Your Faith Journey - Finding God Through Words, Song and Praise

We have begun another new year, 2025. It usually takes a little while to remember this when writing the date. Some people set resolutions or goals for the year. This may help us to decide where our focus will be.

Our country will be looking and run differently. There are many different views on whether it will be good or bad, healthy or unhealthy. I'm not sure how much control we have over it one way or the other. For me the bottom line is where will our focus be and whom will we trust.

Today we begin a new season, Epiphany. Epiphany means manifestation. Where we place our focus and whom we trust has everything to do with how we represent or manifest Jesus in our world.

God has a plan of how God wants to be represented. In our lessons today, we see contrasts and descriptions of this. Folklore has us thinking that there were three kings. In reality they were Magi or also called Wise Men, and it doesn't really say that there were three.

The Magi or Wise Men originated in Persia. They were followers of Zoroastrianism, a system of belief that was a precursor to Islam. There were most likely women in this group also. But Matthew sticks with the patriarchal context.

We could easily question God how people not of the Jewish faith could be used in God's plan. But that would be our way of thinking and not God's. This is one thing to remember for the new year that God doesn't follow our plans.

In the Zoroastrianism religion, the primary prophet was conceived by a 15 year old Persian virgin. He predicted that other virgins would conceive additional divinely appointed prophets. They were waiting for the birth of a true Savior also, just as the Jews were.

The Magi had heard of the birth of Jesus and went to Jerusalem to find out where this baby was. King Herod became frightened that this baby would be the Messiah that the Jews had been talking about and he did not want to lose the power and control that he had. He called together all of the chief priests and scribes and basically asked them, where do you think this baby that could be the Messiah, was born.

They went back to the prophecy that said the baby would be born in Bethlehem of Judea. Herod called the Wise Men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem to find the baby and then let him know so that he could go and visit the baby. A frightened leader is not to be trusted.

The wise men followed the star and found Jesus in Bethlehem. They arrived and were overwhelmed with joy. Upon entering the stable they knelt down to give Jesus the gifts that they had brought. Consider this, leaders in their religion kneeling in reverence before a baby and acknowledging Jesus as the king of the Jews. This title was not used again until the passion story.

God was using unexpected Gentiles to identify who Jesus was. I can remember other times in Jesus' time on earth where he was identified for who he really was, such as the demons. Again, not what we would expect. God in Jesus Christ has plans that often do not match up with ours. This is where trust enters in. Whose plan are we going to follow, ours or God's?

The Wise Men heard in a dream not to return to Herod, and they left for their country by another road. They weighed out whether they needed to in a sense collude with Herod or bypass him. They may have sensed that he was a frightened man and not to be trusted.

This also contrasts the two kingdoms, Herod's and Jesus'. Herod's was one of power and control over others creating an atmosphere of hostility created by his insecurity. He used whatever method he could think of to keep himself in power. But what might have he sensed in a baby that would threaten him and his power and control?

Jesus' kingdom represented one of peace and love. A kingdom that was called to love neighbor. Neighbor meaning all people. The fact that God used people from Persia who were not even of the Jewish faith helps us realize that neighbor includes all.

In our Old Testament lesson from Isaiah, we hear about nations coming to God's light. When Isaiah talks about nations coming, he is talking about building a community that includes all people, foreigners and sexual minorities, at this time meaning eunuchs. At one point explicitly includes sons of foreigners.

I believe it is very revealing that God has been trying to build an inclusive, diverse kingdom from the beginning. Human beings are threatened by this. God's community is built on love and acceptance not power and control. If we know all of this, what is our role in the kingdom. How will we represent or manifest Christ in 2025?

Paul in our second lesson gives us some clue. First of all, Paul says, according to The Message, This is my life work: helping people understand and respond to this Message, the good news. It came as a sheer gift to me, a real surprise, God handling all the details.

This is our life work as followers of Jesus as part of God's kingdom: helping people understand and respond to the good news of Jesus Christ. Paul is trying to tell us that he didn't always know how he was going to do this and relied on God for the details. This is where trust comes in.

