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Spencer C. Lawrence, Church of the Cross, Hoffman Estates, IL, December 24, 2006 Christmas is a conversation with God. The angel Gabriel came to Mary with the promise of a son. Mary said “Yes” to God’s promise. Then she went to visit her relative Elizabeth who was also pregnant even though she was very old. Elizabeth was moved by the Holy Spirit to confirm what God had spoken to Mary. Then the Spirit moved Mary to sing one of the most memorable Biblical songs of all times – what we call the “Magnificat.” Mary’s song includes language from a song Hannah sung centuries before (1 Samuel 2). That Mary borrowed from her song reminds us that the conversation with God began long ago Over thirty years ago my wife and I visited Coventry, England. Coventry, you may recall, was heavily bombed by the Nazis during World War II. The Cathedral in Coventry was almost totally destroyed. All that remained was parts of three walls. What’s left of the Cathedral today contains a large cross made from nails that formerly held the old church together. Alongside the shell of the old Cathedral stands a new Cathedral. It is modern and beautiful. As we toured the new Cathedral a voice came over a public address system inviting us to join in Vesper Services. The voice said, “You may not understand everything that’s being said, but it’s a chance to join in a conversation that has been going on since the beginning of time.” Christmas is a part of that conversation. It’s continuing a conversation that’s been going on from the beginning of time. Zechariah’s experience illustrates this fact. Zechariah had been visited by an angel when he was serving in the Temple. The angel came to him with the promise of a son whose name would be John. Since his wife Elizabeth was old he couldn’t believe it. The angel was annoyed and took away his ability to speak. He could read and write, but he couldn’t talk. The angel said that he would be speechless until the child was born. When it came time for the baby to be born, Zechariah found his voice and couldn’t stop talking. He joined in the conversation that began long ago. He praised God for looking favorably on the people of Israel, for beginning to fulfill the promise made to Abraham and reaffirmed by the holy prophets. He was grateful, too, that his son, John the Baptist, would be a part of what God was doing. He would prepare the way of the Lord. And because of his preparations the tender mercy of God would break like a light of hope on those who sat in darkness. Zechariah joined in a conversation begun long ago. It began with Abraham and continued down the ages through patriarchs and judges and kings and prophets. Now through Zechariah and his son John the conversation was coming alive again. So it is with us. Our individual conversations with God are pieces of that larger, longer conversation. Recognizing this fact can help us as we join in the conversation with God. For instance, recognizing that the conversation has been going on a long time encourages humility. It reminds us that we are not the main speakers. Years ago in the first congregation I served I asked a man to offer the morning prayer. It was a good prayer, but it was very long. He prayed for nearly everything under the sun. In fact, it was so long I ended up cutting out one-third of the sermon. His wife told me later that after he sat down she asked him, “Did you forget you weren’t the main speaker?” Knowing that others have joined in this conversation before us and that still others will likely engage in it after us is humbling. That fact reminds us that we are not the main speakers. We’re just participants in the conversation and we discover how to participate by learning what others have said and done.
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