there's a future shining
There’s a Christmas sermon I’ve always wanted to preach, but never have. And I think this year, of all years, presents the perfect opportunity. So here goes…
EVERY Christmas there is an irony.
Christmas is one of those times we can really pack ‘em in the church. The paradox, though, is Scripture makes it abundantly clear that on Christmas, the church is the last place you want to be on Christmas! All the action is taking place out there! A million miles away from any respectable sanctuary!
Here, I’ll show you, pretend this passage is a movie, AND you don’t already know what’s going to happen…
The film opens in darkness, and the narrator tells us this is the account of the momentous birth of Jesus, the savior of the world. Next, the narrator tells us this happened during Emperor Augustus’ reign. The camera fades in on the Emperor in all his power and opulence, ordering a worldwide census.
Now, this would fit our expectations. Of course, the birth of the savior of the world would take place within the halls of power. Only, the narrator continues! Now the camera fades on the Emperor and opens on Quirinius. Quirinius, a mere provincial governor, administering Augustus’ census in a little corner of the empire.
This would come as something of a surprise! A decided step down from the Emperor. Although, governor is nothing to sneeze at, either.
However, the narrator just keeps on narrating! Now the camera whip pans from Quirinius to a couple of nobodies! Mary and Joseph, a young couple from the backwoods of Quirinius’ insignificant nook of the empire!
They’re on their way to be registered! Mary and Joseph aren’t the kind who make the orders. They’re the kind who are ordered. What’s more, they’re not ordered to Quirinius’ or Augustus’ palace, either. No, they have to scrounge for a spot to call it a night.
And on the noteworthy occasion of Jesus’ birth, they come up short! The prince of heaven is born out back in a stable and laid in a feeding trough “because there was no place for them in the inn.”
Jesus’ birth doesn’t take place in the halls of power! It happens in the presence of those who don’t even have enough pull to get a place to call it a night.
And if that weren’t enough, next thing you know, the camera cuts to some shepherds “living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.”
…Now we like to sentimentalize shepherds, but any of you farmers know this isn’t a clean job. And it was only worse back then! In fact, most shepherds took the job because they couldn’t get respectable work anywhere else! Shepherds were looked so down upon, they couldn’t give testimony in court.
As the camera holds on these laborers going about their odds and ends of their work for the night, a tremendous flash of light bursts across the screen! Standing in its wake is an angel! As the shepherds run for cover, the angel tells THEM not to be afraid, “for see—the angle is bringing them GOOD NEWS of great JOY for all people!”
Of all people, those shepherds are the first God sends the angels Christmas caroling to! The message isn’t announced to the king or even the senior pastor at First Lutheran in Bethlehem. No, the news is first delivered to those who would have felt out of place had they ever darkened the temple doors!
…This Christmas Gospel, as it’s called, seems to go out of its way to tell us that on Christmas, the church is not the place to be on Christmas! That all the action is taking place out there!
As Bruce Cockburn sings in the lovely song, Cry of a Tiny Babe, “For it isn’t to the palace that the Christ child comes / But to shepherds and street people, hookers and bums.”
…I’ve never preached this sermon, though. I’ve never preached it because I thought, “if I were sitting in the pew on Christmas Eve and heard such a sermon, I’d stand up and say: Dear Pastor, it’s so much hassle to get here and there’s so much tempting me to stay home tonight, that I take you at your word and bid you adieu.”
I can finally preach this sermon, though, because YOU’RE not sitting in a pew tonight. Are you?!? You’re already home! I have nothing to lose.
Which is right where you want to be on Christmas Eve! It puts you in the crosshairs of the one who is born to the likes of Mary's, Joseph’s, and shepherds everywhere! In other words, people like us.
…This is why it’s a shame I’ve never preached this sermon. Because even when we’re all packed in there, and we will be one day, this sermon still has a word for us. Doesn’t it?
After all, isn’t there always someone we wish were worshiping with us on Christmas? But for whatever reason, be it work or worse, they’re not. And the Good News of great joy is they’re not too far-flung for the reach of the Christmas Gospel! They may not be with us, but that doesn’t mean God is not with them!
Church attendance does not determine ones worthiness to receive the “Good News of great joy.” In fact, quite the opposite on Christmas Eve!
And even when it comes to Christmas Eve attendance, there are always folks who are there but who have clearly been dragged there against their will. One look in their eyes and you can see they’re telling themselves, “I don’t belong. This isn’t happening.”
And the Good News of great joy is that, even though they’re a million miles away in their own heart and head, they’re not too far-flung for the reach for the Gospel, either!
And that’s Good News for us all this Christmas Eve! Because the truth is, that’s all of us. Isn’t it?
We all have parts of our past, our life, and even our own heart that we’re afraid don’t belong in the church. Even though you may be sitting in a pew come Christmas, there are parts of your life you try and leave at the door. I know this because we all have them, I do, too—those fields of regret, loss, failure, grief, and worse.
And the Good News of great joy is that, that is precisely where God sends the angels with the Christmas message! Those places you try and keep out of the church are the ones where God sends the angels, the ones where Jesus is born!
This is the message of great joy for all people, including you and me! There isn’t ANY place in your life that is too broken for Jesus to wrap up in his strong bands of his grace, mercy, and love!
So receive this Gospel: Unto you and your loved ones is born, this night, in the city of Burlington, or wherever you may be, a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord! And this will the sign for you; you will find the child wrapped up in those places of your life that are unlikely and unlovely. And there he will cover you with the glory of his redemption!
To quote Bruce Cockburn one last time, “And the message is clear if you have ears to hear / that forgiveness is given for your guilt and your fear / It’s a Christmas gift that you don’t have to buy / There’s a future shining in a baby’s eye.”
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