Decemberr 25, 2011

Christmas Day

Isaiah 52:7-10

John 1:1-14

The Reverend Cathy S. Gilliard

I don’t mind telling you that this has been a wonderful Christmas season for me.  The energy, enthusiasm and good will around this place have been palpable and it is a wonderful reminder of what is possible among God’s people.  Have you noticed the transformation that is occurring before our eyes?    I cannot explain it altogether but it seems to me that something wonderful is happening, for which I am grateful.  I end this year with nothing but joy, praise, and thanksgiving.  So much of that is because of you. 

The more I think about it, the more it seems to me that we need the Christmas season more than we care to admit.  Even with all the commercialism, hustle and bustle, planning, shopping, rat-race – this and that – Christmas offers the kind of interruption from our normalcy that is unlike anything else.  It offers us a change of pace; a shift from the regular routine.   And the whole world participates, it seems, whether they believe in the Lord Christ or not. 

I think it is because we recognize that we need a season of merriment where joy is expected.  It is normal to be joyful at Christmas time.

We need a season that reminds us that hope is possible.  Peace is possible; reconciliation is possible.  Forgiveness is possible – in the world and in our hearts.  We need the pageants and carols; tree decorating and wreath lighting.  And the smiles on our children’s faces as they tear open their gifts. We need to board planes and trains; and take the long car rides if necessary. We need an excuse, a good reason to spend time with family and friends even if we have to force ourselves to break bread and share stories recalling our roots and reclaiming our identity.

We need catch the evening news and hear stories of the homeless finding shelter, food and coats for the winter and old men repairing bicycles and giving them to children who would otherwise not have a gift at all.

We need those phone calls and text messages – those one liners that say “thinking of you.”  We long to be remembered with thoughtful greeting cards and hearty well wishes.  And to see pictorial updates and read the “catch up” letters from friends – the news of the past years’ events - weddings, babies being born, deaths, fun vacations, graduations – all reminders that the seasons of our lives are changing but things are still well, somehow. 

We need to see those soldiers returning home from Iraq and the arms of their children wrapped tightly around their neck as though clinging for dear life; never wanting to let go.  It stirs up something wonderful on the inside of us and even the grumpiest curmudgeon starts to feel better. 

We crave the attention that gift-giving and gift-receiving invokes. Not so much the gift itself because let’s face it - if we are honest, I suspect that most of us have way more than we will ever eat, or wear, or use for very long.  But we need the attention of it, the thoughtfulness.  To be reminded that we are not alone.  That someone cares.  We are special.  Remembered, loved.

And I tell you, this was God’s plan for us from the very start.  This was the way God intended.  Not that Christmas would be a once-a-year event but that the season of God’s inbreaking would be a year round occurrence.  A way of life in which we would engage one another and the world. 

Well, I know that someone is already thinking “you must be kidding me.  I’m already ready to get back to my “normal”; the regular routine.”  But what if this was the regular routine?  What if this was the way it is moving forward? What if we sent cards anytime we felt like it? And visited anytime – 4 or 5 times a year?  What if we kept the tree up way past January or set some ornaments around the window sill as a reminder that Christmas happens all the time?   

Don’t you hear all the ranting and raving around you?  All of the crying and acting out?  The selfishness and greed?  The refusal to humble ourselves and try something new?  Even to be loved? 

Haven’t you noticed that there are people around you who have barricaded their hearts; almost totally shut down; erected a fierce wall out of fear – afraid to let love in or out; preferring the chaos they know rather than taking the risk that they might possibly be lovable – warts and all? 

Haven’t you noticed that some days, even you find it incredible to believe?  And you too are overwhelmed by the darkness around you; in your heart and mind?

We all know something about it if we tell the truth - some of us more than we care to admit.   

The season of Christmas reminds us that light has come and the darkness – no matter how dark – cannot overcome it. 

In our gospel this morning, John begins his prologue with “in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  From the start, John reminds us that even at the dawn of creation, God was with us.  God was working on our behalf when the earth was dark and the formless void mentioned in Genesis.  Before Adam named the animals of the field and the birds of the air, God said let there be light and there was light. 

And the Word of God, became flesh and pitched its tent among us in the person of Jesus Christ. 

We are no afterthought.  This day; this morning; you and I being here was in the mind of God all along – way back then at the beginning of Creation.  I believe that it is so.

All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.  What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.[1]   

And it never will.   Just knowing that the light will come gives us hope to press our way.

So many of our Christmas carols reminds us of great things that happened at night – like the shepherds who kept watch over their flock.  And even the wise men who traveled from afar being guided by a star.  We sing Silent night; holy night. 

But our lesson this morning are not about the night time; but around the dawning of the great light that is shining in the face of darkness and though sometimes it appears as though the darkness wins out, we are reminded on this holy morning, that the light will not be overcome.   The darkness will not win out in the end.

And so, whatever darkness there is, it will not have the final say.  Whatever grief and pain; sorrow and despair, it is not the end of things.

Long ago, God’s Word became flesh and dwelled among us.  In him was life, and his life was light to all of this darkness.  The darkness of his own brutal day, the darkness of every age since then, and now the darkness of our own.   

Thomas Ehrich says that “We yearn for that light.  Every day, at some level of our being, we awaken and hope today will be better.  We hope for food, for work, for companionship, for an end to brutality and hatred, for common sense and tolerance.”[2] 

Every day, we awaken to a hope that today might just be the day.  We might not give our yearning that name but I believe that it is humanity’s yearning – all of it – that light will come. 

As so it did, some 2,000 years ago in a city called Bethlehem; first to Mary and Joseph, and then the shepherds, and the wise men.   To you and to me and generations to come. 

And so, here is our challenge.  Let us live as Christmas people – every day.  With hope and peace; joy and good will to all people.  Our light has come.