SERMON The Nativity of Our Lord December 24, 2011

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Pearl Perkins
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1 SERMON The Nativity of Our Lord December 24, 2011 Isaiah 9:2-7 Psalm 98 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-20 Brothers and sisters in Christ, grace to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus, who is the Christ. Amen. I recently heard a story of a woman who was Christmas shopping with her two children. It was a couple of days before the big day. The traffic was horrendous. Her children were screaming and whining. After many hours of looking at row after row of toys and waiting in long lines, she was finally able to make it to the elevator with her two kids. She was feeling what so many of us feel during this time of year. She felt overwhelming pressure to go to every party, decorate the house, bake holiday cookies and treats, get that perfect gift for every single person on the list, and all the while keeping a big smile on her face. Finally the elevator doors opened and there was already a crowd. She pushed her way in dragging her two kids behind along with all of her packages. When the doors closed, she just couldn t take it anymore. Out of despair, she said Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be strung up and shot. Suddenly from the back of the elevator came a quiet calm voice that said; Don t worry, we already crucified him. For the rest of the trip down the elevator, it was so quiet that you could have heard a pin drop. This is what is called a reality check. And we all need those from time to time.

2 I honestly believe that Christmas is that one time of the year when people make that extra effort to find real meaning real joy in their lives. This is a time when people truly make an effort to connect with God. Maybe this is the year, we think. Maybe this will be the year when I will finally be able to experience God in a real way, to finally understand God, to find real joy and meaning in my life? Maybe this is the year that I will be able to get a glimpse of who God really is, and how God can make a difference in my life. Now imagine for a moment, the world at the time Jesus is born. Imagine what Mary sees: The world is very busy. Most people are traveling to their hometowns to register to be taxed by Caesar. Mary is one of those people. So much hustle and bustle. Everyone is busy. There are so many travelers, that Joseph and Mary have to spend the night in a stable. And there, Mary gives birth to a son. But no one really notices no one really cares. It s not that people are uninterested in God. It s just that to most people, a poor couple in a stable having a baby has nothing to do with God. Well, the world hasn t changed much, has it? It s still a hustle and bustle place. Everyone is busy. Whenever I call people to tell them that I have missed them at worship, the number one answer I get, by far, is we ve been busy. So does that mean that people aren t interested in God? No, I don t think so. Because no matter how busy we are, deep down, there is this intense desire to look into the heart of God to have a relationship with God to have God come to us in a meaningful way. That s why there are so many religions today. There s a growing interest in spirituality. Millions of spiritual books will be under Christmas trees this year. We long to be touched by an angel, to have that one mountaintop experience, to be at peace with God.

3 But for most of us, the search is unsuccessful. The spiritual book was interesting, but did not provide any concrete answers. The latest religious guru was okay at first, but got confusing after awhile. The shows on TV were nice and heartwarming, but did not necessarily reflect real life. Therefore, many people leave the holidays a little down a little disappointed, and they don t know why. So instead, this night, I invite you to join me on a journey. I invite you to walk into the stable and stand next to Mary, and see what she sees. And what is it that Mary sees? She sees a baby a child of her own flesh. But more than a baby. For she remembers the promises God made about that baby. And as she recalls those promises and stares into the face of that precious child, she realizes that she is staring into the very heart and soul of God. And then the shepherds arrive. They tell her what the angels had said to them. They gather around the manger, and gaze into the face of the newborn baby. And as they do, they too realize that they are gazing into the very heart and soul of God. And then the shepherds leave, and Mary ponders all these things in her heart. You see, for Christians, the key to understanding God the key to understanding the meaning of life the key to everything, begins right here, in a baby lying in a manger. For that is when the God of the universe entered into human history and became one of us. And then, all of a sudden, Mary lifts the baby out of the manger and gives him to you. And there you stand, awkwardly holding the Son of God in your arms. And you look down into his face, and realize that now, you too, are looking into the very heart and soul of God.

4 Why would God do such a thing? you ask yourself. The creator of the universe, squeezing into a 7 pound, 6 ounce baby why??? And then you look outside the stable, and you see a shadow. It s a clear night and the stars are shining brightly. One star seems to be shining especially bright. You look again at the shadow. It is a shadow alright. It is a shadow in the form of a cross. And then you understand. You understand that someday, God would show his love for us even more so than tonight. For tonight God becomes human God becomes one of us. But someday, someday, God will become even more vulnerable as he is nailed to a Roman cross because of his unconditional love for you and me and all the world. Therefore, you cannot help but feel a little sad as you look into the face of this innocent little child. For you know the death he would eventually experience. But you also cannot help but feel a sense of joy and hope, because you know that after the suffering is over, this child will defeat death once and for all and rise from the dead. You realize that the baby you are holding, this prince of peace, will someday set the world free from sin and death, by bringing forth God s Kingdom in its fullness. So you cannot help but smile, because you know that it s because of this baby that all of your failings and shortcomings in life have been taken away. It s because of this baby that you now know for certain that God loves you and will always love you for all eternity. And so, you give the baby back to Mary. But, before you walk away from that stable, you take one last look. You see God s love for you, God s mercy, God s forgiveness, God s peace. For this night, God has touched you with something even better than an angel.

5 And you rejoice, because you know that God is not a God who is far away, but a God who is very near. Therefore, you do not have to drift and wander down endless paths, looking for God, looking for meaning in your life. For God has come looking for you, and has found you in that stable. Have you ever placed your finger inside the hand of a little baby and felt the baby s grip? And when they grip your finger, they also tug at your heart. Tonight, the baby Jesus reaches out of the manger with the tiny hand of an infant to grab hold of our hearts, and pull us back to God. But this tiny finger also then releases us to go into the world to be instruments of God s love to fulfill the mission that God has begun in Jesus. To bring good news to the poor, to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick, welcome the stranger, comfort those who are mourning, and visit the lonely and imprisoned. So as you walk away this night, ponder these things in your heart. Enjoy the holidays. Enjoy the hustle and bustle, as much as you can. Because you now realize that you don t have to find deep meaning in all of these things. The gifts, the gatherings they are simple blessings that God has given to us to enjoy. And so we enjoy those things. But we also understand that this is not where our deepest peace and joy comes from. Because apart from these things, we have found meaning and purpose and joy and hope in the face of a child. For tonight, we have held the baby Jesus in our arms. And in doing so, we have indeed encountered the very heart and soul of the living God. Amen.

6 May the peace that passes all understanding be with you this holy night, and for life everlasting. Amen.

God s Word, My Voice A Lectionary for Children

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