I love Advent, the preparation, the expectation, putting up the decorations – in my case later today the tree will go up, followed by the cards on Christmas Eve, and Christmas music over the internet.   One of my favourite pieces of Christmas music is Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’, the last part of his ninth symphony.  It’s an amazing piece of music, uplifting and full of wonder.

It’s all the more amazing when you think about where it came from.  When Beethoven wrote it towards the end of his life, he was already completely deaf.  He never even heard the music himself in the flesh, but could only visualise it in faith inside his head – something so wonderful, and from such an unexpected place!

That, on so many levels, is the message we are given in today’s readings.  The problem is that we don’t see things as unexpected anymore – we are far too used to hearing these stories, these miracles, this ‘good news’.  We are all certainly very aware of the town called Nazareth – it’s the town where Jesus grew up.  It’s where Mary and Joseph lived.  It’s very significant to us, so we think of it as an important place. But 2,000 or more years ago it was thought of by most people as nothing – the very back of beyond!

In our first reading today, Our Lord, speaking through the profit Micah, says “the least of the clans of Judah, out of you will be born for me the one who is to rule over Israel.”  It was from Judah, in that back-water town of Nazareth, in that unexpected place, that God choose Mary to bear his Son in Bethlehem, as foretold by the prophet.

This brings us to Mary herself, Mother of God; Mary, Mother of the Church; Mary, Arc of the Covenant; Mary, most blessed of all women; Mary, Queen of Heaven.  The Mary we think of is the Mary who carried Jesus in her womb, who raised him, who stood at the foot of his cross, who was present at his empty tomb that glorious Easter morning, who watched him ascend into heaven, who was present at the foundation of the church and was finally received into heaven itself by her Son.

But it may be helpful for us, to think a little differently about Mary, particularly the Mary we heard about this afternoon.  She is at the very start of her journey; she’s a young woman, probably no more than about 16 years old and from a quiet, distinctly one-eyed town. The Mary we heard about today has only just said ‘yes’ to God.  In the verses directly before our reading, she has been visited by the Angel Gabriel and told she will bear a son – her answer was unhesitating, “I am the handmaiden of the Lord: let what you have said be done to me.”  As the Angel leaves her, she sets out to visit Elizabeth, a journey of about 150 miles – it would have taken a week, maybe two, walking or riding on a donkey, and of course this would afford plenty of time to think, therefore, to ponder and to pray.

What was Mary feeling on that journey – Joy, fear, love, worry, trust, uncertainty, faith, anxiety, amazement?   Probably all of these, and almost certainly every emotion you can think of.  What was she thinking?  How were people going to react?  What would Joseph say?  What about her parents?  Would they understand this was Gods will, or would they condemn her for being pregnant outside of marriage – a crime punishable in those days by a terrible death by stoning.

When Mary said ‘yes’ to the Angel, she hadn’t asked what was going to happen to her – would she be looked after?  She had no idea.  But still she has said ‘yes’. Many profits before her had argued with God.  Moses asked God to send someone else, Gideon wanted a sign, Jonah just ran away, Isaiah said ‘woe is me’, Jeremiah claimed to be too young; Zechariah said that Elizabeth was too old.  Mary simply said, ‘yes’.  Was that without thought of the consequences?   I doubt that – Mary proved many times that she had wisdom. What we see in Mary, is such unusual and unexpected courage to do, no matter what, the will of God.

Mary’s hastening to see Elizabeth is a rush to talk to the one person who she felt sure would immediately understand. And what a welcome Mary receives!  Elizabeth, and the miracle of John, her unborn son, leaping in her womb, instantly recognised Mary as the mother of the Lord.

“Of all women, you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”

Elizabeth had seen instantly that Mary had been filled, filled to overflowing, with the Holy Spirit. The joy of Elizabeth’s reaction must have been an enormous relief to Mary, and her courageous and faithful  ‘Yes’ to the Lord, is transformed into pure spirit-filled joy, as Mary responds with the Magnificat, which we heard at the end of today’s gospel.

Mary is very much loved and respected by many Christians for her role in our salvation. There are many prayers asking for her intercession on our behalf. But today we are called on to remember that Mary was once a young girl from nowhere who said ‘yes’ when the Lord called her. Our Lord looks for workers in the most unusual places!

So, where will be the next unusual place the Lord will look for someone?  Who will be the next unexpected person the Lord will use?  Will it be you, or me – like Mary, will we have the courage to say ‘yes’?

We too are called to do the Lord’s work – in attending the Eucharist this afternoon we are filled by the spirit; in listening to the word of God in today’s gospel we are filled with the spirit; in receiving the sacrament or a priestly blessing we are filled with the spirit.  So, filled with this joy of the holy spirit, are we ready to listen to the Lord, are we ready to say ‘yes’ to the Lord, because unless we are, then there can be no true Christmas, and our celebrations will be at best empty and at worst meaningless.

I love Advent – undoubtedly my favourite season of the whole year. It’s a time of preparation – what have you be preparing for?  Amen.