A Christmas Eve Meditation
It was the darkest of days for Mary and Joseph. The scorching heat of the summer had
given away to colder winds and sunset now came early ushering in deep, lengthy
shadows as they traversed the rocky countryside from Nazareth in Galilee to
Bethlehem in Judea.
It was not carefree, easy living under the Roman Empire for
most people. Mary and Joseph, Jews
in the first century, were not given many religious rights under King Herod and
they were subject to heavy taxation by the Roman authorities. There was a large disparity between the
rich and the poor, and insecure Herod issued a decree to slaughter the lives of
the innocent ones. Life was
exceedingly demanding in all ways.
And here was Mary, unwed, young, and with child.
They needed light.
They needed some luminosity and hope that tomorrow was going to be a
better day, that, their God had not forgotten them, that God was not silent in
their despair and marginalized circumstances.
And when they could not find a place to stay, forcing them
to lodge in a musty animal stall, their baby was born. “And what was come into being in him
[this baby] was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness and
the darkness did not overcome it.” (John 1: 4-5)
The darkness did not overcome it because this baby was the
light of the world, Jesus Christ.
You see the story that you’ve come to hear tonight is so much more than
just a sweetened sentimental tale that bears repeating once a year. It is the story of life born, infused
with desire and the promise of resurrection hope. It is a story of God, and God’s love incarnate in humanity,
through Jesus the Christ. It is a story that has meaning each day for your life
not just Christmas Eve. It is a
story of God reaching directly into your life and shining grace in all your
darkest corners.
Our days are threatening right now. Not only is this the darkest time
of the year but unbelievable events have entered our lives and I am afraid they
have seared our collective consciousness.
Terrorism and violence presents itself at every turn of the corner. We have questions without answers, or
without answers that will satisfy our deepest longing to know and understand
the depths of God and our existential nature.
Why does evil exit?
Why doesn’t God intervene and stop it? Does God even care?
These real questions we bring with us tonight as we revisit the stable and
kneel at the manger of so long ago.
Mary and Joseph may have asked these same questions. Even though their faith was strong and
their devotedness to God’s call on their lives was palpable, they still had
questions. What if? How come? What will become of us? Let me remind you that not long after the night of Jesus’
birth the holy family became refugees themselves fleeing Herod’s tyrannical
rule.
Not long after the shooting in Newtown I remember my
colleague, the Rev. Matt Crebbin of the Newtown Congregational Church was asked
why he didn’t use the United Church of Christ moniker, “God is still speaking”
as a sign of hope in a recent interview,
pensively, Matt said, ‘because for folks God seems distant and silent
right now.’ He said, ‘There are no
words. Right now is the time for the ministry of incarnation, and that’s what
we’re doing’.[i]
How poignant.
He meant that when there are no words that can possibly soothe an aching
heart, but you can, by your mere presence, be the presence of God to someone
who is in need of comfort and hope.
Just by being there!
Because by your presence, and your kindness you are the face and heart
of a loving and very present God.
That is love incarnate. That is the incarnate God breaking into our lives.
That is what Christmas is all about, God’s word, promise,
and hope becoming one with us in Jesus Christ. And then we, extending Christ’s love to others. “And the word became flesh and lived
among us…full of grace and truth.”
(John 1:14) Theologian
Barbara Brown Taylor says, “By choosing Christ to flesh out the word, God made
a lasting decision in favor of incarnation…and it is in our own flesh and blood
that the word of God continues to be made known.”[ii]
When you see the outpouring of makeshift memorials on line
and in the news after all of the terrible events of our day you can’t help but
see that God is all over the place and good hearts triumph over evil ones. That
life, even in dire circumstances goes on, because God favors humanity and
chooses life.
God’s love embodied, is what is in that manger in
Bethlehem. A newborn cries because
God chooses to be with us and God’s greatest desire is for us to carry on in
God’s holy name. God’s love is
personified in each one of us.
The manger takes on an especially profound meaning this
year. Christ ‘fleshes out’ for us
a way to live that pleases God and that reflects the divine nature of a just
and generous God. The birth of
Christ ushers in comfort, redemption and hope.
This tiny Savior-baby is God saying to us, live into your
greatest potential. Mary’s labor
groaning and the borning cries of Jesus beckon you to come out of the darkness
of your life into a hopeful future and that is what it is all about. A future with hope, God has plans for
you. (Jer 31)
So take God’s profound affirmation of love with you tonight
out into this world. Be the face
and hands of Jesus to others and in that way the stable, the manger, the stars
and the angels become a very real and living nativity of the incarnate God, not
some simple story told long ago.
May the peace of God that passes all understanding be in
your hearts and minds forever.
Amen.
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