Reminder Re: Preaching Micah 5 Tomorrow

Update: PamBG has uploaded a lovely sermon she has finished on Micah 5 to her blog. I certainly commend it to you (click here). I'll post an excerpt below.

Just a reminder that I have several posts providing expository notes on Micah 5:2-5 for this Sunday (4 Advent, Year C).

Click here, here, here, and here. Comments on the text are welcome, as are links or excerpts from any homilies or sermons that you end up preparing.

Brief excerpt from PamBG's sermon:

But here is the glorious bit of redemption. Here is the incidence of “shimmering surprises and outlandish innovation and renewal”… God says that the Messiah is going to come from one of these poor country villages! From Bethlehem. The Messiah is going to come from a lowly place. A place where the people are oppressed and where the king is happy to use them as cannon fodder and abandon them to their deaths. God cares about this little village which humankind mocks. God’s outlandish innovation is that the Messiah, the saviour of the universe, is going to born amongst the lowest of the low. God’s shimmering surprise is that that the people the world despises are people of infinite worth to God. Imagine! The world tells you that you are dirt, that you are scum and God’s prophet comes along and says, “Out of you, I will bring a ruler for Israel and people all over the earth will acknowledge his greatness.” The earthly religious system thought they had it all figured out. The Messiah was going to be born in Jerusalem of a prominent family. He was going to be a great military leader who would ensure a great victory of independence for his people. But God had other plans...