December 19, 2004

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Luke 1:26-38

"Let It Be"

     I’m sure John Lennon wasn’t a great theologian, but every once in a while, even a former Beatle and rock and roll songwriter can stumble onto something profound.  Way back in the 1960’s he wrote these lyrics:

 When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

     I’ve heard these lyrics hundreds of times over the past thirty-five years or so and you’ve probably heard them countless times, too, but it only occurred to me a few weeks ago that they were taken from Luke 1:38:

Then Mary said, “Here I am, the servant of the Lord;

let it be

with me according to your word.”

     They are simple words, but words of great wisdom … and faith. 

     We know very little about the mother of Jesus, even though she has been revered by millions of people over the centuries.  The Bible doesn’t say a lot about her, but we know that when an angel named Gabriel visited this poor, young, unmarried, frightened girl and gave her the most unbelievable news anyone has ever heard, she simply said, “Let it be.”

     In this regard, this previously unremarkable person had a lot in common with other great people of the Bible like Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Ruth and Moses.  Like these other previously ordinary people, Mary simply said “yes” to God’s call.   When the Lord had some great thing for them to do, each of them had simply said, “Let it be.”

     We don’t have to be great theologians of biblical proportions to get it right and we don’t have to be great people in the eyes of the world, we just have to be willing people, people who say “yes” to God.  From there, God will show the way.

     This Christmas, the greatest gift of all time is presented to you once again.  Emmanuel comes.  The Holy Spirit bears the love of God, the salvation of Christ to you and awaits your answer.  Will you unwrap the gift?

     In our hour of darkness, there are words of wisdom whispered bearing light and hope.  Mary spoke them.  We can speak them, too:

“Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.”