“Great News in Bethlehem”    2009

Luke 2:9-16

 

I have always  loved  Christmas Eve ---

            there is something very special about our worship tonight,

                        something mysterious and wonderful about Christmas eve.

 

Whatever your opinion concerning religion or the birth of Christ,

     there is no denying that special things happen during Christmas,

              special things that reach deep into the human heart and soul.

 

Tomorrow the news will feature heart-warming stories,

     about  kind and generous things that caring people have done.

 

*           Christmas carolers visiting hospitals and nursing homes

            *     Christmas presents & treats for children of needy families

                        *           Christmas dinners served to the lonely and homeless

                                    *           Hospitality & kindness toward strangers in need

  * Amazing moves  toward reconciliation and healing of old wounds.

 

There is something is about Christmas, especially Christmas eve,

                        that is quite extraordinary,

                                    that is both mysterious and wonderful…

            … yet the gospel story

                        starts out sounding  quite ordinary, even a bit mundane.

 

Luke 2:1~7

            In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.  Joseph went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son …

 

            It all sounds quite normal,

                        taxes are being collected, and babies are being born.

 

When we join the shepherds, all is still quite normal and usual.

            There in the fields,  they are watching their flocks by night.

 

Everything sounds normal enough, even dull;

            taxes are being collected,   babies being born,

                        and shepherds are out working the night shift;

                                                                                                all is quite ordinary.

 

But then something wonderfully extraordinary starts to happen,

            an angel   comes with a birth announcement;

                                    there is the flash of mystery and glory

                                                there is a bright light and the heavenly choirà

 

à   announcing that something quite extraordinary has happened.

 

Almighty God has set aside His awesome power and eternal glory,

            and is coming to us,    as an ordinary,  vulnerable, little baby.

 

In gracious and loving surrender,  in divine condescension,

            Jesus has descended into our finite and broken world à

                        and taken on our human limitations, our hurts and wounds.

 

You may question the virgin birth or other details of the story,

            but there is no denying the effect that it has on our world.

 

Somehow  God has come to us,

            into ordinary human life, into our normal day to day world,

               and that somehow transforms our ordinary into extraordinary.

 

To me this has always been the central wonder of Christmas,        

            and the amazing power of Christmas Eve - this coming of Christ.

                        It is a special time,  that encourages us to reconsiderà

                                    what does all that    mean to me,   and to my living,

                                         and how is it important  and significant in my life?

 

I can't tell you how many time over my years of ministry

    that someone with no particular religious or godly inclinations,

                will be touched by the Lord

                  and find themselves, especially on Christmas Eveà

                        considering things  that they never normally think about.

 

Christmas Eve especially, is uniquely powerful and mysterious à

            as that place and time    where we can finally slow down — 

                        we can finally stop, and begin to think of something other

                                    than   the normal pressures and concerns of our lives.

 

On Christmas eve,  there is nothing more to be done, or can be done;

            no more preparations, so I can hit the pause button on my lifeà 

                  reflect on where my life is going,   and what is trulyà

                            àhappening with my relationships, and my walk with God?

 

Something extraordinary, meaningful, real and powerful happens,

            in the beauty and wonder  of the decorated church sanctuary,                                 with the flow of the special music and familiar hymns,

                                    in the quiet of the prayer, and reflective worship.

 

In hearing the Christmas story, amid the flickering candlelight

            I lose myself,   escaping from the grip of my life's struggles

                 and I find myself, in the gripping power of the word of Godà

      where I am at last  drawn into the very presence and peace of God.

 

Through the Gospel story that we find in the gospel of Luke,

            we are invited to join in the journey along with the shepherds,

                        and to merge their world and their story with oursà

                             traveling to where God is present to us and speaks to us.

 

Its where with the shepherds we hear a multitude of the heaven host

            and with the shepherds, we are invited to Bethlehem:   vs. 15

                        “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”

 

In those days, shepherds à

            were not religious icons of on our Christmas cards and carols;

                  but lived rough lives outdoors, shunned by polite society.

            Viewed as cultural misfits and shiftless scavengers,

                they were considered unacceptable by the religious people.

 

            It is these same misfits and outcasts perceived as unworthy,

                        whom God and angels specifically invite to Bethlehem.

