Let It Be – 20 December 2020

This week’s Old Testament and Gospel readings stand in the classic relation of promise and fulfillment. David is promised eternal kingship for his descendants; Mary is told her child will be the eternal king. . . Although most of Mary’s initial incredulity comes from the obvious gynecological question, other problems are there as well. How can the son of a working class family become a king, no matter who his ancestors were? How can anyone take over “the throne of David” when Israel has not had its own independent kings for a long time? “For nothing is impossible with God,” and politics is more flexible in its twists and turns than is human reproduction. Granted, but these other questions are still real ones. –– Lucy Bregman

Luke 1:26-38

The author of Luke was a literary artist who drew from stories, narratives, and patterns found through Jewish scripture in order to foretell the story of Jesus’s conception and birth. The pattern, or form, used here is as follows: (1) the angel appears; (2) the one visited by the angel reacts (with fear); (3) the message is delivered; (4) the recipient objects; (5) a sign is given by the angel. In early Judaism, there was no place for angels. Over time, though, Persian religions gained greater influence over Judaism and by the time Christianity emerged, belief in angels and demons had taken hold.

Luke’s narrative affirms God’s initiative, reminding the readers that God is the chief character in this story. Gabriel and Mary are fulfilling roles as players in this drama. Our God is a God of grace and power, longing to bring salvation through the gift of God’s Son. –– Carol J. Noren

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

God sets the course for God’s people. Despite David’s desire to build a house (or temple) for the ark of God (the symbol of God’s presence), David was told by way of the prophet Nathan that God neither needed nor wanted a house. By the end of the reading, David has been promised not only a house, but also a dynasty to be established forever.

In the message to Nathan, God compactly summarizes David’s life and legacy (this summary is in verses 8–16, which are not all included in the lection): (1) David’s humble beginning as a shepherd boy; (2) David’s victories over enemies; (3) David’s success has been shared between himself and his people; (4) David’s family is established forever as rulers. This passage formed the premise for all of the messianic hopes for the revival of David’s line to rule after the fall of Jerusalem (586 BCE). Furthermore, Jesus was considered by the early church to be the fulfillment of this promise. –– Carol J. Noren

Romans 16:25-27

Although the letter to the Romans is considered to be one of Paul’s greatest writings, these final verses of the letter were likely composed by one of Paul’s associates. These lines take the form of a rambling doxology, praising God for a variety of divine wonders, but most especially for the saving work of Jesus the Christ. Jesus is God’s agent, at work to transform human existence into God’s eternal reality. –– Carol J. Noren

Lucy Bregman, professor of religion at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, is the author of several books including Beyond Silence and Denial: Death and Dying Reconsidered (WJK, 1999) and Preaching Death (Baylor Univ., 2011).

Carol J. Noren, a United Methodist pastor, is professor emeritus of homiletics at North Park Theological Seminary. Her published works focus on worship and preaching.

Homily Service 42, no. 1 (2008): 35-42.