The Greatest Gift of All

John 1:1-14

Christmas Day / December 25, 2011

It seems like this year we’ve been overwhelmed with Christmas specials, each touting the true meaning of Christmas. Most point to family and love as the true meaning of Christmas, completely missing the reason for the season. One of my favorite Christmas specials is still “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” I love it when Charlie Brown, in frustration, asks: “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” And Linus responds: “Sure Charlie Brown I can tell you what Christmas is all about.” And Linus walks out on stage and begins:

“⁸And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  ⁹And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. ¹⁰And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. ¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. ¹²And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ¹⁴Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (King James Version, Luke 2:8-14.)

Then Linus walks off stage and says, “That’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.” That’s what Christmas is all about.

I love the Christmas story that Linus told from Luke’s gospel, with its angels and pastoral images and poetry. Luke’s gospel also tells the story of the angel Gabriel visiting Mary announcing that she will bear a son and name him Jesus, and Mary sings the beautiful Magnificat in response. Then Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem to be registered, and Mary gives birth to her firstborn son in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn. Angels visit the shepherds in the fields announcing the birth of a Savior and the shepherds go to Bethlehem to see the babe. And we hear the angels praising God and saying “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward all.”

And we look at our creche and see the angel and shepherds and sheep surrounding Mary and Joseph and the baby. Of course, we then add the Christmas story as told in Matthew’s gospel, including the wise men who followed a star, bringing gifts from the East for the king of the Jews. And we add camels to our creche, and a donkey and a cow and sheep for good measure.

And I wonder if we haven’t lost sight of the reason for the season in the midst of shepherds and wise men and angels and animals. As Linus said, Christmas is all about the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in the manger.

Today we read the Christmas story in John’s gospel – a story that is so different from Luke’s and Matthew’s stories. It lacks all the particularity of place and people. We don’t hear about Mary and Joseph or angels and shepherds or wise men following stars. There is no mention of Bethlehem or mangers, no comment about kings and a census. As a matter of fact there are no details of the birth at all.

Instead John’s gospel takes a huge step back and looks at the story on a cosmic level. “In the beginning,” way back when the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This babe in the manger was present in the beginning. And, in the beginning the Word spoke, saying, “Let there be light.” And there was light. “All things came into being through him and without him not one thing came into being.” This Word is the creative power of God through whom all things were created. And the Word is God.

This same Word “was in the world... yet the world did not know him.” He came to his own people through the Law given at Mount Sinai. He came to his own people through kings and prophets and priests. And the people did not accept him.  The Word spoke powerfully through the written words of Scripture and still the people did not believe. The people did not understand.

So “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.” The Word who was in the beginning with God – the Word who is God – chose to take on flesh and become human and live among us. The One through whom all things came into being became like us – flesh and bones. The One whose life was the light of all people shone into the darkness of our lives, scattering the darkness through his teachings and his witness. The One who has spoken to us through the Law and prophets took on flesh – revealing the glory of God in Jesus Christ.

Do you hear the incredible confidence in this passage? The absolute assurance that something truly extraordinary happened? God, the one true God, God the Word, became human. God the Son, though he was in the form of God, emptied himself, being born in human likeness so that we might receive grace upon grace. In him the fullness of God dwells, revealing the mystery and the beauty and the power of our faith.

The God we failed to recognize in creation, although all things came into being through him, took on flesh that we might see him.  The God who spoke to us through the Law and prophets, calling us to repent and return to God, came down to reveal the heart of God to us, guiding us to repentance and new life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”

God chose to come and live among us in the flesh so that we might be saved. And “to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood [or of the flesh]... but of God.” God became human so that we might be like God – children of God, born of God. God became human so that we might have life and have it abundantly.

The story of Christmas in John’s gospel returns our focus to where it should be on this Christmas morning. It isn’t the angels and the shepherds and the wise men who make this day different from any other day. It is the baby lying in the manger – fully human and fully God – who is the greatest gift of all. Thanks be to God for this extraordinary gift!

Impossible? Never!

Luke 1:26-38

Fourth Sunday of Advent / December 18, 2011

There is no manuscript for this sermon, but the angel Gabriel's words to Mary spoke strongly this week: "Nothing will be impossible with God."

Watch the following video clip, shown during worship to see the ways God is at work in the lives of orphans in Zimbabwe. This is the ZOE workgroup we are supporting through our prayers and our giving.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfxWtW80u4I

Unrestrained Worship

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Third Sunday of Advent / December 11, 2011

  

Imagine sitting alone in utter darkness. It is so dark that you cannot even see your hand held up in front of your face.  You’re not sure what has happened.  Was it an earthquake?  Did a bomb go off?  All you know is that it was very bad.  You don’t know how long you have been there – maybe you were hit on the head – maybe you fell asleep.  Anyway, you sense that time has passed.  Silence has descended. The initial shock has settled into the dull reality that things will never be the same.  You know you are alive, but the sheer darkness envelops you, and fear creeps up your spine.  In uncertainty you wonder, what is next?

