The Scripture Readings for this week are:
- Judges 13:2-7
- Luke 1:46-56
The Sermon title is He Will Deliver
Early Thoughts: All parents have dreams and hopes, maybe even expectations for their children. Some of them might be grandiose, some might be more humdrum. but they are always there. I suspect few of us have reason to expect our child will change the world, will deliver their people.
This week's passages are about expectations and promise. Both Samson and Jesus will, in their own way, change the world. Both are hailed as the ones who will make things right. Samson's mother is told to respond to the promise with a specific lifestyle, to begin the child's life in a way that he will later live. However the [un-named] wife of Manoah knows full well what has happened here. God has sent her a message. God is choosing to intervene in her life and through this intervention God will bring deliverance to the people of Israel.
Thus far in Advent we have seen Mary's encounter with God's messenger, where she was told of her impending pregnancy. We have seen Mary visit her cousin Elizabeth, who is also expecting a child. NOw after all that has happened Mary is moved to song. Her song sets out her understanding of what God is up to in the world. While the song never explicitly says that Mary's as yet unborn son will be part of how God will do these things verse 48 contains a strong hint that this is her understanding.
I wonder. Did Samson and Jesus know about these hoes and expectations? Did they feel a need to live up to them? Wouldn't that be a heavy weight to carry as you grew up?
All parents have hopes and dreams and expectations of their children. Mary and the mother of Samson had particularly special ones.
--Gord
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