This good news of God's grace shown through Jesus is a gift to us and the invitation to help people understand and respond is a gift. As the Wise Men humbled themselves and literally knelt before Jesus is a way of representing Jesus. They acknowledged who Jesus was. We acknowledge who Jesus is when we don't try and think we have the plan by ourselves. It is when we trust God for the details.

The idea of the Magi being part of God's plan is a surprise. Even thinking that God would use people who would be a precursor to Islam can be difficult for some people to get their head around. This is how God works. Going through this new year we are challenged to be surprised by God and trust God for the details.

In the end it is about humbling ourselves before God and trusting God's plan as we know it and not ours. I believe as we strive to do this we will manifest or represent Christ to our neighbor.

Let us pray, All knowing God, we have been reminded again today that you can use all people to carry out your plan. Unfortunately, we often get in the way and try and impose our plan. In this new year, we come before you, God in Jesus Christ humbly realizing that it is not about our plan, but yours. You have the details that you reveal to us as we are able to see them. During this Epiphany season continually remind us that it is not our light that shines, but your light shining through us. You have invited us to help people hear and understand the good news. We humbly pray for the details in how to do this. In Jesus name, Amen

This is a special musical presentation of the Away in a Manger at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

This is a special musical presentation of the Jesus, What a Wonderful Child with soloists Tammy Heilman and Chris Lewis at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

Christmas Eve 2024

Tonight, I would like to focus on angels. The first time that we hear about angels is back in Genesis. The angel announced to Hagar, after she ran away from Sarai, that she would bear many children. Her first child was Ishmael, Abram's first son. Ishmael played a foundational role in the Islamic religion.

Here we have an angel announcing the birth of someone who turned out to be an important prophet in the Islamic religion. It is important to remember that this was God's messenger. Since Sarai didn't know what to do with the fact that Abram and Hagar were going to have a child, Hagar had run away. The angel came with good news for Hagar, that she would bear a son that would produce many nations.

As we gather here tonight, we can remember that the angels assisted in setting up our Christmas story. The angel Gabriel visited Mary and announced that she would be the mother of Jesus who would be the Messiah, the Savior of the world. Another angel came to visit Joseph to secure his place as the earthly father of Jesus. God used these beings as messengers to carry out the work that needed to be done in order to come to earth.

So many of us have asked the question, are angels real? It seems that there are elusive. The angel Gabriel came to Mary in a sense out of thin air. The angel who spoke to Joseph came to him in a dream. What do we make of this?

Then we hear of the angels coming to the shepherds to announce the good news of Jesus birth. In the case of Hagar, Mary, Joseph and the shepherds, the angels came to encourage and tell them not to be afraid and to give them good news. This message was from God and in a sense confirming their role in God's work.

Hagar became the mother of Ishmael, who was an important leader. Mary's role was to be the mother of Jesus and raise him. Joseph became Jesus's early father to raise him. Each angel or angels came to encourage and give good news to each person in order to fulfill God's work.

As we grow in our faith, we learn that we will not understand all of the ways that God works. I believe that what we can learn is that God will work in unexpected ways. God uses many different ways to communicate to us. What is important for me is the role of the angels.

In all of these cases whether one or many, the message was one that each person needed to hear at that specific time and place. Have we not experienced that in some way? God communicates a message to us through a person, a group or a situation, how different pieces line up and then it is revealed to us.

Many of us are on edge going into the new year. Are we able to hear the message of the angels tonight, Don't be afraid? Think about the fact that none of these people knew what was ahead, but the message of the angels resonated in their hearts, and they sensed that God was speaking to them and that God would be with them.

In Joseph's dream this was part of the message that the angel reminded Joseph of the prophecy that a virgin shall conceive and bear a son. His name shall be called Emmanuel, God with us. Again, the angel is preparing Joseph for what is to come. God prepares God's people, if we are paying attention and listening.

