Sermon - St. Mary, Mother of Our Lord 2021 - Luke 1:39-55

Pieta, William-Adolphe Bouguereau, 1876

Today the Holy Church rejoices to celebrate the Festival of St. Mary, Mother of Our Lord, by remembering her dormition, her falling asleep in faith. Our Lord uses St. Mary today to teach us about suffering and glory. Because like Mary, our glory is not found in worldly success, but God glorifies us when He dwells within us.

Now, I’m a fan of capitalism and a free market, but it’s not without its pitfalls. Today’s culture measures glory based upon worldly measures of success, and usually bigger is better. If you’re a business, bigger is better. More customers, more money, bigger stores, more stores, that's what makes you successful and gives you glory.

If you’re an employee, bigger is better. The higher up you are in the company, the more people under you, the higher your income, the more awards you receive, that’s what makes you successful and gives you glory.

If you’re a farmer, bigger is better. Bigger tractors, more land, better land, newer trucks, bigger buildings and grain bins, more money, that’s what makes you successful and gives you glory.

If you’re a church, bigger is better. Bigger sanctuary, newer additions, more members, more programs, bigger offerings, more events, that’s what makes you successful and gives you glory.

But what if you don’t measure up? A small struggling business, an employee who just can’t get ahead, a farmer with old stuff and small tracts of land, a small church sharing a pastor and few people in the pews? Then often you’re despised and pitied by the world, you’re called a loser. It leaves you feeling depressed and hopeless, like a failure.

Such was St. Mary. In our text today she was just a girl, a teenager, unwed and pregnant, and the dad is nowhere to be found. As shameful as that was, imagine how badly they mocked her when she said it was from the Holy Spirit. Moreover, she was betrothed to Joseph, a carpenter. Today carpenters are respected, but not so in Mary’s day, it was considered a shameful profession. Joseph was more along the lines of a migrant construction worker, working alongside men who got themselves into trouble. The best her parents could find for her, and this was before she was even pregnant, was an old carpenter.

Then her shame and embarrassment are so great, her parents send her away to live with her cousin Elizabeth. When the time comes for her to give birth, she’s in Joseph’s hometown of Bethlehem to pay taxes, and has to give birth in a stable because none of her in-laws will give her lodging. After birth she has to flee with Joseph and the baby to Egypt because the ruler of her land wants to kill her baby. When they finally return home to Nazareth, it’s still probably no better, everyone remembers. Finally, Joseph having died, her Son is arrested and crucified as a terrorist. While she’s there at the foot of the cross, watching her Son die, she apparently has no one else to care for her since Jesus assigns His apostle John to take care of Mary.

By all worldly measures of success and glory, St. Mary was a nobody, a loser, probably considered by many to be insane since she confessed her Son to be God, the Messiah. Yet in spite of all worldly appearances, St. Mary is the most blessed among all women. Like Elizabeth said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” As Mary sang, “For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.”

Why is St. Mary the most blessed among women? It’s not because of anything that she did, but it’s entirely because of what God has done for her. By the conceiving of the Holy Spirit, God in the flesh entered into the womb of Mary. Because Jesus, who is true God and true Man, lived within her womb for nine months, Mary is known as the God-Bearer, Theotokos. “For He has looked on the humble estate of His servant… for He who is mighty has done great things for” her. In spite of Mary’s lowly estate, God chose to live in her and make her His holy vessel.

Our Lord does the same for us! We are who are lowly in the eyes of the world, who are failures and losers according to the world’s measure of success and glory, God has chosen to live in us! “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Jesus has come as one of us, in our flesh and blood, in order to redeem us! He came as a lowly human, of ignoble birth and poor estate, in shame and mockery He was both born and died, in order to redeem us from our lowly estate.

In turn, we have received adoption as sons! It’s as if we are firstborn sons and thus heirs of our Heavenly Father’s kingdom! “So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” By entering into our flesh and dying and rising on our behalf, Jesus has made us heirs of God’s eternal kingdom! We are all kings and queens of the new heavens and the new earth! God the Father glorifies us through the glory of the eternal Son, Jesus the Christ.

Today St. Mary teaches us humility in this life. I am content to be called a fool and a loser, a failure in the eyes of the world, to be mocked and hated by all, because my glory comes from God not from man. For all of us poor, miserable sinners, God declares us forgiven and glorifies us far more than we deserve. “Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy.”

When you suffer the contempt of this world, and others scorn and despise you, when you are cast down and sorrowful, when you feel beaten down and trodden upon by others, when you feel like a loser, remember that Christ came for you. He came in lowly birth, was despised and hated throughout His life, was arrested, beaten, and killed all for you. Jesus endured shame in this world, and so when you suffer shame and embarrassment, Christ knows your sorrows.

Not only does Christ know and feel your sadness, but He has come to glorify you! He suffered the shame and agony of the cross in order to redeem us and save us from our shame and agony of our sins. Though we are poor and lowly in this life, Christ has glorified us through His suffering!

 Just as St. Mary was glorified because Her Lord entered into her body through her womb, so are we glorified when Jesus enters into our bodies through our tongues. Here in this Holy Meal Jesus enters into our bodies and He glorifies us! We who are lowly in the eyes of the world are glorified far above this world as we enter into heaven during this feast. Think of that! Wherever God is present for us in His grace, that’s heaven. Mary’s womb for nine months? That was heaven. Here, at the altar, upon your tongues? That’s heaven! Here in this supper you’re glorified by God!

God never promised us glory and success in this world. Instead He promised the cross. The cross is painful to bear, so the Lord gives us strength to bear it. His yoke may be light, and yet it’s still a yoke, so He dwells with us and in us in order to carry this burden. When we’re downcast and heavy laden, let us look to Christ. See that St. Mary was burdened by much shame and sorrow, and yet her Lord lifted her from her shame and glorified her. Seeing how Mary has been so glorified by God, let us remember that God shall give us glory, not in this world, but in paradise.

Knowing that, how can we help but rejoice with Mary and all the saints! “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness.”