Suddenly, out of the darkness, you hear a tentative voice: “The Lord be with you.” A moment of stunned silence is followed by a different voice: “And also with you.” You are not alone, after all. A third voice speaks more boldly: “Lift up your hearts!” And several voices respond: “We lift them up to the Lord.” And now you cannot help but shout out: “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God!” And a chorus responds: “It is right to give our thanks and praise!”

And someone continues: “It is right, and a good and joyful thing always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.”  Yes.  Always and everywhere – even here in this total darkness – even now when we know nothing will ever be the same.  It is right, and good and joyful to give thanks to God.  And the prayer continues spontaneously: “Thank you that I am alive!” “Thank you that we are not alone!” “Thank you for the gift of your Son!”

There is silence as this prayer of thanksgiving comes to a close – a silence that is filled with hope and possibility – so different from the earlier silence.  The darkness no longer feels so dark.  Someone speaks up: “I now understand Isaiah’s words: ‘The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light’ (Isa 9:2).  Even in this darkness we can feel the light.”  Another voice replies: “Yes, it is just like in John’s gospel where John the Baptist has come to testify to the light, ‘the true light, which enlightens everyone’ (John 1:9). Jesus is the light of the world. Isn’t it amazing that we can feel his presence shining on us even now?”

Then someone wonders aloud: “I hope my family is okay.”

A voice speaks up: “You know, I always wondered why we bothered with the Old Testament.  We heard the same stories of the Great Flood and the Exodus from Egypt and the exile to Babylon again and again and I always felt like saying, I know that story! Tell me a new one!  But today I understand why we retell these stories.  God brought Noah and his family through the great flood.  God brought the twelve tribes of Israel through the wilderness to a new land.  God brought those who were scattered and exiled to Babylon and beyond home again to rebuild.  Even though things were never the same again, even though there was much loss and suffering, God was there, God showed up, God did not abandon his children.  It makes sense that we tell and retell those stories so we can remember and be assured that God is with us now and God will see us through this situation as well.”

Someone asks: “Can you tell us the story again?”  And the stories begin – familiar stories heard with new ears – stories of Abraham and Ruth and David – stories of Isaiah and Jonah and Daniel – stories of Jesus and Mary and Peter and Paul – stories of ‘God with us’ throughout the ages.  And as this small community of faith sits in darkness listening to these stories, they know the Holy Spirit is comforting them; they feel the light of Christ; the peace that passes all understanding envelops them, and they are assured that no matter what happens God is with them.

Most of us will never experience this type of complete and total physical darkness, but many of us have walked in a darkness that is perhaps less tangible but no less real.  We have experienced the emotional darkness of grief and pain, and the loneliness that comes with loss.  We have witnessed the chemical darkness of depression or dependency – a dark night of the soul.  We have known the spiritual darkness of Godlessness and the feeling of being abandoned and alone.  And in some cases these types of darkness have threatened to overwhelm us and consume us. 

I have found that it is at times like this that our liturgy is the most powerful.  Words we repeat Sunday after Sunday become words of comfort and hope.  Words that have sometimes sounded like hollow words – words we barely listen to – words that we speak without even thinking about – become written on our hearts and provide an avenue for the Holy Spirit to work.  In that space, the rote prayers we speak each Sunday may be the only prayers we can utter: “Our Father, who art in heaven...”  The Creed may be our cry for help: I believe! Help my unbelief!  Stories that have grown old through repetition take on new life.  Songs and psalms that we didn’t even realize we had memorized sustain us. It is in our darkest moments that the patterns and habits of weekly worship become life-giving and Spirit-filled and enable us to worship again.  These patterns and habits open doors and straighten roads that lead us directly into the arms of God.

Too often people contrast liturgical worship and Spirit-filled worship, thinking that Spirit-filled worship must be unstructured and spontaneous.  Today, this story reminds us that liturgy and scripture can often be the avenues through which the Holy Spirit is able to work.  Of course, how our worship unfolds within that structure speaks to the ways we are attentive to the Spirit’s movement.  The liturgy is meant to be an avenue for the Holy Spirit.  Our worship pattern is designed to facilitate our encounter with God – the God who formed order out of chaos – our God who calls us to walk in the light and live lives overflowing with joy.

On this Third Sunday of Advent we celebrate Gaudete Sunday.  Gaudete means rejoice.  Today, as we prepare for the birth of our Savior we are invited to rejoice.  Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians puts it this way: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess 5:16-18).

Today, as we prepare for the birth of our Savior we also prepare for the day when Christ will come again.  As we live in this in-between time, in this time of uncertainty, Paul tells us that our preparation must be constant and unrestrained – listen to the words he uses: always, without ceasing, in all circumstances.  Our worship of God is not limited to one somber hour on Sunday mornings.  Rather, our worship of God on Sunday mornings prepares us for our worship of God at all times and in all places.  Our communal worship in this sanctuary of the One who is faithful enables us to go out into the world and be faithful and give ourselves for others in the absolute assurance that no matter what life throws at us we are not alone.  God is with us. The words and stories and songs we repeat on Sunday mornings give us the foundation for worshipping God in our work and in our play – for rejoicing and praying and giving thanks again and again, even in the darkest moments of our lives. 

