Sermon by the rev'd. Pamela Snare

Sermon
December 24, 2006
The Reverend Pamela Snare

“Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” (Luke 1:45)

On this fourth day and last Sunday of Advent, before it becomes Christmas Eve, (around 4pm today) our gospel directs us to the person of Mary, the Mother of our Lord. Mary, as you may recall was around 14 or 15 years of age at the time of the annunciation and the conception of Jesus.
One commentary which I consulted twice described Mary as “the model believer.”
What kind of person comes to your mind when you hear the phrase, “model believer?” Someone without doubts or questions? Someone with absolute certainty? Someone with unerring understanding and complete clarity of vision?
Webster’s dictionary defines “believe” in this way: “to accept as the truth; to take as true, real; to expect or hope for with confidence”; and finally, “to have confidence in a promise or statement of another person.”
If believing were lack of doubts or questioning, absolute certainty, unerring understanding, then Mary would fail the test of being a “model believer.”
For, according to the evangelist Luke, when the angel Gabriel greets Mary as the “favored one” at the annunciation, Mary is “much perplexed.” When Gabriel tells her that she will conceive a son, she replies, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” When the shepherds visit the manger and relate the angels’ message to them about this child, Mary is “amazed.” When Mary and Joseph take Jesus to the Temple forty days after his birth for his dedication, they are both “amazed” at what Simeon says about their child.
Perplexity, pondering, questioning, amazement, these are all words which describe Mary’s response to the actions of and messages from God in her life. Twice in these stories of Jesus’ infancy and youth, Luke reports that Mary “treasures” these messages, these promises, these words and events which she does not understand, and ponders-meditates upon them-in her heart.
What we have here, as a portrait of a “model believer” is not absolute certainty, lack of questioning, or unerring understanding, but rather openness, receptivity to what she does not understand and what seems to her impossible; acceptance as true and real of God’s promises, words and events which are beyond her grasp; and a willingness to live with, to embrace and ponder and have confidence in that which eludes her – the mystery of her Son’s identity as Savior of the world. She is willing not only to live with and accept these mysteries, these words and events which perplex and amaze her, but even more so, to treasure them, to value them above all else, to keep them present and meditate upon them in her heart. And in the midst of these mysteries which perplex and amaze her, Mary offers a song of praise, the Magnificat. She remembers and praises God for his acts of goodness and kindness to his people in the past, and sings with confidence of his acts in the present, and the fulfillment of his promises in the future.
Openness and receptivity, acceptance of circumstances beyond her grasp, willingness to let life unfold, with confidence in God’s fidelity to his promises, recollection and praise for God’s acts of goodness and kindness – Mary seems to me to be exactly the guide, the example of faith that we need to keep in mind at this time in the life of Christ Church.
Tomorrow is Father John’s last day with us. We are entering a period of uncertainty, unanswered questions, a time of waiting for fulfillment of God’s promises to us. “Who will be our interim? How soon will he, or she, (I had to throw that one in, folks) come? When will the Search Committee be announced? What is this process? How long will it last? How do we get names of candidates for our new rector? How long are you staying, Mother Pamela?” I’m only relating some of the questions posed to me. Perhaps you have others, or you have heard others.
My friends, I believe it behooves us to remain open and receptive during this time, neither to rush this process nor to unduly delay it; to try to be attentive to God’s time, his leading, his guidance; to accept our circumstances with grace, which banishes fear and anxiety; to be willing to let this mysterious phase in our life together unfold, confident in God’s graciousness to us and his plans for us. I believe, like Mary, we simply have to trust that God will bring to fulfillment what we cannot foresee, or predict, or understand with certainty.
I believe that we need to remember that God sent John Bauerschmidt to Christ Church and John was the leader that Christ Church needed at that time. And if God has now sent John Bauerschmidt to the Diocese of Tennessee, then he is the leader they need at this time. But God does not love the people of Tennessee more than he loves the people of Christ Church. He will send the leader Christ Church needs at this time in our life, if we will but trust his guidance, keep close to him in prayer, be open and receptive to his leading. He’s done it before, he can do it again. You have done it before, you can do it again, with God’s help.
One final observation: In the midst of circumstances she could not understand, and a future which she could not foresee or predict, Mary offered praise to God for his past acts of goodness and, for his actions in the present, confident of the fulfillment of his promises in the future. Let us not fall into the temptation of thinking that because Christ Church will be without a rector our presence is less essential or needed. If ever it was crucial that we remain in the mode of praise and thanksgiving, and that we gather to do it together, it is now. For praise and thanksgiving banish fear and anxiety. They are its antidote. Praise and thanksgiving foster faith and hope and confidence in God and in his promises. “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” And blessed will we be if we follow her lead.

The Reverend Pamela P. Snare

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