For the third Sunday in Advent, we added another word and posture to our theme for the season… and Rev. Cari preached on the story of the Annunciation (the Angel’s visit to Mary) found in Luke 1:26-38.

As “call stories” go in the Bible, this one is unique. Mary doesn’t put up a fight – unlike just about everyone else who ever receives the invitation to collaborate with God in one of God’s “assignments.”

And her assignment is also unique, of course. The degree of openness and acceptance that Mary offers to God’s dream of tsedek (the Hebrew word for justice or right relationship) yields transforming fruit in the child she bears.

Rev. Cari closes this sermon with another story of generous acceptance from the Arab-American poet, Naomi Shihab Nye. It’s worth the listen even by itself.