St. Luke 1:26-38
Isaac was told by God to leave Canaan because there was a famine in the land. Isaac was to enter a foreign land called Gerar. God said to Isaac, “I will be with you and bless you,” and indeed, He did. Isaac farmed a crop that produced a hundredfold yield, while the people who lived in Gerar saw only average yields. In addition, Isaac grew visibly stronger. His flocks prospered, he amassed more servants. The Philistines, looking on, grew jealous of Isaac and filled in the water wells that had been Abraham’s wells in the past. In the midst of the struggles, God came to Isaac, again. God said, “I am the God of Abraham your father: fear not, for I am with you, and will bless you, and multiply your seed for my servant Abraham’s sake”(Genesis 26:24). Earlier, the ruler, Abimelech had sent Isaac away from him for fear of him. Seeing Isaac’s prosperity, Abimelech came to Isaac and said, “We saw certainly that the Lord was with you....let us make a covenant”(Genesis 26:28). Abimelech feared the growing power of Isaac and wanted a promise of protection. Abimelech even said: “You are now the blessed of the Lord.” To be sure, Isaac was the Lord’s servant, and the point of it all is neatly tucked away in God’s promise to Isaac: “fear not, for I am with you, and will bless you, and multiply your seed for my servant Abraham’s sake”(Genesis 26:24). Isaac was to become great because of the promise given to Abraham: “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed”(Genesis 23:18). Much can be said about this promise and about the words spoken by the angel Gabriel to the virgin. As was done with Isaac, we hear those familiar words that another servant of God shall be blessed: “Hail, you who are highly favored, the Lord is with you: blessed are you among women”(St. Luke 1:28). Why is Mary highly favored? Why is the Lord with her? Why is she blessed among women? Certainly, it is for Abraham’s sake...and for ours...in this seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. It is precisely this realization that was processing in Mary’s mind that caused her such trouble. It is no light or insignificant thing to be told “The Lord is with you.” When God conveys to people that they shall be blessed by Him, then enters divine love and protection. It is as if God’s hand descends from heaven to touch His people with His love. “The Lord be with you....and with thy spirit” in the liturgy follows suit in conveying the Lord’s hand which touches and rests upon His people. We say this to one another twice in the Divine Service. It is said just before the collect, or, prayer of the day. In the collect the church prays for God’s hand in her life, and God’s response follows in the reading of the holy scriptures. Then, the same thing is said in the service of the sacrament: “The Lord be with you...and with thy spirit.” The church seeks God’s face and His indwelling among His church, and Christ answers in the words of institution as the sacrament is consecrated. But do you discern God’s hand in your lives? I say “The Lord be with you”, Christ’s blessing upon you. But do you perceive His voice in the scriptures? On Sunday, do you wake up eager to come and hear those words for your life? Do you believe those words? Or do you live your life in frustration and anger at others? Do you feel as though you must take matters into your own hands to get what you need for life? Do you cheat others to get ahead? Do you attempt to hurt the reputations of others in order to gain an advantage in life’s situations? Are you unsatisfied with what God has given you and therefore proceed to lust for things or people who have not been given to you by the Lord? Do you fully and unconditionally trust God to provide and care for everything in your life? All of these problems are a lack of faith and trust in Christ to do what He promises. We ought not ignore nor make light of the declaration that “The Lord be with you,” nor ought we doubt such a declaration from God. You should give serious contemplation to this--the Lord loves you to the point that He descends from heaven to bless you in word and sacrament. A similar declaration is given by a prophet to Asa in 2 Chronicles 15, but it comes with a warning: “The Lord is with you, while you are with Him; and if you seek Him, he will be found in you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you”(2 Chronicles 15:2). Herein lies the warning for the New Testament church. Abide where Christ abides and Christ will abide in you. Where does Christ promise to abide--but in the holy gospel and the precious sacrament. Do not forsake word and sacrament. We forsake these gifts by our neglect to come to Divine Service to receive. This is a serious sin. We also forsake these gifts by not discerning Christ’s presence in word and sacrament for us. St. Paul speaks similarly concerning the sacrament: “For he that eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body”(1 Cor. 11:29). Mary’s concern prompts a response by Gabriel: “Fear not, Mary: for you have found favor with God.” She hears absolution. In her unworthiness and faith, Mary hears from God’s servant that the Lord will be with her, and, with great irony, her worthiness before God is because of the promise of Abraham’s seed to shed His blood for the sins of the world. Your unworthiness is cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus. In spite of ourselves, Christ’s hand descends to us. Christ uses the pastor’s mouth to convey to you God’s love: “The Lord be with you.” The Lord is with you. While you dwell in a world that doesn’t understand the ways of Christ, you are lifted up in front of your enemies and, like Isaac, your table of Christ’s riches is set. Your blessing is the richness of God’s forgiveness and holiness. As Jesus forgives, he also shapes and molds you, making you what the world doesn’t understand. You become rich in the things of Christ. Sins are forgiven, your wounds that the world gives to you are bandaged up by Jesus, and you are given a peace that is not understood by the world. “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Mary, Zechariah, Simeon, Anna, and all the church become new and distinct in this world, and we respond to “The Lord be with you” with “And with thy spirit.”: We declare the reality in and amongst us. You have the precious marking of the cross upon you as you journey through this life. You are Christ’s saints. You are clothed with distinct and precious garments--you are a new creation and sojourners in this world, walking with the unique fragrance of Christ that recalls things of old and promises holy love for the future. Your life is defined by Christ’s blood that covers you. Amen. -- Rev. Chad Kendall Trinity Lutheran Church Lowell, Indiana www.trinitylowell.org http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=243282012833
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