I think that too often we practice our faith in moderation.  We give this hour to God.  We give that percentage of our income to God.  We give a few minutes each morning to devotions.  We give a few minutes each evening to prayer.  And then we forget God and go on about our daily work and play.  But Paul reminds us today to rejoice always and give thanks in all circumstances – all circumstances! For God will bring good out of even the darkest times.  And pray without ceasing.  This doesn’t mean spend twenty-four hours a day on your knees.  Rather, it means “Do not quench the Holy Spirit.”   Keep an open channel to God; be attentive to the ways God is acting and speaking in the world at all times; speak to God often – beyond those times spent in morning devotion and evening prayer.  And don’t despise the words of the prophets but test everything.  Read scripture avidly, hungry to learn more of God and discern how God worked through the prophets and still works today.  Test everything: ask questions, listen for answers, look for God at work in your midst. 

In this way we will grow as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ – ever preparing for that day when there will be a new heaven and a new earth – that day when darkness will be no more and the night will be as bright as the day.  On that day we will see God face to face and fall down on our knees and worship God with unrestrained joy.  And God will wipe every tear from our eyes and death will be no more (Rev 21:4).  

Let me leave you with a story and a song: In the darkness of slavery, men and women continued to boldly worship God.  Often without Bibles or hymnals or even musical instruments, the slaves worshipped the God of Abraham, the God of the Exodus, the God who became incarnate in Jesus Christ. They told the stories of the Bible and they prayed together and they sang songs.  Through repetition these stories and songs became an important source of joy and hope.   There is a song that has been passed on from generation to generation that was sung by the slaves in the fields and is still sung today – it is a song I used to sing regularly with the men in the Durham jail.  The words are simple: “I will trust in the Lord.”  No hymnals, no data projectors, no sheet music, no musical instruments required.  All that is required is a heart that longs to praise our God.  “I will trust in the Lord ‘til I die.”

// I will trust in the Lord,

I will trust in the Lord,

I will trust in the Lord ‘til I die. //

Look at Me!

Mark 1:1-8

Second Sunday of Advent / December 4, 2011

“Look at me!  Look at what I did!” We’ve all heard these words before. Look at me! I can run all the way to the end of the block and back!  Look at me! I can ride my bicycle with no hands! Look at what I did! I made this Christmas ornament! Our children crave our attention and affirmation. And it is important that we praise our kids’ accomplishments. It is important that we build their self-esteem.  We want our children to be confident; we want them to do their best.  And so we rejoice with them: “Yes, I see! That’s beautiful! Wow! You are so talented!  You could be a star some day!”

Of course adults want this kind of affirmation as well.  Look at me! I’m the employee of the month! Look at what I did! My company is growing in the midst of this recession.  Look at me! I clipped coupons and saved $50 on my groceries this week!  Look at me! Look at what I can do!

Today our scripture invites us to look at John the Baptist. He was an odd man who was clothed in camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist. His dreadlocks marked him as a Nazarite and he ate only locusts and wild honey.  People flocked from the whole Judean countryside and all of Jerusalem to the Jordan to look at this man.  And standing in the icy waters of the Jordan, John cried: “Repent! For the kingdom of heaven has come near!” (Matt 3:2).  And people came to John confessing their sins, and John baptized them in the Jordan.

Just think how easy it would have been for John to say, Look at me! As people came to John from all over the countryside, they may have believed him if he had said: Look at me! I have the power to forgive sins.  I have the ability to wash you clean. Look at what I can do!

But instead John proclaimed: “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:7-8).  John proclaimed: Don’t look at me, look at Jesus.  Jesus is the Savior, the Messiah, the One who is to come!  Look at Him!

John’s entire life pointed to Jesus.  John’s entire ministry prepared the way for the Lord.  John invited people to repent and turn away from sin and toward God.  He listened to their confession and baptized them. As John pushed their heads under the waters of the Jordan their old selves were washed away with the current, and as they came up out of the water they were made new and their sins were forgiven.  In baptism they were given eyes to see Jesus – to recognize him when he came.  In baptism their lives were reoriented – they became a people who said, “Don’t look at me, look at Jesus!”

On this day, as we prepare to baptize eight people and welcome them into the family of God, we do want to pause and reflect on the many people who have walked alongside these beloved children of God, preparing the way for the Lord: grandparents and Sunday school teachers and friends and neighbors who have pointed to Jesus through their lives and their witness and their stories.  We pause to say Thanks be to God for these people who have brought us to this day.  And Thanks be to God for the people who will walk with us into the future, helping us to lead lives that always point to Jesus.

On this day, as we remember our own baptisms, and as we eagerly prepare for the birth of our Savior, we come to these waters confessing our sins and affirming that God loves us unconditionally.  We come to these waters to be clothed with Christ so that we can go out into the world as people who say, “Don’t look at me, look at Jesus!”