|
|
Sunday Sermons
Sermon: 12-25-07, Christmas Day
Pastor Phil Lee
Title: "No Better Place"
Text: Isa.52:7-10; Jn.1:1-14; Heb.1:1-4
Theme: There is no better place than for Christ to be born in us.
Introduction
Today is Christmas Day. Of course, the cultural term for this day is “holiday,” and many folks have taken to using the greeting “Happy Holidays.” In our multi-ethnic, pluralistic, poly-religious society, I have no problem with that. But, for me, it’s definitely Christmas. God is with us in Jesus, the Christ.
This day has a powerful effect on us – so much so that we make a lot of preparations for the celebration, and many of us travel quite a distance to be with our loved ones. And if you haven’t traveled this Christmas, you probably have memories of celebrating Christmas in other locations in years past.
Many of us have been in geographical locations that, for some reason or another, have left a strong impression on us – some because of their beauty, some because of their history, and others for some kind of personal significance. “Paradise,” that location on the southeast side of Mt. Rainier, has long impressed me as a beautiful place of rugged mountains, alpine meadows, and earth-shaping glaciers. That is where I learned to ski back in 1965. Jerusalem impressed me because of its history and faith legacy. Moscow impressed me for its size and its history. The Gettysburg battlefield impressed me with its beauty, so starkly contrasted to its bloody and tragic history. And Africa impressed me for its immensity and the friendliness of its people, especially in Kenya.
And of course, Glendale Evangelical Lutheran Church has left a strong impression on many of us. Some of us have a long history in this place, others shorter. We have seen buildings built, a school formed, and youth ministry shape followers of Jesus Christ. We have been to weddings here, some of them our own or another beloved family member. We have both baptized and buried people from this place. Yes, GELC is a special place for many of us.
And perhaps even more personally, we all come from families and homes that have made an impression on us. We grew up in places that leave us with powerful memories. We grew up with people who helped to shape the way we think and what we believe.
Point
Today, Christmas Day, is a day that leaves impressions. All of us have Christmas memories, some sad, but mostly glad. And this day of days is spoken of in sacred text in a way that leaves an impression:
“…for the LORD has comforted his people…and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” (Isa.52
)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.” (Jn.1)
“Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days [God] has spoken to us by a Son…He is the reflection of God's glory…and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…” (Heb.1)
And so, today, this Christmas, we celebrate with Ann Weems, who wrote:
Each year about this time I try to be sophisticated and pretend I understand the bored expressions relating to the “Christmas spirit.”
I nod when they say “Put the Christ back in Christmas.” I say “Yes, yes,” when they shout “Commercial” and “Hectic, hectic, hectic.”
After all, I’m getting older, and I’ve heard it said, “Christmas is for children.”
But somehow a “fa-la-la” keeps creeping out of me…So I’ll say it:
I love Christmas tinsel and angel voices that come from the beds upstairs. I say it is good, giving, praising, celebrating. So hooray for Christmas trees and candlelight and the good old church pageant. Hooray for shepherd boys who forget their lines and Wise Men whose beards fall off and a Mary who giggles.
O Lord, you were born!
And that breaks in upon my ordered life like bugles blaring, and I sing “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing” in the most unlikely places. You were born and I will celebrate.
…For unto us a Son was given and he was called God With Us. For those of us who believe, the whole world is decorated in love!
Problem
Yes, today is Christmas Day. But, not everyone wants to sing or dance. There are forces at work who would keep this day simply and only a “holiday.”
And, there are others who cannot sing today because of the darkness in their lives. There are folks who cannot dance for the sorrow they know today.
But, it is still – quietly, stubbornly, tenaciously – Christmas. God is with us in Jesus, the Christ. And this is what it is…
Power
The story is told about St. Jerome who spent the closing years of his long life in Bethlehem, close by the birthplace of the Savior – the manger of Christ. When he was called to the exalted office of bishop, he replied, “Nothing can draw me away from the manger of Christ. There is for me no better place on earth. From that very place at which God gave to me His Son from heaven, I would like to send my soul back to Him in heaven.
“Whenever I look upon this place, my heart holds a sweet conversation with the infant Jesus. I say to Him: ‘Oh, Lord Jesus, how you tremble! How hard is your bed for the sake of my salvation! How shall I ever repay this?’
“Then it seems to me that the Holy Child replies, ‘From you, Jerome, I ask only the song, Glory to God in the Highest! Let that be enough for you. My need will be deeper yet in Gethsemane and on Calvary.’
“I speak further: ‘Dear little Jesus, I must give you something. Let me give you all my wealth.’
“The Child replies, ‘From the beginning the heavens and the earth are mine. I do not need your treasures. Give them to the poor. I shall receive that as if you had done it to me.’
“I speak again: ‘Dear little Jesus, this I shall do gladly, but I must also give something just for you, or I shall die of sorrow.’
‘The Child replies: ‘Dear Jerome, since you are so generous of heart, I will tell you what you may give to me. Give me your sins – your bad conscience – and your condemnation!’
“I ask: ‘What will you do with them?’
“The infant Jesus says: ‘I want to take them upon my shoulders. This shall be my glory, and my glorious deed, as Isaiah once said, that I shall take your sins upon myself and carry them away.’
“At this I begin to weep bitterly, and say: ‘O, Child, dear, holy Child, how deeply you touched my heart! I thought you wanted something good – but you want everything in me which is bad! Oh, take what is mine! Give me what is Yours! Then I shall be free from sin, and assured of eternal life!’”
Conclusion
Today is Christmas. So I invite you to revisit with me one more time the Gospel words of the beloved carol “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” (v.4)
O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray.
Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
Oh, come to us, abide with us, our Lord Immanuel!
May Christ be born in us – in you, and in me. There is no better place! Amen.
| If you would like more information about our Church's Ministries and/or Department-Committees, please contact our Church Office at 206-244-9400.
|
|
