TITLE: “Blessed is the fruit of your womb”

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for today is the Gospel lesson just read, the visitation of Mary and Elizabeth.

I think that part of the hard time we have with the Christmas story is that we try to pack it all into such a short span of time. The culture and world around us wants us to make Advent into Christmas, so that there can be more shopping days. And we really are tempted to follow their lead. Who wants to wait? Let’s get on with things now.

But having a baby is not an overnight affair. It takes months. Nine months, in fact. So we read in our text that not long after she heard she was going to have a baby, conceived by the Holy Spirit, that she went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, who was, as they say, great with child.

Imagine this scene and ponder the mystery that God allows us to glimpse. Elizabeth is bearing the last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets in her womb, John the Baptist. She is well past child-bearing age, but like Abraham and Sarah before, they will have a son by the blessing of Almighty God. But this miracle, as great as it is, is but a drop in the bucket compared to the miracle which has come upon her cousin, Mary. Young Mary is also having a child, but this child has no human father. Her child is the only-begotten Son of God Himself. Two children on the way, two children destined to change the face of the whole world. That’s quite a homecoming, isn’t it?

Mary goes in to see her cousin, and when John hears the greeting of Mary, he leaps in his mother’s womb! John knew, even before He was born, that this cousin of his would be something special. This was no ill-begotten child from a young girl. The Holy Spirit fills Elisabeth, and she exclaims:

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

Elizabeth recognized something that you and I can learn from this day. Elizabeth recognized that when Mary came to visit her, this was a great blessing from God which she did not deserve. It is very easy during Christmastide to develop a sense of entitlement about God, just as it is easy for us to feel entitled to gifts and presents. I deserve to receive those gifts! I’ve been good! More or less.

We can all laugh about this attitude, but deep down, we all harbor the secret thought that whatever I have, whatever I want or desire that I do so because it is what is owed to me. You deserve it! That’s what the devil, the world and your own sinful nature would say to you.

Elizabeth, though, teaches you and I what it means to be a Christian. Elizabeth’s son in her womb taught her that when you are in the presence of God in the flesh, now that’s something worth getting excited about. It doesn’t just happen every day. It’s not something you deserve. But for us sinners, it is a very, very good thing.

But like so many things, God coming in the flesh doesn’t simply happen in an instant or the twinkle of an eye. Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He was made man. His very presence will bring joy in a way that no one else ever could. His coming was prophesied and foretold for generations. Everything had to be just right for His blessed birth. This is why Elizabeth is filled with wonderment at the coming of Mary. Of all of the times in the whole world, how is it that she was blessed to be the presence of the very Son of God before His birth? What love and mercy has God shown to us sinners.

This, dear friends, is what Advent is all about. This is what Christmas is all about. No, this is the very heart and soul of the Christian faith. Jesus has come into your life to forgive your sins. He’s not here for a moment or even a season. He comes to you for a lifetime and for all eternity. This is why we come into His presence here in the divine service. It is here that God gives you His very flesh and blood so that you may become one with Him.

So I ask you this morning a very simple question: what are your priorities this Christmastide? What is important to you? Are you filled with hope for the coming of your Savior? Are you weighed down with the things and struggles of this world? Jesus’ coming in the flesh forces you and I to examine our lives and ask what is really, truly important. With eternity before our very eyes, how important are the trials and struggles you face day in, day out? Now don’t get me wrong. Christ came down to earth to save you from these struggles. But He has saved you from them. Why cling to them any more?

Good things come to those who wait, or so the saying goes. But waiting can be tricky business. That’s why St. Paul exhorts you to be anxious for nothing, but by prayer and supplication make your requests known to God. God does answer your prayers. He does gather your hopes and dreams. He answers your fears and soothes your hurting soul. He comes to you this day poor and lowly, hidden in the womb of bread and wine. But He is here nonetheless. And His presence for you does not mean fear but joy, joy that the Savior is coming, and that He is coming to save you.

Believe it for Jesus’ sake. Amen.