Expectation

The Rev. Thomas M. Murphy

Grace Episcopal Church, Madison NJ

December 23, 2012

Year C: The Fourth Sunday of Advent

Micah 5:2-5a

Canticle 3

(Hebrews 10:5-10)

Luke 1:39-45, (46-55)

Expectation

            Last time I preached – only two weeks ago though it feels like months after everything we’ve been through – I talked about how Advent is a short season packed with some really big themes.

            The first Advent theme is looking ahead to the last day when the old world of hate and violence will be no more – the last day when God will complete the restoration begun long ago – the restoration of the world into the land of love and peace that God has always meant it to be.

            Tragically, that last day, that restored world, now seems a lot farther off than it did just two weeks ago.

            The second great Advent theme is preparation. Even in the midst of tragedy and suffering – or especially in the midst of tragedy and suffering - we are called to prepare for Christ and to prepare for the new world that God is at work restoring all around us.

            And for the past two Sundays we’ve been hearing about and thinking about John the Baptist: that wild, charismatic and demanding prophet of preparation.

            As Lauren pointed out in her sermon last week, John didn’t get everything right about Jesus, but he’s right on the money about the importance of preparation – of preparation through repentance.

            John calls us to prepare by repenting – by turning back to God, by changing our ways, by helping God with the great restoration of the world into the land of love and peace that God has always meant it to be.

            And now, somehow, ready or not, it’s already the Fourth Sunday of Advent. The wreaths are standing by in Nieman Hall and the poinsettias are lined up in the library. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve.

            So today we turn to our final theme: expectation.

            Today we are reintroduced to Mary, the heartbreakingly young woman who is given the awesome gift and responsibility of carrying God into the world.

            We’re reintroduced to Mary: symbol and sign of expectation.

            Expectation.

            I’ve mentioned in the past how, no surprise, I enjoy a good church sign.

            Maybe you do, too.

            In my opinion, the Presbyterian church in Florham Park has some of the best signs in our area.

            And I really like their Christmas sign. Right in the center of the sign are the words, “We’re expecting.”

            We’re expecting.

            I’ve been thinking about that: we’re expecting. And, I’ve been wondering, what are we expecting?

            On one level, of course, “we’re expecting” has to with what’s going on in the story we heard today - the Visitation - the encounter that Luke tells us about between the pregnant kinswomen, Mary and Elizabeth.

            Young Mary and old Elizabeth are overjoyed with this unexpected turn of events: we’re expecting!

            I’m sure that those of you who have had children can relate, at least a bit.

            We’re expecting!

            I love the story of the Visitation. It’s one of my favorite scenes in the Christmas pageant – when the two girls playing Mary and Elizabeth mimic their long-ago yet timeless excitement and expectation.

            But, there are dark shadows over this scene. We know what’s ahead for these two yet unborn children. We know what to expect for John – a beheading ordered by a king keeping a pathetic promise. And we know what to expect for Jesus – rejection, betrayal, and a shameful death that seemed like the end of the story – the story that began with so much hope and joy on the first Christmas.

            We’re expecting.

            Expectation is powerful. Expectation is powerful because it shapes who and what we see.

            A little example. I’ve mentioned before how one of the highlights of my week is a Monday morning trip to Shop Rite. I’ve run into some of you there. And since I’ve shared my schedule with you, I don’t know, not to sound like an egomaniac, but maybe some of you even expect to run into me, say, in the dairy aisle.

            But, most parishioners only expect to see me here at Grace – and only expect to see me in my priest uniform. And so when I’m in Shop Rite, wearing a sweatshirt and jeans usually parishioners don’t seem to see me – or even, for a moment, seem confused and can’t quite place me – when we nearly run into each other, say, in the dairy aisle.

            Sometimes we don’t see what we don’t expect to see.

            What are we expecting?

            Expectation is powerful. Expectation is powerful because it shapes what we are able and willing to do.

            As both a student and teacher I’ve learned that, more often than not, low expectations produce poor results but teachers who have high expectations are able to inspire their students to achieve more than they had thought possible.

            Which brings us back to Mary.

            We know so little about her, but I imagine that Mary was expecting even before her pregnancy.

            I imagine that Mary expected that God was and would be at work in her life. And because Mary expected God she was able to hear the angel’s message and say yes to the awesome gift and responsibility of carrying God into the world.

            Mary’s expectation wasn’t only about her pregnancy.

            Listen to Mary’s song about God:

            “He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the mighty from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.

            Mary sings a song about God’s great restoration of the world into the land of love and peace that God has always meant it to be.

            After the recent tragedies, we know only too well that God’s restoration of the world is still very much a work in progress.

            The mighty are still on their thrones, and the lowly are still, well, lowly.

            But, in her song Mary is expecting.

            Mary is expecting that, with her help, God is going to restore the world. Mary is expecting that God is going to scatter the proud, lift up the lowly and fill the hungry with good things.

            Mary’s expectation wasn’t only about her pregnancy.

            And I have no doubt that Mary’s high expectation of God working in her life and Mary’s high expectation of God restoring the world shaped her Son’s life – Jesus’ life of love, healing, and sacrifice.

            So, what about us?

            Today in our world still broken by hate and violence, what are expecting?

            Somehow, ready or not, it’s already the Fourth Sunday of Advent and tomorrow is Christmas Eve.

            Today, we are reintroduced to Mary, this heartbreakingly young woman who is given the awesome gift and responsibility of carrying God into the world.

            We’re reintroduced to Mary: symbol and sign of expectation.

            Expectation is powerful. Expectation is powerful because it shapes who and what we see.

            Expectation is powerful. Expectation is powerful because it shapes what we are able and willing to do.

            Mary is expecting. She’s pregnant with her son and about to bring new life into the world.

            Mary is expecting. She’s carrying her son into the world where he will love and be loved – into the world where he will also face rejection, betrayal, and a shameful death that seemed like the end of the story.

            Mary is expecting.  She’s expecting God at work in her life.

            Mary is expecting. She’s expecting God to scatter the proud, lift up the lowly and fill the hungry with good things.

            Mary is expecting. She’s expecting God to restore the world into the land of love and peace that God has always meant it to be.

            What are we expecting?