Message: Blessing & Courage / Luke 1:39-45

 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

In the Gospel of Luke, Mary has a key role in the story of Jesus’ birth and early life. God’s plan to save the world was made possible through the courageous choices of people like Mary. Even though she was a young, poor girl, she trusted God’s hope, allowing God’s presence to come into the world.

One day, in the small village of Nazareth, an angel named Gabriel appeared to Mary with amazing news: she would have a child named Jesus, who would save her people from suffering and poverty.

But this was not happy news for Mary at first. She was engaged to a man named Joseph. In those days, engagements lasted about a year. During that time, the couple was legally considered married but could not live together or have a physical relationship. According to the Law, if a woman was found to be unfaithful during this period, she could be stoned to death (Deuteronomy 22:20–21, 23–24).

Mary was scared and confused. How could God’s message put her life in danger and go against the Law God had given? She asked the angel, “How can this be, since I’m a virgin?” The angel reassured her by offering a sign: her elderly relative Elizabeth, who was considered barren, was six months pregnant. Hearing this, Mary accepted the angel’s words, but she could not feel joyful. She knew that most people would not believe her, and this miraculous pregnancy could expose her to rejection and even danger.

Everyone knows we should do the right thing, but we sometimes hesitate if it could bring disadvantages or risks. This is especially challenging for vulnerable groups or those who face the threat of violence when trying to act for justice.

In such a difficult situation, Mary decided to visit Elizabeth. The journey from Nazareth to the hill country of Judea would have taken three to five days, passing through areas known for bandits. But this danger seemed minor compared to the challenges she would face.

When Mary greeted Elizabeth, the child in Elizabeth’s womb jumped for joy. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth exclaimed:           

“You’re so blessed among women,

                and the babe in your womb, also blessed!

              And why am I so blessed that

                the mother of my Lord visits me?

              The moment the sound of your

                greeting entered my ears,

              The babe in my womb

                skipped like a lamb for sheer joy.

              Blessed woman, who believed what God said,

                believed every word would come true!”

(1:42-45 / The Message Bible)


When Mary heard Elizabeth’s blessing, she finally felt comfort and joy. Overwhelmed with happiness, she sang the “Magnificat,” praising God’s grace and salvation. In her song, she declared that God would overturn a world filled with injustice, lifting up the poor and oppressed while bringing down the powerful and wealthy.

In ancient Israel, childbirth was considered a blessing but also carried significant risks. According to Carol Lyons Meyers, an American biblical scholar, archaeological evidence shows that half of infants did not survive, and women had a life expectancy of only 30 years, about 10 years shorter than men (Discovering Eve: Ancient Israelite Women in Context, 1988, pp. 112-113). The physical risks of childbirth were a life-threatening concern specifically for women. Rachel’s story is an example of this, as she died while giving birth to her second son (Genesis 35:16-18). This was very different from the modern Western world, where we often think of women living longer than men.

For an older woman like Elizabeth, childbirth could have been especially dangerous. Yet, Elizabeth faced her challenges with faith, inspiring Mary to embrace her calling for justice with courage and determination. Mary found comfort in someone who truly understood her struggles. When people have not experienced similar hardships, their words of encouragement can sometimes feel empty or insincere. But Elizabeth’s reassurance was something no man could offer.

Our struggles and weakness are never meaningless. By holding on to hope, even during tough times, we can become like Elizabeth, a source of strength and courage for others who are facing similar challenges. Through us, God brings courage and joy to those who feel afraid or uncertain, just as God did for Mary through Elizabeth.

Anger alone cannot change the world. When we are consumed by anger, we risk becoming monsters who reinforce injustice instead of being the children of God who resist evil and seek to bring about God's justice. True transformation happens through blessing, joy, and love. Acts of compassion and solidarity have the power to truly turn the world upside down. In standing against injustice, breaking the chains of oppression, and confronting discrimination, we need Elizabeth’s compassionate blessing.

As we celebrate the last Sunday of Advent, I would like to close today’s sermon with a blessing poem by Janet Clarke, a chaplain at St. Andrew’s College in Saskatoon when I studied there. She sent it to me at the start of this Advent season. With her permission, I share it with you, hoping it brings comfort and courage to anyone facing challenges or difficulties in this time of waiting.

 

“Blessed are those who wait in darkness

who keep alert, watchful

who pay attention, prayerful.

who seek the nourishment of stillness,

who are learning to see in the dark,

…………for they shall  carry the light of discernment into the bleakness of our times.

 

Blessed are those who wait in darkness,

who neither deny despair, nor hope

those who acknowledge the ‘what is’

who surrender to the present moment with compassion

whose yielding is an active stance

…………for in this yielding they find their meaning and their next steps.

 

Blessed are those who wait in darkness

who know that darkness and light make up all of the world.

who are open to the gifts of each – the anxiety, despair, hope, love

who respect the beauty and trouble of life and their lives

………… for in that openness they shall find their way to justice and possibility

 

Blessed are those, who wait like Mary,  

who wait expecting good –in dangerous and precarious times-

who wait with words of praise and wonder,

who wait with trust, in trust, even as they are afraid

Blessed are those, who wait like Mary,  

…………..for they shall find the strength to harbour and protect goodness .

 

Blessed are those who wait for the coming child of light

who will sit on hillsides to gaze at the night sky

who will make the long, slow journey across their desert

who will follow their star

who will offer their gifts

who will brood over the creation of new life within

Blessed are those who wait for the coming child of light

…………for they shall know the Power and the Freedom and the Wholeness that is Hope, Peace, Joy and Love within.

May it be so.”


Rev. Min Hwang

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