This important part they serve in the nativity story encourages me…
            … because sometimes, coming to church even on Christmas eve,

                  à I have felt a bit unworthy, ashamed of some of my choices,

                                    for I am not always faithful nor get everything right.

 

Sometimes we do feel a little uncomfortable --- in God's presence;

            but the shepherds help remind us   of God's unmerited grace,

                 that God accepts us, though we haven't, & cannot earned it.

 

The shepherds remind me, that its by God's loving compassion alone,

        that though we all do fail and fall, yet we welcomed here by God.

 

            What a relief that  God’s guest list   includes each one of us, 

                        saint and sinner alike –    all   equally loved and welcome.

 

The shepherds are given a choice, as are we,   to respond or ignore.

            In the story, in response to the angelic invitation,

                        the shepherds leave their flocks behind,

                                    they journey to Bethlehem, to go & see for themselves.

 

Tonight,  we too have been invited & gathered into God's presence,

            where we can leave behind our worldly concerns ----

                        we can stop worrying about feeling guilty or unworthy,

                                                and just quietly come into God’s Holy presence,

                                                            and leave all the rest of it behind.

 

Like me,

            do you have some things that you need or want to leave behind?

               perhaps fear, anxious thoughts, dread or troubling concerns,

                        maybe you’re holding onto a grudge or resentment,

                            maybe a problem, or a secret grinding at your heart?

  Maybe we all need to come quietly into God’s holy presence,

            to listen and let go of our guilt and feelings of unworthiness.

 

And like Joseph and Mary seeking a place to stay in Bethlehem,

            so too, sometimes in our hearts and in our lives

                        there is too little   or no room for Jesus Christ  ---

                                    no time, no interest, no place for Christian things…

… it's easy to get too busy with our concerns and goals, for Christ.

 

Tonight, have you allowed too little room in your life for Christ,

            in your heart, and in your world for the coming of Jesus?

                             Is something blocking your joy - disturbing your peace?

 

Do busy, stressful days,  crowd out your relationship with Christ ?

            Are there some things in their life that would have to change à

               to make enough room in your life for your journey with Christ?

Wouldn't tonight be a good time to make a little more room for Jesus?

 

We all come to the stable as sinners in need,          

            but  this night especially,

                        let's not be intimidated by the power and glory of God ---

                                    let's not be fearful of coming into God’s presence …

            … for tonight, God comes as a baby lying peacefully in a manger.

 

Tonight, come as you are  - there is no dress code in the stable.

            Even with dirt on your hands,   guilt or regret in your heart,

                        this night, there is no religious etiquette necessary,

                                    just come, and see for yourself.

 

These Bible readings tonight are a birth announcement of hope and renewal.

     They're a Christmas invitation from God   to come to Bethlehem,

              to see for ourselves what God's up to with this birth of Jesus,

                                    to see God’s  love and faithfulness in the flesh,

                                                to see for our own selves, God’s hope and mercy.

 

Tonight is a chance at a fresh start, and to begin again.

            But how do we get to Bethlehem?  …            well actually we don't, à

                        rather Bethlehem is that place where God comes down to us,

                            the Creator of all, descending to the level of creature.

 

Bethlehem is when and where Christ is born into our lives,

            it's the place of mystery, and wonderful promise, and miracle.

 

Bethlehem is that quiet voice of grace stirring in your heart,

            and it's where we are acceptable and loved by our merciful God.

 

 And we get to Bethlehem by waiting and listening the Spirit of God,

      and by responding to God's invitation – to that tug at our soul.

 

Jesus came to fill in the gaps, cracks and potholes of our lives;

            between who we are,

                        and that wonderful person God created us to become.

Jesus came to fill in the emptiness, the lonely voids & blank spaces

            that we may feel in our hearts, our souls and our lives.

 

Look carefully and listen deeply.

            What is it    that the Lord is making known to you, tonight?

 

Ultimately, the question is not:

                        ‘How are you going to celebrate Christ’s birth?’,

            but,  

                        ‘How you’re going to live within the reality

                                    that God's love has come to us in form of baby Jesus?’

 

Even with having

            doubts and questions about the Lord or the Christmas story,

                        go in and see for yourself;  go in and decide for yourself.

This night, I urge you to join in with the shepherds:    vs. 15 

            “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”