On the Eternal Message of Christmas
December 22, 2024
Traceymay Kalvaitis
Isaiah 9: 2
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined.
Luke 2: 1-20
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place in the guest room. Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them, and Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.
***
Today’s sermon is titled On the Eternal Message of Christmas.
If, in tomorrow’s mail, you received a notice that you had two weeks to make travel plans to return to the place of your birth so you could be “counted,” where would you have to go? How do you think you would feel about such a demand? Keep in mind you would be traveling at your own expense.
Joseph and Mary had to travel 90 miles, at their own expense, to be counted in the census. There are not many details about the journey recorded in the scriptures because the authors of the scriptures were naturally and intimately familiar with what a journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem would require of a traveler, but Mary and Joseph were not ordinary travellers; Mary was 9 months pregnant.
We rely on scholars like Joseph Strange, a professor of Biblical Archeology, to fill in the details of what the 90 mile journey would have entailed. It probably took at least a week to travel the distance, especially considering the terrain. The first three days would have been relatively easy walking as Mary and Joseph walked east towards the Jordan river valley where there would have been palm trees for shade, ample water and edible plants along the way. Such hospitable habitat was home to bears, wild boars, lions, and bandits. “Archeologists have unearthed documents warning travelers of the dangers.”** Days four, five and six required more climbing, especially the arduous ascent between Jericho and Jerusalem, which is the steepest portion of the journey up and out of the river valley and without sources of fresh water.* From Jerusalem, it was another five miles to Bethlehem, all downhill. Joseph and Mary would have carried water in wineskins and a supply of bread, oil and herbs. ** For those of you who have been backpacking, carrying everything you needed for an extended period of time, you can identify with what Joseph and Mary endured, only to arrive, after a 90 mile journey, and find that there was no room for them in the inn.
They were guided to a stable which would have been more like a cave, a cave used to shelter the animals of other travelers, like donkeys, along with animals that provide sustenance, like sheep and cows. The only available bed was whatever bedding the couple had been carrying. I like to think the innkeeper and his family provided them with food and clean water. I like to think that there were other wise women to aid Mary in her birthing. I like to think that kindness surrounded them like the starlight that shone on one and all.
Meanwhile, under the same stars, the shepherds were at work, watching over their flocks by night. The shepherds were often the younger family members, both boys and girls, who were 15-17 years old, old enough to be sent out with other young people and their family’s flocks when pastures closer to home had already been grazed and needed time to recover. It was not uncommon for a wealthier family to hire shepherds to take their flocks to farther pastures; these shepherds would be older and most likely in that role because, for various reasons, other doors were closed to them. We can only imagine the group of shepherds that were given the message by the heavenly hosts. Were they young and impressionable? Or were they much older and seasoned by life, perhaps even a bit hardened by their life’s circumstances? There is no way to know for sure.
What we are told in the scriptures is that the shepherds were the first ones to be made aware of what was really happening in that cave in Bethlehem. What we are told is that the shepherds were visited by one angel who offered them a message; I think of it as the eternal message of Christmas that we are reminded of again and again every year.
The message is this: do not fear, there is good news…a Saviour is born and you will find him wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And the meaning of this message is this: Push aside your fear because the infinite love that is God is breaking in to the world in this moment. You will recognize it because it is now part of humanity and part of you, too. You may no longer doubt that God is with you, now and forevermore.
This does not mean that we can be passive participants, Friends. We are called to make room for the Christ presence within our hearts and within our lives. Too often we think (and say) there is no room. Everytime we think or say “I can’t” or “There’s not enough time” or “It will never happen,” we are placing limits on the limitless. May we remember the eternal message of Christmas: Fear not, the love that is God is with us in all things.
In closing, Friends, let us carry this message through this darkest time of year. Let the words of Isaiah remind us that even when we are in our darkest moments, there is a light that shines and it shall not be overcome. Through every adversity, through tribulation, distress, illness and even death, the light shines for us…Emmanuel…God with us, now and forevermore. Glory to God and on earth peace and goodwill to all. So be it. Amen.
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-12-23-me-17102-story.html
Pastoral Prayer
In the stillness of winter, we open our hearts to the love and the light that is Christ. In him, God offers us all that is most precious- all the unseen, the invisible…the sadness that deepens us, the compassion that connects us, the unexpected joy that restores us, the pain that humbles us, and the divine love that knows no bounds. May we take this moment to give ourselves back to God, back to the source from where our spirits come. From this state of surrender, comes a union with the Holy Spirit, and through this union all that is holy, and from God, can pass through us to others- we are made strong and can offer strength, we are given vision and can offer clarity, we experience a love like no other and we can then love with a love that transcends all differences. We are so grateful, Lord, for all we have been given. Through your grace, we can celebrate our abundance. For all those traveling, we pray for safety; for all those struggling, we pray for serenity; for the dying, surrender; for the fearful, faith and peace. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All this I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Benediction
I leave you with these words by an anonymous author:
May your heart be prepared as a manger
for the love that is God to find rest.
May your minds be open as the star-filled sky
For the Christ child is coming to bless you.