Yes and No

I know it will always stick in my mind those many, many times that she made her way slowly down the aisle for Holy Communion, often on Gary's arm, even when I would remind her that I and the other servers would be glad to come to her pew with the sacrament.

Persistence, and trust in God for the gift of the Lord Jesus “for you.”

For things to happen in good order in worship, there are many, many tasks to be done, some of them almost invisible unless they are not done.

How is it that we have trays of sparkling clean communion glasses ready for use each time?

Because someone made sure that there were folks to wash and organize them.

And that quiet but necessary task was handled for many years by Sis.

Persistence, respect, and diligence.

Some folks are sort of hit-or-miss over the years, participating in a congregation's worship and activities when their children are involved, and then drifting at some other times.

But we can point to a lifetime of steady involvement by Sis in the life of this congregation: from Sunday School and Luther League in early days, to a multitude of groups and activities in the middle years, to telephoning others and encouraging others in more recent times.

Persistence, respect, diligence, and consistency.

And all those things carried over from her life in the church to other venues as well.

Schools, clubs, organizations, businesses, and her family all benefited from her gifts and participation.

Persistence, trust in God, diligence, consistency, and expansive interest.

Those are words to summarize on the Yes side of the scale so far.

And then on the No side there is the power of death.

Which side is heavier?

Does death get the last word here?

There are still more things to put on the scale.

Each time we gather for worship, we remember the greatest Yes of all, God's gift in the Lord Jesus,

especially today when we are only hours away from the beginning of the 12-day Christmas celebration.

Rather than giving up on us when we make a mess of things as we have ever since the days of Adam and Eve, Jesus comes among us to show us a different way.

He is God's Yes that is given in spite of the No of our sin.

God knows that we have all sorts of questions such as, How can I be sure that this is intended for me, and not just for disciples long ago?

That is why we hold Holy Baptism so dear.

On the day of her Baptism, Sis received God's unconditional Yes, a Yes that is good forever.

That Yes is reiterated in our Second Lesson today, where Paul says If God is for us, who can be against us? [Romans 8:31]

If God says Yes to us, to Sis, who is there that can say No?

Satan tries, but in the end will fail.

Paul concludes: There is nothing in all creation that will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. [Romans 8:39]

That is a powerful Yes!

It has been God's intention all along.

The prophet Micah rails against the ways in which the people of Israel have messed up God's good things and tells them that much will be destroyed because of their willfulness.

But he also says that the mountain of the Lord's house will become the center of the creation and all the peoples will come, gathering close.

Another Yes, despite the No that we feebly put forward with our bad behavior.

Zechariah sings to the infant John the baptizer:

You will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins.

By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us. [Luke 1:76-80]

John, you have things to do that will announce God's Yes!, giving light in dark places.

We don't know when Jesus was born.

Some have speculated that it was in the springtime, when shepherds would be out watching for new lambs at night, but a long time ago, the church decided to celebrate Christ's birth at this particular time of year, at the winter solstice when the world is at its darkest trying to put forth its loudest No,

God sends the light of the world, his own Son, Jesus as his Yes.

“Yes, I'm here; Yes, I care; Yes, I intend to make something wonderful of Sis and all of you.”

So on the Yes-side of the scale we have

--the anticipation of the prophets

--Paul's confident announcement

--God's promise in Jesus,

as the foundation, to which is added

Sis' persistence, trust in God, diligence, consistency, and expansive interest.

And on the No side is death.

Which side wins?

Thanks be to God,...we know the answer, and the answer is Yes. Amen.

The hymn appointed next is one that you likely do not know. It is not the typical light and frothy Christmas song, but expresses this idea of the world's No vs. God's Yes, even though it doesn't use those two words.

Sing or hum if you are able, or at least read the text along with me:

The hills are bare at Bethlehem,

No future for the world they show;

Yet here new life begins to grow,

From earth's old dust a greenwood stem.

The stars are cold at Bethlehem,

No warmth for those beneath the sky;

Yet here the radiant angels fly,

And joy burns new, a fiery gem.

The heart is tired at Bethlehem,

No human dream unbroken stands;

Yet here God comes to mortal hands,

And hope renewed cries out: Amen

[LBW #61

Please note: The preceding sermon is provided as a resource for the thought, prayer, and meditation of the members and friends of St. Mark's. It is the residue of a verbal event, and thus it does not have academic footnotes and other details that would be expected in a written document. The writer gladly acknowledges the prior thought and work of many Christians before him.