The good news that we are hearing again tonight is relevant. There is something about this story that draws us back here. This tells me it is relevant for us in years past and yet again tonight.

Angels have come again tonight to each one of us to tell us not be afraid that God is with us. We may not know what is ahead, but the good news is that we are not alone that God in Jesus Christ walks with us. Can you hear the angel's message for you?

Let us pray, God of the unexpected, we are drawn here again tonight to hear the good news that you came to earth in human form for each one of us. Even though Jesus is not physically here, you have never left us. May your Holy Spirit continue to open our ears to hear the good news that you have for us. May your Holy Spirit help us to hear the message that we do not have to be afraid. As you have sent your angels throughout all of history, we hear them again announce the good news to us. Help us to share that good news with our neighbors. In Jesus name, Amen

In our gospel lesson today, we have Mary's song of praise and gratitude, which has been given the title, The Magnificat. My soul proclaims your greatness O God, and my spirit rejoices in you my Savior. The Message, a paraphrase of the Bible, puts it this way, Mary says "I'm bursting with good news; I'm dancing the song of my Savior, God took one look at me, and look what happened- I'm the most fortunate woman on earth!"

Now really, she is not even technically a woman. She's a pregnant teenager and unmarried. She has run off out into the country to her cousin Elizabeth's. Elizabeth is much older and also pregnant. Where is the good news?

Mary must have had some fear. An angel, Gabriel had come to visit her to tell her that she would be the mother of the Savior of the world, which as a Jewish woman, would mean the messiah. Who would believe her? What were people going to say when they saw her, a pregnant, unmarried teenager carrying a baby? That must have been the reason that she ran off into the country to her cousin's to stay at least three months.

She would be a disgrace to her family, even though she had done nothing to get pregnant. Mary probably didn't know what Joseph would do, as any other man who would be engaged and his fiancé became pregnant would normally want to disown her. Even going back after three months with Elizabeth, she had no idea how or who would receive her.

Yet, despite all the shame, hardship and possibly death that she may encounter, here she is praising God. Mary can't contain herself and it causes her to burst forth in song, singing the good news. She is looking at this as a gift from God. God has set her apart, yet no church leader would have done this. Culture would not tolerate this.

Is it God that doesn't get it, or is it human beings that really don't understand God. God seems to enjoy role reversals and surprising us with the unexpected. It doesn't always make us feel comfortable. It shifts where power and control are placed by God, and we want to fight it.

First of all, here is a woman basically elevated above men. She is being given a role in our Christian faith that no man can hold. God has given her the mission to be the mother of God's son, our Savior, the Messiah, as Christians understand him. We could easily say that of course she is carrying the baby as God didn't create men to do this.

Although, God could have picked a woman of nobility, but God did not. Mary was probably seen as the least of all people by society, yet for God this was the person chosen to carry out this mission. In this song of gratitude, we also find prophecy of what kind of Messiah and Savior her son, Jesus would be.

Did you hear when I read it that on one hand God has already done these things and yet I believe it is giving us hope that God will continue to do these things. Mary is describing that Jesus will continue to do the work and model what God wants.

God's kingdom is forever in reform of bringing all people back in line. We are all made differently, and this is to be celebrated. Although not all people celebrate this, and it makes them feel uncomfortable and out of control. What God continues to do in God's way is to bring everyone back to how God views people and that is, all people are gifted by God and important for life in the community.

I don't believe that God sets up a hierarchy in a few people. No one has all the answers, but collectively a community can produce the best options and then make choices. I don't believe that God puts certain people in power to control others. Yet some people have less money than others, but that doesn't mean that they should be treated differently than others who have more money.

We are reminded by Mary and Elizabeth today that it doesn't make any difference to God about age or gender who is called to do God's work. Even in our Old Testament lesson from Micah, we are reminded that God did not choose a major city and palace for Jesus to be born in. Bethlehem was as The Message puts it, the runt of the litter. Jesus was born in a stable in the hay.

