A Christmas Eve Homily
A Sermon
By Shelly Davis
Texts: Isaiah 9:2-7, Luke 2:1-20
No matter how many times we hear it, it is still an amazing story isn’t it? A baby born to an unwed mother and a perplexed, yet faithful father in a manger intended for animals who is God-with-us, Emmanuel.
Where do you find yourself in this story this year?
Are you Joseph?
• Virtually silent.
• Steadfastly faithful, but not exactly sure why.
• Wondering what on earth God is up to now.
Are you a shepherd?
• Not really a permanent resident of anywhere.
• Working pretty much day and night.
• Terrified by what this all—especially that visit from an angel—might mean.
Are you one of the angels?
• A messenger of God full of assurance and grace imploring us to “not be afraid.”
• Indeed, the very first words spoken after Jesus’ birth are, “do not be afraid.”
• There are many, many people living this night in terror, desperately in need of a word of peace. In Darfur. In Afghanistan. In Iraq. In Iran. In Levittown.
• Do not be afraid.
• Might you be one of these angels?
Are you one of the masses moving to and fro to fulfill the demands of the government?
• Have you gone from one government office to the next to the next to the next until you’re convinced all there is to do is go from one office to the next?
• Registrations, licensing, taxes . . . will it ever end?
• Surely there is more to life than this.
Are you Mary?
• An unsuspecting God-bearer.
• Touched by the sense that God insists on doing new things in the world—bringing new life into the world—sometimes even through us.
• Pondering—what a great word, pondering—pondering all of this in your heart.
Are you one of the multitude of the heavenly host praising God?
• Glory, glory, glory to God.
• Praise, praise, praise!
• Peace on earth, please God, peace on earth.
Are you the innkeeper?
• I’m completely full tonight.
• Not a spare room anywhere.
• I certainly won’t put you completely out in the cold, I’ve got a spot with a roof, some straw. At least that will hold you over for the night.
Are you one of the shepherds who took the angels at their word?
• I’ve got to go to the manger now and see what has taken place.
• And then, almost like young children who absolutely HAVE to share the most amazing thing they’ve ever seen: Come on, you have to see this too! Really, its amazing! Come on, let me show you!!!!
Where are you in this ancient story tonight?
Where is this ancient story in you tonight?
Our visit to the manger each year is an invitation to be childlike.
• To fear not.
• To wonder.
• To gaze at the stars.
• To play in the water of God’s grace.
• To sing with abandon.
• To dance.
• To trust.
• To let God be God.
• To believe.
• To hope.
• To receive and give love without condition.
• To know anything is possible.
“The light, the light, the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not, cannot, and will not overcome it.”
(John 1:5)
Thanks be to God.
Amen.
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