Yes

We have been waiting and waiting. And finally, we are getting close – the Advent candles are lit and this morning’s gospel reading starts with the exciting words, “Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way.” But then it really doesn’t tell us anything about the birth of Jesus. This is one of the interesting things about having four gospels – each one has a different perspective. This year we are hearing from Matthew who tells us the story from Joseph’s perspective.

Matthew starts his gospel with a genealogy from Adam to Joseph even though he makes it quite clear that Joseph is not Jesus’ biological father. There is nothing at all about Mary’s experience. And after this passage Matthew jumps immediately to the coming of the three Magi and Herod’s attempts to assassinate the young Jesus.

Nothing here about the Angel Gabriel, the journey to Bethlehem, nothing about the stable, the shepherds and the choir of angels. All that comes from Luke’s gospel.

Instead, Matthew tells us about Joseph’s dilemma when he finds his fiancé is pregnant. In those times an engagement was as binding as the actual marriage so had Joseph gone ahead and ended the relationship Mary would have been considered a divorcee.  He’s a kind guy and intends to do it quietly, and not make a big public fuss shaming Mary for her promiscuity, But then something happens.

Something happens that changes everything.

Joseph experiences a transformation.

Transformation is a mark of the people of God. We are changed by our experience of God and of living in community with God’s people. Sometimes transformation is dramatic, as it was for Joseph, Spirit breaks into our lives and we are never the same again. Often it’s quieter, a gentle slower transforming time. We can be sure that as we live out our baptismal vows, as we continually turn away from all that we recognize as evil and turn to God, as we continue in the apostles teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers, we will be transformed.

A couple of people have given me permission to share experiences of transformation that they have had recently. Eldra is currently in Cottage Hospital but expects to be home soon for a week or so before going back for surgery. Last week she talked about how she has for the first time started to experience herself as deeply accepted by God. She has also felt the direction of the Holy Spirit encouraging her to visit our members and others at Casa de Flores and Bayside Nursing Home. Jill had an experience a few weeks ago when she was sitting quietly and felt the profound presence of God. Since then she has been able to trust God more deeply.

These are experiences of transformation. They are not big and flashy. Unlike Jospeh neither Eldra nor Jill had a vision or saw an angel but like Joseph they were changed. I wonder how you are being transformed?

Let’s take a few minutes to think about that. How are you being transformed? Or how would you like to be transformed? How would you like God to be working in your life?
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Please find someone else to talk with and let’s reflect on that together – what experiences of transformation have you had? And if you can’t think of any – what would you like to have?
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The gospels are full of stories of transformation – of people meeting Jesus and having their lives changed. And it’s still happening today. It is usually quieter and subtler but we are still being transformed – transformed into the likeness of Christ to the extent that we allow it. For God never forces herself on us.

Mary could have said no. Joseph could have said no.

Perhaps Mary was not the first young woman that Gabriel approached. Perhaps she was the first to say yes, ‘behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word.’

We don’t know, we only have glimpses of the backstory.

What we do know is that both Mary and Joseph took the risk of saying yes. They said yes to God and as a result, Jesus the Messiah was born; Emmanuel, God with us.

Their yes led to the transformation of the cosmos because God took on flesh – that is God became one with matter – especially human and animal matter – in a way that never happened before. Spirit and flesh united in Jesus. Emmanuel, God with us.

Just as personal transformation can be quiet and subtle, so too planetary transformation may not be noticeable.

At times like these when the values of those in leadership seem diametrically opposed to those of Jesus, it is easy to lose heart and to think that planetary transformation is just a pipe dream, but we can hold on to this one thing, God is with us.

And yet we sing, “O Come, o come Emmanuel” because our longing is for more - we long to experience that God-with-us-ness in a more complete way. We long to be one with God and we long for peace and justice – for the Great Shalom when all beings are treated with respect and dignity – a world where no one goes hungry, no-one is bullied or hated – a world where Christ is all in all.

We have glimpses of Emmanuel but until the end times when Christ  is fully revealed we continue to sing ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” O Come, O Come Lord Jesus.

And in our cry of ‘Come Lord Jesus’ we add our voices to Mary’s and to Joseph’s as we say Yes. Yes to the coming of the reign of God, yes to transformation, yes to living with God here and now.
As Dag Hammarskjöld said, “For all that has been THANKS, for all that will be YES.”

And all God’s people say “Amen”.

the Rev. Dr. Caroline Hall