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Listen "Sermon | Luke 1:46-55, 67-79 | HOW DOES A WEARY WORLD REJOICE? - 4. "We sing songs of hope" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana"
Episode Synopsis
Sermon | Luke 1:46-55, 67-79 | HOW DOES A WEARY WORLD REJOICE? - 4. "We sing songs of hope" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana
Zechariah looks far beyond himself and his son to God’s wider plan put into place long ago.
He looks all the way back to the beginning of the story with Abraham’s family—his son Jacob also called Israel.
He remembers the promise—that all the world would be brought to rights and blessed through this family.
He remembers the promise made to David…
He remembers that although God has been silent…God has never forgotten.
He remembers that healing is coming through Israel’s forgiveness…
That the Temple will be restored—yet in a whole new way he cannot imagine
He has HOPE because of the tenderness of God…
And this will lead the people into the way of peace—right relationship—once more.
This has already been done.
God has acted.
The miracle has begun and grows in the bodies of these
powerful, rebellious, defiant, connected, & strong women!
Miriam, Elizabeth, and Zechariah’s faith doesn’t hesitate even if their weariness remains.
HOPE becomes the foundation upon which they move forward with their calling.
HOPE that is suddenly realized.
Their HOPE erupts into JOY…because God is moving…
God is acting through them…
God is remembering the promise to humanity…
God is beginning the new age…
God has come through one infant born and the other on the way…
God is entering into the world…to bring the Kingdom onto earth…forever.
Let us remember AND tell this story once more
BECAUSE…God is our hope today.
Yes, the world is full of darkness and violence…
Yes, people are still playing the game of “us” vs. “them”
Yes, we aren’t perfect and we are impatient…
Yes, the greed of some on the planet leaves millions of people without basic needs this day…
Yes, people are far too wrapped up in things that ultimately don’t really matter…
Yes, we are weary…AMEN??
But, the light has come through Miriam’s child…
People are discovering this light and setting aside the “us” vs. “them” every day—to learn to see that every human being is a sibling of every other human being
People are learning to allow space for our differences and imperfections
People are running out of energy to continue to feed hatred and ignorance—because you always run out of steam when you live this way…
People are becoming more and more generous by generation…
People are taking a step back as a whole to re-evaluate what is truly important…
Better days lie ahead.
The best day is yet to come—but it’s as good as already arrive!
So let those who think they can build their seats of power know…the time has already come…
God has come in the womb of Miriam…and is born unto us!
The days of darkness are numbered…
The son of a revolutionary daughter from Nazareth already reigns with truth and grace!
So go amid the weariness…and sing your song of hope for a weary world.
Zechariah looks far beyond himself and his son to God’s wider plan put into place long ago.
He looks all the way back to the beginning of the story with Abraham’s family—his son Jacob also called Israel.
He remembers the promise—that all the world would be brought to rights and blessed through this family.
He remembers the promise made to David…
He remembers that although God has been silent…God has never forgotten.
He remembers that healing is coming through Israel’s forgiveness…
That the Temple will be restored—yet in a whole new way he cannot imagine
He has HOPE because of the tenderness of God…
And this will lead the people into the way of peace—right relationship—once more.
This has already been done.
God has acted.
The miracle has begun and grows in the bodies of these
powerful, rebellious, defiant, connected, & strong women!
Miriam, Elizabeth, and Zechariah’s faith doesn’t hesitate even if their weariness remains.
HOPE becomes the foundation upon which they move forward with their calling.
HOPE that is suddenly realized.
Their HOPE erupts into JOY…because God is moving…
God is acting through them…
God is remembering the promise to humanity…
God is beginning the new age…
God has come through one infant born and the other on the way…
God is entering into the world…to bring the Kingdom onto earth…forever.
Let us remember AND tell this story once more
BECAUSE…God is our hope today.
Yes, the world is full of darkness and violence…
Yes, people are still playing the game of “us” vs. “them”
Yes, we aren’t perfect and we are impatient…
Yes, the greed of some on the planet leaves millions of people without basic needs this day…
Yes, people are far too wrapped up in things that ultimately don’t really matter…
Yes, we are weary…AMEN??
But, the light has come through Miriam’s child…
People are discovering this light and setting aside the “us” vs. “them” every day—to learn to see that every human being is a sibling of every other human being
People are learning to allow space for our differences and imperfections
People are running out of energy to continue to feed hatred and ignorance—because you always run out of steam when you live this way…
People are becoming more and more generous by generation…
People are taking a step back as a whole to re-evaluate what is truly important…
Better days lie ahead.
The best day is yet to come—but it’s as good as already arrive!
So let those who think they can build their seats of power know…the time has already come…
God has come in the womb of Miriam…and is born unto us!
The days of darkness are numbered…
The son of a revolutionary daughter from Nazareth already reigns with truth and grace!
So go amid the weariness…and sing your song of hope for a weary world.
In God we trust