How Does a Weary World Rejoice? We Sing Stories of Hope
A Meditation for the Fourth Sunday of Advent
Scripture: Luke 1:46-55, 67-80
46 Mary responded,
“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
47 How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
48 For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,
and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
49 For the Mighty One is holy,
and he has done great things for me.
50 He shows mercy from generation to generation
to all who fear him.
51 His mighty arm has done tremendous things!
He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
52 He has brought down princes from their thrones
and exalted the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away with empty hands.
54 He has helped his servant Israel
and remembered to be merciful.
55 For he made this promise to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his children forever.”
67 Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy:
68 “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has visited and redeemed his people.
69 He has sent us a mighty Savior[h]
from the royal line of his servant David,
70 just as he promised
through his holy prophets long ago.
71 Now we will be saved from our enemies
and from all who hate us.
72 He has been merciful to our ancestors
by remembering his sacred covenant—
73 the covenant he swore with an oath
to our ancestor Abraham.
74 We have been rescued from our enemies
so we can serve God without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness
for as long as we live.
76 “And you, my little son,
will be called the prophet of the Most High,
because you will prepare the way for the Lord.
77 You will tell his people how to find salvation
through forgiveness of their sins.
78 Because of God’s tender mercy,
the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,[i]
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
and to guide us to the path of peace.”
80 John grew up and became strong in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.
This is what the Spirit says to God’s people. Thanks be to God.
The scriptures for the fourth Sunday of Advent are songs! First comes the song Mary sings after Elizabeth’s greeting and blessing when Mary goes to visit her, pregnant with Jesus. Second is the song Zechariah sings when finally he has a voice again, after his son is born and he confirms his name is John. Both are songs of hope for the future.
From Rev. Cecelia D. Armstrong (Commentary author for How does a weary world rejoice?):
Mary sings of a new world order based on past experiences with God. Her joy is found in remembering what the world has the potential to be based on the presence of God in all things. God has shown strength. God has scattered the proud. God has brought down the powerful. God has lifted the lowly. God has filled the hungry. God has helped those who have served God according to the promise made to Abraham. God has already done things that should allow a weary world to rejoice. Mary proclaims this in her song of hope and in the story of justice, joy, and a righteous peace.
Zechariah sings a song of hope for the future. His song ignites the thrill of hope that awaits us after a long silence. He bursts into thanksgiving for God’s favor. He acknowledges that God has something better for those who await the future. Zechariah speaks over the life of the one who will be the prophet of the Most High. Zechariah tells of the blessings for John and speaks into John’s task for the future. Here the song and story of hope encourages us to speak life over those who will replace us when we are no longer on the battlefield for our Lord.
Songs are powerful. They often elicit strong feelings in us. Think of the civil rights movement and the song “We Shall Overcome” sung by voices of people of color and those who supported them in the fight for equal rights. Like Zechariah and Mary, they sang and still sing of a stubborn hope for a future that has not yet arrived. The songs stir the blood and tap into feelings of joy. Singing them can transform us.
When have you experienced that kind of singing? That kind of song? I remember every year at our Christmas Eve service at the church where I grew up that we ended with the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah. When I would hear the opening chords from the organ or the orchestra, and everyone would rise to their feet as is the tradition, something would rise up in me from my very toes. It was an exhilarating feeling. Even in more recent years, when I would visit my parents on Christmas Eve, the minister of music would invite those of us who had sung the Chorus to join the choir and I would move up to crowd in and share music and join in the singing, those feelings would return. Memories are stirred now every time I hear it sung or played.
Studies have shown that singing with others impacts your health and wellbeing. Eugene Rogers, the artistic director of the Washington Chorus, says: “It affects the way you feel about being alive. . . It’s an expression of, ‘Yes, I’m here. This feeds my soul.’” Every Sunday during worship we have an opportunity to sing together, and for many of us, the music is what brings us into God’s presence more than anything. Christmas Eve services are typically filled with communal singing, and tonight will be no exception. Indeed, as we circle the sanctuary with our candles lit, reminding us that the light has come into the world and that we carry it with us, we will raise our voices in song, our hearts will be lifted, and we will make room in our hearts for the Christchild again.
“Silent night, holy night. All is calm, all is bright ‘round yon virgin mother and child, holy infant so tender and mild. Sleep in heavenly peace. Sleep in heavenly peace.”