Here I Am, Let it Be

December 24, 2017
Advent 4B (Children’s Sermon)
Luke 1:26–38
Brookside Community Church

“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”

What are your favorite Christmas decorations? Candy canes? Christmas lights? Garland? What about angels: do you see a lot of angels as decorations around this time of year?

I’m always interested in the way people top their trees. Today, I have an angel tree topper.

What does an angel look like? Wings? Maybe a halo? Well, the word angel is actually comes from Greek and simply means “messenger.” Anyone can be a messenger if they have a message to give?

Why do you think angels are so important at Christmas time? Well, the most basic reason is because our Christmas story is filled with angels.

Angels appear to the priest, Zachariah telling him that his wife, Elizabeth, will have a son who will become John the Baptist. An angel visits shepherd and tells them about a baby being born. An angel visits a man named Joseph in a dream. A whole army of angels appear and sing “peace on earth.”

Have you ever seen an angel? Today we are going to talk about the message of a specific angel, Gabriel. Gabriel is an “archangel,” meaning he was the most important angel of all. His name means “very strong.” What do you think it would be like to look up and see this very strong, very important angel?

So, the Christmas story tells us that the archangel Gabriel visited a young lady. Do you know this story? What was her name? Right…the young lady’s name was Mary. Can you imagine what that was like? Maybe she was frightened. Gabriel told her, “Don’t be afraid.” Gabriel had a very important message for her, that she was very special to God, and that deep inside her was a gift from God, a gift that would bring salvation to the whole world. Does anyone know what that gift was? Right, Mary would be the mother of Jesus.

Does anyone know what Mary said to Gabriel? Mary said: “Here I am. Let it be.”

Well, I guess I am a messenger today. I don’t have wings and maybe I don’t look like much of an angel. But I have a very important Christmas message for you from God. You are very special. And deep inside each of you is a gift from God that can bring salvation to the world. While Mary became the mother of Jesus — the salvation of the world was the gift of Jesus’ love. And Jesus’ love still lives in each of you. And that love is what brings salvation to the world — but it is up to you whether you are willing to share it.

Maybe you will share Jesus’ love by caring for someone who is hurting.

Maybe you will share Jesus’ love by being a good friend to someone is need.

I hope today, each of you will hear the message of the Christmas angel speaking to you. You are special. And Jesus’ love is in you to share with the world. And I hope you will respond the way that Mary did: “Here I am. Let it be.”