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GOD'S MESSAGE THIS WEEK
Sermon for Advent 4, December 24, 2006, Calvary Church,
The Rev. Mary A. Canavan

Scripture Readings: Micah 5.2-4, Psalm 80, Hebrews 10.5-10         Luke 1.39-49

Sources and references:
(note that the above is the approximate verbal text of a sermon spoken without notes and does not include quotations or footnotes that a formal publication, speech, or written report would include) 

“As Jack Kornfield recounts in the book “How, Then, Shall We Live?” it is the custom in one African tribe that when a woman decides to have a child, she goes and sits alone under a tree, and she listens. She listens until she hears the song of the child who wants to come.

Once she hears the song, she returns to the man who will be the child's father and teaches the song to him. When they make love to conceive the child, they sing the song to call the child to them.

When the woman is pregnant, she teaches the child's song to the midwives and old women of the village so that when the birth time arrives, the people surrounding the mother sing the song to welcome the child among them.

Then as the child grows up, the other villagers learn the song. If the child falls or hurts his knee someone picks him up and sings the song. When the child does something wonderful, the people of the village sing this song. When the child goes through the rites of puberty and becomes an adult, the villagers sing the song.

It goes this way through life. At a wedding, the songs of husband and wife are sung together. Finally, when this child grows old, and lies in bed ready to die, all the villagers know the song, and they sing it for the last time.”

What an extraordinarily beautiful custom that is.

In today’s Gospel reading we hear Mary singing Jesus’ song, the Magnificat, wherein she describes and explains our Lord.  She’s singing it before He is born.  Though she never mentions him by name, it is clear of whom the song is about.  It is no wonder that Jesus went on to teach His disciples, and us, the Beatitudes, because they are contained within His song, the song that He likely heard again and again from His mother.

And His song goes on today in the church (which is Jesus’ tribe) as we recite it during our liturgy and in our prayers to God.  For thousands of years it has and is said and sung by millions and millions of people throughout the world.  His song goes on living, just as He goes on living. 

May the song of Jesus Christ be born in you this year.  May its melody, its harmony and every aspect of it resonate within you and bless you. 

The New Oxford Annotated Bible (NRSV)
Synthesis – Year C – 2006/2007
Synthesis – Year C – 2003/2004
Pulpit Resource by William Willimon
Anglicans Online website – “Sermons that Work,” Year C
The Gospel of Luke – William BarclayThe New Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. IX, Abingdon Press 

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