Israel. God is at work now and then on behalf of his people. Christ’s salvation does not only concern a future time, but also the present time. We cannot simply spiritualize the Magnificat.

The Song of Praise demonstrates that God is concerned with the social and political realities of daily life. God acts on behalf of the oppressed. God acts against the proud and powerful.

God brings down the powerful. God lifts the lowly. God is God of this moment and all the moments to come.

† † †

GOD ACTS on behalf of Israel. God is at work now and then on behalf of his people. Christ’s salvation does not only concern a future time, but also the present time. We cannot simply spiritualize the Magnificat.

The Song of Praise demonstrates that God is concerned with the social and political realities of daily life. God acts on behalf of the oppressed. God acts against the proud and powerful.

God brings down the powerful. God lifts the lowly. God is God of this moment and all the moments to come.

† † †

GOD RULES; not Caesar. God rules on earth as in heaven. Jesus, the new King, rules on earth without Caesar’s permission. He rules not through violence, but he rules gently. The Song of Mary invites us to imagine how the world would look like if Jesus sat on Augustus’ throne and ruled with peace and justice.

The themes of Mary’s Song appear in every culture, society, and generation. People still anticipate deliverance from unjust rulers and unjust law.

God is present in everyday struggles and sufferings. Jesus is present in the efforts of the weak and marginalized to feed their children, pay their bills, and have health insurance. Jesus is concerned with the social realities of the first century and our time.

God still seeks partners like Mary to advocate for the marginalized and to participate in their salvation.
    


Speak to us, Lord.
Speak to us in the waiting, the watching,
the hoping, the longing,
the sorrow, the sighing, the rejoicing.
Speak to us by your Word in these Advent days,
and walk with us until the day of your coming. 
Amen.


— Keith Cardwell   

«God is present in everyday struggles and sufferings. Jesus is present in the efforts of the weak and marginalized to feed their children, pay their bills, and have health insurance. Jesus is concerned with the social realities of the first century and our time.»

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY


►This is the Word of God for the people of God:


Luke 1:46–55
Holy Bible, New International Version


Mary’s Song

My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God
my Savior,
for you, God, have looked with favor
on the lowliness of Your servant.

Surely, from now on all generations
will call me blessed;
for You, the Mighty One,
have done great things for me,
and holy is Your name.

Your mercy is for those
who fear God
from generation to generation.

You, O God,
have shown strength
with Your arms;
You have scattered the proud
in the thoughts of their hearts.

You, God, have brought down
the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
You have filled the hungry
with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.

You have helped your servant Israel,
in remembrance of Your mercy,
according to the promises
You made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and Sarah
and to their descendants forever.

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


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