December 24, 2023

B04: The Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year B (2023)

Kristin Adkins Whitesides

“After we got our driver’s licenses, my best friend and I loved nothing more than getting in the car and just driving, windows down, radio up. We would sing whatever songs came on the radio at the top of our lungs…But when a song came on that we both knew well, well, nothing could hold us back. Heads thrown back, voices loud, we would turn the radio up and sing with all our might. We didn’t care who heard us…We just sang. Because we knew those songs by heart,” begins The Rev. Dr. Kristin Adkins Whitesides, Pastor of First Baptist Church, Winchester, Virginia. Whitesides says that Mary knew the songs of her faith by heart, but they were just someone else’s song, that is, until she was visited by an angel and learned that she was going to give birth to Jesus. Then, those songs became her song. In Luke 1:46b-55, Mary sings what is known as the Magnificat. Whitesides says, “In Mary’s song, we learn the true purpose of Christmas.” What is it? Listen to find out and perhaps you’ll find yourself singing along!

Manuscript available: click HERE