Clothed in Favor

 Clothed in Favor

MJ Buist, Diaconal Minister

December 26, 2021

When I studied our Old Testament passage today, it reminded me of a chalk talk my mother once gave. Don’t know if you can remember how some artists would draw in chalk and tell a story. Well my mom was doing one for a Mother’s Day program teaching about Biblical mothers, and on one large sheet of paper she drew one little shirt, then one slightly bigger, and then one even bigger - you get the idea. I was confused, and had no idea who she was talking about when she finally told us it was Hannah who made a new robe for Samuel every year as he grew as mentioned in our Old Testament passage.

To refresh your memory on her back story, Hannah, who was barren, prayed for a son and told God that if God answered her prayer she would give her son up to the priesthood. Well, God did indeed answer her prayer and she brought a young Samuel to the temple. But, every year when they returned to the temple to give their yearly sacrifice, she would bring a bigger coat for the ever growing Samuel.

In our gospel reading today we have another couple many many years later bringing their son to the temple for the Festival of Passover. This couple, unlike Hannah, hadn’t planned on leaving their son in the temple, but they accidentally do so. You see women and men traveled in different groups in those days. Men with men. Women with women. So Joseph thought Mary had Jesus while Mary assumed Joseph did. You see they hadn’t read the Four Agreements that says to assume nothing.

In the Samuel account, his parents are happy to find their son in the temple ministering to the Lord, but when Mary and Joseph finally find Jesus listening to the teachers there and asking questions they are astonished - floored. You see it was custom for the Sanhedrian to meet in the temple court and discuss religious and theological questions. All the other people there were amazed by Jesus understanding and questions, but the anxious Mary, after a frantic three days of searching for him, says, “How can you treat us like this?- don’t you know we’ve been worried sick.” Jesus replies, “Didn’t you know that I must be in my father’s house. He didn’t add:  didn’t you get the drift from Gabriel?” But they don’t get it. They didn’t sign him up for the religious life like Hannah did for Samuel. 

Jesus, however, doesn’t pull rank here. He doesn’t insist on staying. You see Jesus wasn’t meant to serve the current priesthood, but to serve and redeem the human race. To do so he had to live an everyday life. So he returns with Mary and Joseph and is an obedient son and lives an ordinary life, most believe learning carpentry. 

Though there are differences in Samuel and Jesus’s stories there is one major thing they have in common. As you read the last verse of both of these passages you will see that they both grew not only in years but in divine and human favor. 

The word favor here connotes approval. Both Jesus and Samuel had a good reputation. They had respect from God and people. These verses are not only an affirmation but they also provide promise. Samuel is a great contrast to the current priests of his time - the sinful sons of Eli. Samuel will become a great priest and prophet. Jesus in contrast to the past war mongering Kings of Israel will become the Prince of Peace.

Now as Samuel was clothed by his mother each year and I’m sure Mary clothed Jesus, we are told in our Colossians passage how to clothe ourselves spiritually. But you will see that the virtues listed are one’s that also govern human relationships, thus favor from people as well. 

Now to clarify and keep Martin Luther from rolling in his grave, salvation is by grace alone. These are not a list of things to earn salvation. These listed virtues are the fruit we are to work on to show good reputations as Christians. Jorge Acevedo said it well, “We are not saved from works, but indeed, we are saved for works.”

We are described in verse 12 as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved. These are the original words God used to call the Jewish people. Paul, who wrote the letter to the Colossians, is now expanding them to cover all Christians whether Jew or Gentile. 

Due to Christ’s work of salvation we are chosen to do our part in bringing in God’s kingdom like Samuel and Jesus did. Since our sins are forgiven by Christ’s work on the cross, we can live holy lives.

Of late we have been dressed quite festively for Christmas, but when the holidays are over and done, we will return to our everyday wardrobes. I for one can’t wait to wear more than green and red. 

For this new year, however, I challenge you to clothe yourself spiritually with the virtues mentioned in this Colossians passage. So let’s explore these virtues to see how we are to be spiritually dressed. 

We begin with compassion. This is a deep inward feeling of caring for another person. The Old Testament imperative of taking care of the widow, orphan, and stranger dictate acts of compassion. It’s been said that Judaism and Christianity brought compassion into the world by feeding the hungry, providing education and many things that our own John Wesley taught Christians to do.

Next we have kindness. This is more than just being good. It’s where the good of your neighbor is just as important as your own good. There is a new campaign for doing random Acts of Kindness and we as Christians should not be found short of a friendly smile, hello, and treating others with respect. 

Humility is a trait brought into the world by Christians. Being humble in the Greek world was considered one of weakness. Humble persons were truly considered wimps in that society, but Jesus turned that around. Christians must have the attitude that God is creator and we are only God’s creations. In terms of human favor, humility means believing that all people are children of God and treating them as such. In this way we don’t fall into the trappings of social standings or entitlement.

Meekness, sometimes translated as gentleness, is so different from the aggressiveness that society supports, that of climbing your way to the top no matter how many people you step on in the process. To be gentle is to be self-controlled. A truly gentle person has a mixture of strength and sweetness, knowing the right time to be angry such as at injustices. 

The last virtue listed is patience meaning reflecting the patience of Christ. We are told not only to bear with one another but to forgive them, as Jesus forgave us. This is a hard example to follow. We need to fully depend on the power of the Holy Spirit to do so.

Now these virtues are made possible due to three major traits. These are the “must haves” in your spiritual wardrobes. 

Above all we are to clothe ourselves in love. This involves love for God and neighbor as yourself. Love is the bond that holds the body of Christ in perfect harmony, in unbreakable fellowship. The next trait is peace which is to rule our hearts. The word rule here is an athletic term used for the word umpire. How umpires are known to settle things in dispute, we are to umpire our hearts with peace. Then comes thankfulness. We need to be thankful for all the blessings God has given us, most of all for redeeming us through Christ’s work of salvation.

Not only are we to be peaceful in the body, but one way to enrich it is to enrich yourself by studying God’s word. Paul encourages us to have scripture live inside us, not meagerly but richly. He is basically saying: May you live scripture. Teaching and admonishing refers to mutual edification. Paul is saying here that all members should accept the responsibility of the spiritual welfare of all. We can all learn from one another. Small group studies are perfect for this. 

Then comes one of my favorite expressions of worship - the singing of spiritual songs. Now there are many of you who don’t think they have a good singing voice, but the important thing is not the quality of your voice. The true measure of spiritual singing is that of a grateful heart and to whom you are singing. They are to be sung to God. The ladies at the Board and Care I minister to sing hymns with me.  Some are off key and we may sing in different pitches, but it is beautiful praise to the Lord.

Our passage ends with a verse near and dear to me. When I was growing up my friend took me to a group called GMC which stood for Girl’s Missionary Guild. This was the verse we memorized for the group. It was our pledge every week. I don’t remember if we had uniforms for the group, but we were encouraged to clothe our spirits in the love of Christ and as your bulletin cover says: “whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to the Father through him.” 

It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can say and do as Christ would - and it is through Jesus that we can give God thanks. With the new year coming and many making resolutions, I encourage you to make this pledge. One of living your life by this verse. Post this bulletin cover by your desk or on your refrigerator.

May we grow spiritually this new year, clothing ourselves with the virtues we have studied, being a beacon of the love of Christ, and gaining the favor of God and people. Amen.