A sermon based on Luke 1:39-45, Rev. Dr. Jon Diefenthaler, Sr Pastor Emeritus, Our Savior Lutheran Church
Today is the final Advent Sunday, and for many of us it is the onset of the Christmas week. In just a few days, we will gather once again for special worship services on Christmas Eve and possibly even Christmas Day. In addition, what makes these days so precious is the “company” of family who will join us, whether these relatives come to us or we travel to their homes.
The Gospel text for the day depicts the “Visitation” of Mary to the home of her cousin Elizabeth. Each has good news to share with the other. The aging Elizabeth is miraculously pregnant with a child, whose mission in life will be that of John the Baptist. The teenage Mary has just received word from the angel Gabriel that she is to be the mother of Jesus as the Messiah.
Similarly, our Christmas “company” will provide an opportunity for us to become the good news that God’s own Son has come to remove the darkness that continues to enshroud our imperfect world and to give us the hope of a bright new day. It is indeed the birth of Jesus that brings us back together as family, where we can set aside our differences and like Mary and Elizabeth, engage in caring and supportive conversations with each other.
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