Mary Poppins is a series of children's books written by P.L. Travers from 1934 to 1988. The books were adapted in 1964 into a musical Disney film starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke.

In one characteristically annoying scene, Mary, Bert, and the Banks' children visit Mary's uncle, Albert, who has an affliction that causes him to float when he laughs. In musical fashion, Bert and Mary 'discuss' the various forms of laughter: He highlighting the good laughs and she the annoying ones.

Show scene from Mary Poppins movie

You'll perhaps find this surprising, but there is an exchange reminiscent recorded in the Bible, where God laughs along with his people: Where others laugh in scepticism, God laughs in a we'll-see-who-gets-the-last-laugh sort of way. This exchange reveals, not only God's patience and sense of humour, but the impatience and self-limiting attitude of God's people.

While we may expect of God only his best for the greatest, the witness of the Bible is clearly more mundane: God brings even the 'lowest' into the covenant,  when we least expect it.  When we are relaxed, minding our own business, thinking that we are too insignificant to matter to 'the big picture', God arrives in our life, gives us a message, and then waits for us to respond.

Exegesis: Genesis 18:1-15; 21:1-7

"The mystery of God’s presence and work. The fulfillment of God’s promises. The crucial importance of hospitality in the life of faith. All these themes and more are found in this rich and familiar narrative." —Roger Van Harn, The Lectionary Commentary: Theological Exegesis for Sunday's Texts, volume 1 (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 2001), 32.

Exposition

Conclusion & Response

"May we all be willing to be a modern day Sarah by answering God’s new opportunity for our life.  We know that in that instant our lives will never be the same again.  And we will forever be thankful!" — Meredith Remington Bell, "Becoming A Part Of God's Covenant", The Abingdon Preaching Annual 2008.