The Message goes on to say, from Bethlehem will come the leader who will shepherd-rule Israel. He'll be no upstart, no pretender. His family tree is ancient and distinguished. David was a shepherd who was born in Bethlehem.

If God doesn't see what God wants to see in our country today, these things prophesied by Mary will continue to happen. God can work through anyone to bring these things into action. But history tells us that God does not always work through those in high places.

In order for human beings to see something different, God shakes it up and works through those who culture does not like to recognize as capable people. As people of God, we are called to listen and watch when people are being oppressed, when people are hungry and need care. We will be called to address these issues and thankfully we are doing some of that already. But there may be more coming where we will be called to take a stand. This is how we will continue to do God's work modeled by Jesus.

Today our model for faith is Mary who is able to embrace her mission to be the mother of Jesus amidst all of the unknowns. She is willing to put her trust in God. We have some idea of what she encountered in this role given to her by God to be the Messiah's mother. God kept her safe as well as having the support of Joseph. This is the good news that God is always with God's people.

Are we able to sing with our whole heart in gratitude for God calling us to be followers of Jesus? We can be called by God to any role, and we can resist or with faith embrace whatever God is calling us to do. Remember the good news is that God continues to be with us. Jesus walks beside us through all of the unknowns in our life.

May we sing this good news in our life shown by the way in which we connect with our neighbor!

Let us pray, God who brings good news to us in so many ways, May your Holy Spirit help us to respond to your call in faith as Mary did. Mary was the least of all people who others thought would be called to this role. We know that you are calling each one of us to serve you. Help us to serve you in joy that others may hear and see the good news in us. In Jesus' name, Amen

This is a special musical presentation of the People, Look East by the Chancel Choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

This is the Christmas Pageant presented by the youth of Faith Lutheran Church today. It is entitled 12 Symbols of Christmas!

This is a special musical presentation of the Angels Advent Carol by the Chancel Choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

This is a special musical presentation of Will We Know Him by the Chancel Choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

Sermon for Faith Lutheran Church-Okemos

December 8, 2024; Advent 2 – Year C

Megan Floyd

Grace and peace to you from God, our Creator, and from the Lord, Jesus Christ, our Savior… the one for whom we prepare. Amen.

I think we all know… babies tend to arrive without regard for whether the parents are fully ready for them… or not.

In fact, I don't know anyone who claims they were fully prepared and ready in every way for the arrival of their children. …and if they said they were, I wouldn't have believed them.

When my husband and I were awaiting the birth of our first child, we did all we believed we were supposed to do to prepare the way.

We… made the soft colors bright… and the sharp edges round… we filled baskets with diapers and baby stuff… and we made the rough ways in our home smooth.

And yet… we were not fully prepared. We were not prepared for how much the arrival of our child would change us…

We were not prepared for the shift in our relationship and… the love! Who knew you could love someone so much?

There was so much to do, and yet, an enormous amount of the preparations happened, not in our home, but in our hearts… and in our minds.

Preparing for God's arrival is much the same… it is mostly an internal, ongoing work that we must do to be ready to receive our God and Savior, who chooses to come to us as a lowly, innocent child.

In our Gospel today, we hear the prophet John, crying out from the wilderness… prepare the way!

This child is coming… no ordinary human child… but a savior! Prepare!

This word from God does not come to us from the rulers of the day, or even the temple leaders… no.

The word of God bypasses all that earthly power and authority to rest on John… ruler of no one and governor of nowhere… just… John, son of Zechariah.

God's word comes to us from out of the wild… a place unbound by time and unbidden to society… from out of the desert wilderness… we hear…

Prepare the way! …for none other than the light of the world is about to break over us like the dawn… prepare!

Driven by love and tender compassion, our Creator, God the Almighty… has chosen to meet us exactly where we are.

Our heavenly parent has come down to meet us in the ordinary, the humble and lowly… to shine a holy light into our dark places… and guide our feet into the way of peace.

