Simple Faith

Simple Faith

Scripture Lessons

Isaiah 61:7-11

Psalm 45:10-17

Galatians 4:4-7

Luke 1:39-55

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Saint Mary, the Mother of Our Lord is rightly called “theotokos” which is “God-bearer.” No, we don’t worship Mary. No, we don’t pray to Mary. No, she was not a sinless person. The familiar words of her song make that clear, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” If she was sinless, then she would not need a savior. But she was a sinner, like you and me. However, she also found favor in God’s eyes and she would bear savior, the incarnate God.

Her faith was simple. It wasn’t easy, but it was not complex. It was simple. When the angel Gabriel came to her and foretold the birth of Christ, she was unsure of how this should be since she was a virgin, but in the end she simply said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Luke 1:38. This is a simple, yet profound confession.

When she came to Elizabeth and greeted her, John the Baptizer, who was in the womb of Elizabeth (6 months pregnant) jumped. Quick sidebar, notice the following: 1) That which was in the womb is a person, 2) that person…six-months in the womb but yet unborn…was given faith. Thus, we regard life as beginning at conception and we call on God’s governors, under His left-hand kingdom, to protect the lives of all unborn. As citizens in this nation we have the right and duty to vote to elect leaders of the left-hand kingdom and our consciences should be informed by this truth. And secondly, we do not withhold the grace of God from the infant. Peter said, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” Acts 2:38-39. John the Baptizer’s in utero faith is evidence of what God’s word plainly teaches, that faith is not an intellectual condition, but a spiritual one. Similarly, Paul says in 1 Corinthians, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14. In faith and trust in God’s word, in accordance with the apostles’ teaching, we baptize the infant.

Elizabeth said, “blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” Mary’s simple faith is that she had the audacity to believe that God fulfills His word. She believed that whatsoever God has spoken will be fulfilled. Simple, right? Yes, it’s simple, but it’s not always easy.

Surely, it was not easy for Mary to watch her beloved child suffer the shame and torture of the cross, to bleed and suffer and die before her very eyes. John records this: “When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.” John 19:26-27.

Jesus hung from the cross, dying for your sins, and (as you who know the savior would expect) he saw to the care of His mother.

Mary’s Magnificat remains with us today. You heard it in the gospel lesson today. We sang it as our hymn of the day. We sing it in the service of evening prayer (this makes me look forward even more to Advent mid-week services). The Magnificat is a beautiful confession of God. He looks on the humble and blesses them. He is mighty and brings that power to bear for the benefit of you and me and all people. He is merciful toward the contrite in heart. Those who are proud of their own strength are brought low. Those who confess their sin and bow before Him are raised up. All of this He does in fulfilment of His word spoken through the prophets and the apostles and blessed are you who believe that there will be a fulfillment of what has been spoken from the Lord.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.