Reuben's Sermon for the 4th. Sunday of Advent. Sunday, 23rd. December 2001 Anno Domini. (cycle A):

MORNING MASS
0800hrs. and 0930hrs at Saint George's - Cullercoats (Diocese of Newcastle) - England.

December 23, 2001 Cycle A Advent 4.

Morning Masses:

FIRST READING (morning Mass)

Isaiah 7.10­16

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
10 The LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying,
11 'Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.'
12 But Ahaz said, 'I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.'
13 Then Isaiah said: 'Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also?
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.
15 He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.
16 For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.'

Psalm 80.1­7, 16­18 (morning Mass)

R Restore us, O God of hosts; show the light of your countenance and we shall be saved.

1 Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock; shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim.
2 In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up your strength and come to help us. R
[ 3 Restore us, O God of hosts; show the light of your countenance and we shall be saved. ]
4 O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angered despite the prayers of your people?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears; you have given them bowls of tears to drink.
6 You have made us the derision of our neighbours, and our enemies laugh us to scorn. R
[ 7 Restore us, O God of hosts; show the light of your countenance and we shall be saved. ]
16 Let your hand be upon the man of your right hand, the son of man you have made so strong for yourself.
17 And so will we never turn away from you; give us life, that we may call upon your name. R
[ 18 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; show the light of your countenance and we shall be saved. ]

SECOND READING (morning Mass)

Romans 1.1­7

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans.

1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures,
3 the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh
4 and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.
5 Through Christ we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name,
6 including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
7 To all God's beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

GOSPEL (morning Mass)

Matthew 1.18­25

Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.

18 The birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.
20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.'
22 All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 'Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,' which means, 'God is with us.'
24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife,
25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

Reuben's Sermon:

Reuben's Theme: "Say yes to God"

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Yes, the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas are upon us...
The candelabra are ready... ...and tonight we will witness the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight.
The tree is up... ...not lit until the blessing of the crib service on Christmas eve... ...but up!
About ten years ago, directly after one of the Kings' School Carol Services, a rather imposing lady (wearing a large fur coat) complemented Fr. Graham on how wonderful the service was... ...but what a pity the tree lights weren't lit.
Fr. Graham, in perfect form, smiled at the lady and between teeth that I swear stayed firmly clenched, said,
"Come back when it is Christmas, madam, and you'll see them lit."
The Christmas tree is one of the strongest of childhood memories of Christmas that anyone remembers.
The smell of pine and the slight chill of a winter's morning and memories come flooding back!
For the Christmas tree, we can thank Saint Boniface.
Born in Devon in about the year 675, Winfrith took the name Boniface when he entered the monastery in Exeter.
By the year 722, he was consecrated as bishop and went to work in the, then pagan, country we now know as Germany.
He courageously felled a sacred oak and, since the pagan gods did not come to the rescue, widespread conversion followed.
He brought a tree inside, decorated it and told the pagans that one must not worship the tree, but worship the creator of the tree, the creator of all.
Although the pagans embraced Christianity, and continued the tradition of the Christmas tree, they still insisted on removing the tree from the dwelling by 12th. night because they believed that after 12 days the "spirit" of the tree would invade the building.
The tradition of the Christmas tree has spread from Germany to many countries throughout the world.
By the sixteenth century, when the Catholic doctrine song of the 12 days of Christmas (which I told you all about last year) came into being, the myth of there being only 12 days of Christmas was born (when we all know that there are 40 days in the festival of Christmas).
So, if you want to make a Christian statement this year, you can always leave your decorations up for the full festival of Christmas (ending at Candlemas on 2nd. February) in certain knowledge that the pagan gods won't take their revenge.
So...
Christmas Day... ...the day after tomorrow...
...and we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour.
...and today, the 4th. Sunday of Advent, we traditionally look to Mary.
The young lady wearing blue in the nativity scene.
By the way, you can thank Saint Francis for the tradition of the Nativity scenes and plays.
Mary... ...Joseph's betrothed.
The Blessèd Virgin Mary.
The mother of Jesus.
The mother of God.
Why is it that so many people have so much trouble, coping with Mary (except at Christmas)?
By the time you have said two "Hail Marys" most Anglicans are about 100 yards away... ...and still running.
Mary is vitally important.
Mary is the totally human ingredient of the Christmas equation.
As predicted by Isaiah in our first reading today, Mary is the direct link that mankind has with God!
Mary is like us. Totally human and called by God.
God called Mary to be His human mother.
God calls us to follow Jesus.
Mary said yes.
We must say yes.
Paul said yes...
In our second reading, Paul's whole life-mission is captured at the beginning of his letter to the Romans.
Paul, Christ's slave and emissary, whose commission is to carry God's good news to the nations, writes to his fellow Christians in Rome.
His 'grace' and 'peace' blend the traditional Greek and Jewish greetings into something uniquely Christian.
He places Jesus as the Saviour promised by God, through the prophets.
Descended from David, yet the Son of God.
The son of totally human Mary...
...Jesus, both Human and Divine.
So, the day after tomorrow is the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour - Christmas Day.
Our Gospel reading sets the scene.
There are two detailed descriptions of the events leading up to the birth of Jesus.
Luke, who gives the fuller, account focusses on Mary, giving extra weight to the fact that Luke knew Mary and was a 'friend of the family'.
Matthew's description of the events, however, focus more on Joseph.
Another ordinary human being.
It takes little imagination to appreciate the very human dilemma he is faced with.
Betrothal, unlike engagement today, was legally binding and could only be broken by divorce.
Joseph's betrothed was pregnant! He must have been devastated!
But Mary's pregnancy had a supernatural beginning.
Joseph is called by God.
Joseph did not dismiss Mary quietly.
Joseph accepted the challenge and took Mary for his wife.
God called Joseph to act as His human father.
Joseph says yes to God.
Matthew also recalls Isaiah's words.
'Jesus' means 'the saviour'; Emmanuel', God with us, in the world of men.
Jesus both Human and Divine.
Joseph... ...totally human.
Joseph... ...called to act as father to God.
Mary... ...totally human.
Mary... ...the mother of God.
They both said yes.
God calls us all... ...we must say yes.
We are all called to bring the good news, the glad tidings, of salvation to everyone we meet...
...by what we say (and do) every day.
Next Sunday morning I'll continue our story, when Rachel weeps for her children; refusing to be consoled, because they are no more.
But when the festival of Christmas starts this Tuesday...
I hope and pray that you will all have a happy, peaceful, blessèd and Christian Christmas...
Share your Christian Christmas with every one you meet...

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

©Reuben Condie 23/12/2001.