Blessed – Luke 1: 46 - 56
Intro: I remember a Christmas song sung by Burl Ives. “Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas.” “Have a holly, jolly Christmas; it’s the best time of the year. I don’t know if there’ll be snow, but have a cup of cheer. Have a holly, jolly Christmas; and when you walk down the street, say hello to friends you know and everyone you meet. Oh ho, the mistletoe bung where you can see; somebody waits for you; kiss her once for me. Have a holly, jolly Christmas and in case you didn’t hear, oh by golly have a holly, jolly Christmas this year.”
I I remember hearing that song as a child. I wondered then, what a holly, jolly Christmas would look like.
A Maybe if you decorate every room in your house and even decorate the outside by hanging Lights and covering the bushes and trees with lights. Perhaps, if you gather a large group of family and friends into your home. . . If you have the financial ability to give all your friends and family the exact gift they want. If you prepare a meal fit for royalty. Maybe . . . then, just maybe you will have a holly, jolly Christmas.
B But, what if you aren’t surrounded by large numbers of family and friends? What if the economy has been hard on you and you can’t fill you house with gifts or afford the electric bill for the decorations?
C An estimated 10 million Americans suffer from a disorder diagnosed as SAD (Seasonal Affect Disorder) “The Holiday Blues.” This condition is defined by unrealistic expectations, debt, world events, aging family members, loneliness and a magnification of existing problems.
II VSS. 39 – 45 “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Elizabeth exclaims that Mary is “blessed.”
A Mary made this journey of about 80 miles on foot. WHY? Was it because she doubted what she had been told? Did she feel she was not worthy? Perhaps she needed to be reassured by an older, wiser relative who had also been “chosen”.
B WHY ME? WHY NOW? HOW? Perhaps these are all questions Mary and Elizabeth asked themselves.
C Have you ever felt that you’ve been asked to do something that you did not feel equipped to complete? Do you feel called by God to do something that you don’t feel qualified to do? Ladies, if an angel came to you and said you were blessed by God to have a baby, how would you respond? Gentlemen, if your wife told you she was blessed by God to be pregnant, how would you respond? --- Have a holly, jolly Christmas because you are blessed!
III VSS. 46 – 55 – “the Magnificat” – Mary’s song. It is much like the song of Hannah as contained in I Samuel 2: 1 – 10. “From now on all generations will call me blessed.” (VS. 48)
A What does it mean to be “blessed?” The word in Greek is µa?a???? / makarizo and can be translated in various ways such as: to beautify / to pronounce as fortunate / to count as happy / to be fortunate / to be well off / to have good fortune.
B Think about this situation for a moment. Mary must tell Joseph, her fiancé that she is pregnant / She could be stoned to death / she will surely face the ridicule of friends and family.
C To be chosen by God can mean at one and the same time to have a crown of joy and a cross of sorrow. God’s ways are not always our ways. Yet God is saying, “Trust me, and it will all work out. You will be blessed because of your faithfulness.”
Concl: Even in difficult circumstances, we are assured that as a child of God, WE ARE BLESSED.
I happened across a poem in my preparations for this sermon that I want to share b/c it expresses the correct attitude about being blessed by God. It is titled: “I’m drinking from my saucer cause my cup has overflowed.” It is attributed to Jimmy Dean.
“I’ve never made a fortune, and it’s probably too late now. But I don’t worry about that much, I’m happy anyhow. As I go along life’s way, I’m reaping better than I sowed. I’m drinking from my saucer, ‘cause my cup has overflowed. Haven’t got a lot of riches, and sometimes the going’s tough. But I’ve got loving ones around me, and that makes me rich enough. I thank God for His blessings, and the mercies He’s bestowed. I’m drinking from my saucer, ‘cause my cup has overflowed. I remember times when things went wrong, my faith wore somewhat thin. But all at once the dark clouds broke, and the sun peeped through again. So, Lord, help me not to gripe, about the tough rows that I’ve hoed. I’m drinking from my saucer, ‘cause my cup has overflowed. If God gives me strength and courage, when the way grows steep and rough, I’ll not ask for other blessings, I’m already blessed enough. And may I never be too busy, to help others bear their loads. Then, I’ll keep drinking from my saucer, ‘cause my cup has overflowed.
