Waiting for the Unexpected

In our Gospel readings, the angels of the LORD show up unexpectedly.

Waiting for the unexpected.

As faithful people of God, Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds were going about their regular lives. In their ordinary circumstances,

Mary had found favor with the Lord.

Joseph was a righteous man.

the shepherds were diligent in their duties- living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock.

None of these folks were slackers in the eyes of God.

Time, Peace

But just when he was resolved, just when he had made up his mind, an angel of the LORD came to him in a dream.

sometimes, it’s good to sleep on major decisions!

Sometimes, we need to press pause to get the bigger picture

Take the time to ask the LORD,

what am I missing here?

what would You have me do?

But just when you thought one thing, the LORD showed you something different.

when you thought your way was the only way, the Lord showed you a different approach.

What God shows is may not make sense to the world because the world does not have the bigger picture

the world cares about the picture it wants to paint, the box it wants to control

But GOD will not be contained!

the possibilities with God cannot and will not be contained by prior, present, nor future generations!

As Gabriel told Mary, “37 ...nothing will be impossible with God.”

38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.”

In our Gospel lessons, God sends the promise through Gabriel. Mary will conceive a holy child when the Holy Spirit comes upon her and the power of the Most High overshadows her. This promise of conception is fulfilled as Mary is found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

God sends an angel to assure Joseph it is okay to marry Mary, the child is from the Holy Spirit and what he is to do.

Matthew ties this back to fulfill Isaiah’s prophesy:

23 “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,”which means, “God is with us.”

Mary did not seem surprised that the Messiah was to come. She did not expect to be His mother since she was a virgin. This was unexpected news from and unexpected visitor. But Mary chose to focus on the promise of God rather than the peculiar circumstances.

There’s peace in the receiving the promise.

Joseph and Mary are engaged. Hebrew marriages were arranged by the parents and contracts negotiated. Once this was done, the bride and groom were considered married and called husband and wife. They would remain is their family households for one year. This waiting period was to demonstrate the faithfulness of the bride. If she became pregnant, the marriage could be annulled. Hence, Joseph’s thoughts of dismissing Mary. This could have been done publicly, but gentleman Joseph planned to do so quietly.

Just when Joseph was resolved to his plan, GOD sent an angel to him in a dream assuring him that it was okay to take Mary as his wife. She had been faithful beyond measure and was carrying a unique Child. Her pregnancy was continuing God’s eternal plan and he had a role, too.

When Joseph woke up, he had a choice to make.

Joseph could have ignored the angel and dismissed Mary and the scrutiny to come.

He chose to focus on the promise of God rather than his predicament.

There’s peace in believing the promise.

On the night of Jesus’ birth, the shepherds were minding their busy, tending their flocks at night.

They were terrified at the sudden appearance of the angel and the flood of light.

The angel says, “Do not be afraid” and shares the good news of the birth of the Messiah and the sign to look for.

The shepherds left the field and went to find the Child in Bethlehem.

They chose to focus on the promise and to eagerly seek Christ the Lord.

There’s peace in seeking the promise.

Where can you find peace

in the midst of your busy life?

in the midst of unexpected guests bearing unexpected news?

Where can you find peace

in the midst of uncertainty and hard choices to do what is right rather than what is easy?

Mary, Joseph, and the shepherd chose to

FOCUS on GOD’s message for YOU.

Finding One Constant Unwavering Source.

In each of our lessons, God sent angels to deliver specific messages fMary, Joseph and the shepherds in God’s timing.

God knows and is with Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds.

God is

in the promise and prediction to Mary

in the assurance to Joseph

in the announcement and direction for the shepherds

Waiting for the Unexpected

God has fulfilled the promise of the Messiah.

The Lord has promised to return.

We can rest assured that the LORD is coming, yet we don’t know when.

We are waiting for the unexpected.

How can we prepare?

Trust the promise

Trust God’s timing

Prepare daily by stewarding your time, talents, and treasures in ways guided by the Holy Spirit.

Diligently shepherd all God has entrusted to your care

Submit like Mary, “Here I am, the servant of the Lord.”

Listen like Joseph and do as the LORD says.

Our world is constantly pulling us in different directions.

Attention spans are getting shorter and shorter. Attention Deficit used to be a disorder. But with the overflow of information in the world, we can be drawn into the vortex of the information whirlwind.

Over the next few weeks, I ask you to

Slow your consumption of media to listen for the LORD’s messengers and messages.

Pray for God’s revelation before you go to sleep.

when it comes, do it.

There is peace in receiving the promise.

There is peace in believing the promise.

There is peace is trusting the timing of God.