Mary, Mother of Our Lord
August 15, 2010
Isaiah 61:7-11
Galatians 4:4-7
Luke 1:46-55
The past week or so I've been reading a book by Pastor Brian McLaren called A New Kind of Christianity: Ten Questions That Are Transforming the Faith.
In the book, McLaren challenges many of the assumptions we Christians take for granted when we think about our faith.
In the book he challenges both evangelical and “mainline” ideas about the faith. He takes on denominations on both the left and the right of the Christian family.
At times, I've agreed with him.
And, at times, I haven't.
But, I can say this: he certainly has given me a lot to think about.
It's good, I think, to have our assumptions challenged once in a while. It makes you think things through again and, perhaps, to see some things in a new or different light.
For example…
Most Lutheran Christians would probably say that the core doctrine of the Gospels is “justification by grace, through faith.” Right?
At least that's what most of us were taught in our confirmation classes. I know that's what I was taught… and what I continue to teach.
We just assume that pretty much without question.
But, in his book, McLaren points out that while that is a central feature of Paul's theology (although that can be debated too), Jesus himself never says anything about “Justification by grace, through faith.” At least, not in so many words.
The word “justification” doesn't even occurs in the Gospels and the word “justify” only is used twice to talk about how we try to justify ourselves.
So, what is at the center of Jesus' preaching and teaching in the Gospels?
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus puts it quite succinctly:
“The Kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe in the Gospel.” (Mark 1:15)
It is the proclamation of the Kingdom in word and deed that lies at the heart of Jesus' teaching in the Gospels.
It is the proclamation that the Reign of God has come…
The Reign of God long promised by the prophets.
A Reign characterized by justice, peace, and righteousness.
A Reign that would turn upside down all the usual human ways of violence, terror, oppression, suffering and pain.
And, for Jesus, that Reign, that Kingdom, was at hand, not just something that will happen in some distant future.
A Reign which he embodied in and through his ministry.
Think about his life, what he did, who he challenged, what he said and you can see that this makes sense.
He fed the hungry, reached out to the outcast, welcomed sinners to his table, embraced lepers and even healed the slave of a Roman Centurion – clearly the “enemy” in those days.
He challenged the Pharisees – who had religious power.
He challenged the power of the Temple system – by driving out the moneychangers.
He refused to bow down to Pilate or Herod.
His teachings regularly warned of the dangers of wealth and possessions.
He embodied the world described in Isaiah 61 – both the part that we have as our first lesson today, and the part that Jesus himself quotes at the beginning of his ministry in Luke 4:
Lk 4:18 "The Spirit of the
Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He
has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
Lk 4:19
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
As he begins this Kingdom ministry, Jesus invites disciples to follow him and to participate in his work.
He invites them to participate in the healing. In the welcoming and the reaching out.
And they do, extending the circle of the Kingdom beyond the boundaries of Judea to include even the Gentiles.
It is that mission Mary's Psalm in our Gospel Lesson today both anticipates and celebrates.
Her Psalm sings the melody of justice and righteousness that her son, Jesus will bring into the world.
Her Psalm rejoices with the harmony of praise that will be sung by people who he will liberate from the powers of sin and brokenness, oppression and injustice in the world.
It is the unfolding of that Kingdom through Jesus, it is through that powerful Reign of God, inaugurated by Jesus, that the world has come to know God's grace.
That things have been put right – that is, justified – so that we might live as God intended –
In a relationship of love and trust with God and with one another. That is, in a relationship of faith and faithfulness.
(Hey, I'm a Lutheran, I can't give up the idea of “justification by grace through faith” -- though I can rethink what it means.)
Today, we, like the first disciples, are invited to join Mary in singing her Magnificat.
To sing the melody of justice and righteousness in the world.
To sing the harmony of praise for all that God has done and is doing – right now -- for the sake of the world.
To sing the song of the Reign of God in the world – loud and clear and strong so that everyone can hear it.
Because it is the Church of Jesus Christ, you see, which should be embodying that Reign in the world today,
It is the Church which should be reflecting the very essence of the Gospel that was Jesus' life and ministry,
It is the Church which should be proclaiming that God's love and grace is more powerful than any injustice, any oppression, any violence or terror or suffering. Even more powerful than death itself.
That's what the church should be about because that's what the one we call Lord was about. That's what he was born for.
Jesus' Gospel, you see, was not just some utopian vision for some far distant future. His was a whole new way of living in the here and now.
And that's why Mary sang her praises.
That's why we sing ours.
Today, and always
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen.