Absolutely magnificent

Readings for this Sunday, 12th December 2010 Advent 3. Isaiah 35:1-10, Magnificat Luke 1:47-55; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11

The prophet Isaiah says...Thus says the Lord

My ways are not your ways, and your ways are not my ways(Is 55:8-10)

This theme is particularly apparent in the great seasons like Advent.

God does not do things in the way that we seem to think

they should be done

The king is not only not born in a palace

he is also conceived out of wedlock

and his mother is in danger of not actually being able to marry at all

and provide the necessary security for her son.

It almost seems a rule

that what ever way we expect things to be done

God's way will be different

This is not because of some sort of perversity

on the part of God

who is just being contrary.

It is rather a fundamental statement

about how poorly we succeed

at understanding the will of God at all.

Magnificat

So it is hardly surprising that the words we hear

being spoken

are challenging

our very established and unimaginative ways of thinking

about life and about God.

This may often escape our attention

as we hear words that we have heard many times before.

Such are those words (well-known to Anglicans)

we hear spoken by Mary

as she commits herself to cooperate with the the will of God.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour

There are a few shocks in the song that she sings

....from this day all generations will call me blessed.

Women are often perceived by society

as secondary people

this much is known to us

Not so in God's world.

God says to each woman you are holy!

If I say nothing else to each of you here today

it is that

But can we also say

that God does not make the sort of judgment on the umnarried pregnant girl

that we so often rush to make!

...this day God says to women, and to those with child

You are blessed.

My ways, are not your ways

If we think that pride, arrogance and self-promotion

are the way to go

then Mary's song reminds us that

God is on the side of the humble and meek

he has an option for the poor

and we who are rich need to be particularly cautious.

The world's ways are about reputation, power and influence

God's are about humility, compassion and concern.

The world is totally seduced by greed

and the need to be rich

But God's promise is to stand alongisde those who are poor.

Great encouragement

We need to hear these words for what they are.

Great encouragement.

They are revealing to us truths that the world does not readily appreciate.

John says to the people who went out to see him.

Did you come out into the desert execyting to be told that you had got it right

What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces.

No he says, you went out looking for God.

You come to church (presumably)

Or you read these words

Not to be told that you have got it right

But to be confronted by God

to hear what God says to your heart.

He says....my ways are not yours

You need some education in my will.

Those who you tend to reject...the poor, women, the illegitimate

They are the ones I take and bless.

My understanding rather turns the world upside down.

Many heard John and Jesus

and turned away

because they did not want hear the message

that confronted their lifestyle.

Others found that their life was transformed.

Which are you?

This week

• Pray for insight to seeGod where God is least likely to be found
• Ask the Spirit to show you where you need to change and affirm God in the unexpected place.

We praise you Lord

as we see you confront our popular misconceptions.

As you turn aside from injustice and greed and

bless the cause of the powerless and poor.

Give us the courage of Christmas to do that too.