But we must prepare to receive that light… we must make ready our hearts and minds… to open ourselves up to the ongoing transformation that follows when you give your life over to the way of Christ.

Because God comes to us through Jesus to purify us as with the refiner's fire…

God comes to us through Jesus to wash us clean as with the fuller's soap… to redeem us… and claim us as God's own beloved.

God comes to us through Jesus, the Christ child, to forgive our sins and offer us salvation…

not only for our eternal life with God but also salvation in the here and now… salvation for this life here on earth.

Prepare the way of the Lord! …for all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

Prepare! …we must ready ourselves to receive our Redeemer…

and know this… the work of preparation will change you… it will mold you… and shape you and draw you toward God's justice and mercy.

We are not passively waiting for Jesus to arrive – we are actively engaged in reshaping our senses to receive God in new ways.

The work of preparing for God involves repentance… metanoia… a change of heart… a turning back.

We turn back to Christ to be released from the captivity of our sins… so that we can recognize God with us, Emmanuel in our wilderness… Christ in the stranger…

We repent and turn back to Christ… so we can be liberated from the bonds of sin and joyfully engage in the work of preparing for the arrival of our Lord.

…Of making the crooked paths straight… of filling in every valley… bringing low every mountain… and making the rough ways smooth.

…It really sounds like impossible landscaping.

But it's not… it's about letting God's love wash over you and turn you over like a stone in a river…

buffing away your rough edges so you can better receive and reflect that love from God into the world around you.

But we resist change… don't we.

Especially something as life-altering as the full transformation that comes from a relationship with God.

We fall back into old habits… close our eyes to the needs around us …and in us… because changing the status quo is challenging work!

And yet, resisting the transformational change that comes through a dynamic relationship with God is to ignore the work that God calls us into…

Resisting that transformative change is to resist the work of Christ.

Preparing the way for the Lord means opening our eyes to injustice and inhumanity… and then working to change those systems… so that all people will see God's salvation.

But we resist being changed, and we remain captive to our sin.

It is true that through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven… you belong to Christ… and yet, we remain in bondage to our sin.

And so, we must die daily to that sin through our repentance and receive the grace that comes only from Christ.

We must repent… turn back to Jesus… and prepare the way for the Lord… Prepare for the Lord and participate in the in-breaking of God's kingdom here on earth.

For John proclaims, a new era of God's peace is dawning! And we get to take part in that luminous work!

This is amazing… this co-creating work with our God… it is incredible and beautiful work.

But here is the best news… Christ will arrive… even if you are not prepared.

Just like our ordinary human babies arrive, whether the nursery is freshly painted or not…

The Christ child will arrive.

Yes, God invites us to join in the incredible work of smoothing our rough edges, leveling the terrain, and shaping our world around love, justice, and mercy…

But the completion of this work is not dependent on us.

God calls us to prepare and participate because God loves us and desires a vibrant relationship with us…

But we are not ultimately responsible for our salvation, let alone the salvation and redemption of the whole world and the bringing forth of God's new Creation!

This is God's promise to us… that God's got it covered.

And we, faithful followers, we get to help by preparing the way for the Lord… preparing our hearts and minds, and our communities, to receive our Savior…

…so we can recognize our God with us.

I don't know about you… but I hear that as good news.

Out of pure and holy love, Jesus, the light of the world, will break like the dawn and shine over us, even if we are not ready.

Christ will shine into the darkness and into the shadow of our death… and guide our feet into the way of peace.

I want to be ready for that, and I'm certain you do, too. So… let's prepare the way.

***

Will you pray with me…

Gracious and loving God, we praise you and thank you for claiming us as your own, and for not giving up on us.

You are continually forming us with your mercy and guiding our feet into your way of peace.

Help us, Lord, to prepare for your arrival so we might recognize you in our presence and receive you into our lives… and so we can celebrate as your light shines into the darkest valleys, so that all may see your salvation. In your holy name we pray, Amen.