Out of the blue
Sermon from Seventh Sunday of Advent + December 24, 2023 + Pr. Craig Mueller
The angel appeared out of the blue.
And it changed everything.
We talk about something happening “out of the blue,” which means it was unexpected or unplanned. Actually, “out of the blue” evolved from an older idiom, “a bolt out of the blue.” Like a bolt of lightning on a clear, sunny day.
The angel appeared out of the blue. And it changed everything. Natural disasters, violent attacks, accidents. Unplanned pregnancies or pregnancy complications. Resignations or terminations. Announcements of divorces or closings or moves. These can occur out of the blue.
Think of your life. What kinds of big changes came out of the blue for you? Something you could have never planned or expected? Something that changed everything?
Today’s “out of the blue” gospel has inspired countless paintings, poems, musical pieces.
The angel Gabriel appears to young, unwed Mary to announce that she will become a mother.
But this will be no ordinary birth.
Mary has been chosen by God to bear the long-awaited One,
the One who will be the salvation and hope of the people.
Mary’s reaction?
It wasn’t an automatic “yes.”
First the angel Gabriel says to her: “Greetings O favored one, the Lord is with you.”
Our text says that Mary was perplexed and pondered what these words could mean.
Actually, the Greek word suggests that she was profoundly
unsettled, agitated, disturbed, or terrified.
In other words, she is freaked out.
After all, angels aren’t cute cuddly things in the scriptures.
They can be terrifying and bring either bad or good news.
No wonder Gabriel tries to calm her down:
“Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.”
Then Gabriel explains what’s going to happen.
Mary will become pregnant, and bear a son, who will be Son of the Most High.
The Holy Spirit will come upon her, and the child will be holy.
And then Mary answers, with some of my favorite words in scripture.
Four words: “how can this be?”
How can this be since I am a virgin?
When life throws us unexpected challenges out of the blue.
When we are invited down a path we didn’t choose.
When the world changes so quickly we can’t catch up.
When the news is deeply disturbing.
When hope seems distant.
When Christmas seems so far removed from the harsh realities of so many in our world.
We too ask, how can this be?
Even though it is soon Christmas Eve.
Even though stores have been decorated since October or before.
Even though our minds are distracted by all we have to do.
Even though our hearts may be heavy or full or sad as we prepare for the next 24 hours.
We are still in blue.
The blue of Advent.
The blue of hope.
The blue of waiting.
The blue of expectation.
Sometimes we talk about having “the blues.”
The holidays can be difficult for many people.
And perhaps all of us, to some degree, carry mixed feelings and memories
as we are on the verge of Christmas.
Gabriel reassures Mary that nothing is impossible with God.
Out of our Advent blue will come the Christmas good news
that in Emmanuel, God is indeed with us.
That we are on the verge of something new.
That hope is born in the darkest night.
As one writer puts it:
“Out of the blue, something new is arriving like lightening: change, wonder, justice, joy.
Through every generation God has been dreaming of this moment.
Inevitably, it catches us by surprise, just like it surprised ancestors in faith:
Sarah, Abraham, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Mary, Joseph.
God’s time is now.
It’s here to reorient our expectations and to sweep up into a future of hope and promise,
even if we didn’t expect it, even if it wasn’t part of our plans.1
I don’t know how long it takes Mary to consent, to say yes to God.
Perhaps there is a long pause.
Perhaps she says she needs more time to think about it.
Perhaps she asks Gabriel more questions.
And tells the angel she needs to confer with her parents.
Perhaps she runs away and the angel pursues her.
But eventually, eventually Mary says yes.
She says three of my other favorite words in scripture:
“Let it be.”
Many of us know the well-known Beatles song:
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.
I wonder if we live most of our lives between:
“How can this be?”
And:
“Let it be.”
It takes time to process what comes out of the blue . . . to a place of acceptance.
So we gather in community to share our questions, doubts, wonderings, and struggles.
We gather to be refreshed again and again by Christ’s coming to our broken world.
By Christ’s coming to our eager and waiting hearts.
Out of the blue, God comes to us.
Out of the blue, we hear that nothing is impossible with God.
Out of the blue, we are nudged to accept what is right in front of our eyes,
whether a scary angel or an invitation or some new challenge.
Out of the blue we are ushered to the feast of Christmas.
Out of the blue, we are led again into mystery.
Let it be.
Let it be so.
Amen.
1 https://barngeeseworship.com/out-of-the-blue-advent-2022/
