The First Sunday After Christmas ---- 30 December 2018

Luke 2:41-52

41 Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. 43 When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. 44 Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day's journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety." 49 He said to them, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" 50 But they did not understand what he said to them. 51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.

After three days they found him in the temple

·       A missing child is usually a reason for panic, police action, and search parties, and all with good reason. For Mary and Joseph to lose track of their son must have been a frightening experience. Luke said they believed him to be with other families in the group of pilgrims returning from celebrating the Passover in Jerusalem that year. This may have been normal and not an unusual thing. I could imagine families watching out for other’s children in such a setting.

·       This story is important for us to hear. It’s not an object lesson to keep our children on a short leash. We need not suspect that we should call the Children’s Aide Society on this appearently neglectful couple. It is not a case of a practical lesson or a moral. It is good news in the best Gospel sense.

·       Luke places Jesus in the Temple among the teachers and scholars, hearing what they had to say and asking impressive questions. Even at the age of his Bar Mitzvah, he is showing sign of becoming a rabbi. Such questions and discussions are very common in rabbinical circles.

·       Of course there is more to this passage than this. Some have taken it to emphasize obedience to parents and to proper authority. Some take it as an example of the humanity of Jesus.

·       The passage does show both the humanity and divinity of Jesus. At his age, the young Jesus shows a remarkable grasp of the Scriptures and he even shows some inkling of his mission. This passage is the last we hear of the child Jesus; Luke’s next passages deal with the start of Jesus’ mission. Still as the young boy sits among the teachers of the Scriptures, he shows more wisdom and understanding than they expected. He is coming into his own.

·       At the same time, Mary and Joseph are desperately searching for Jesus in the great city. They find him in the Temple. The human concern for the boy’s where-abouts is coupled with his Scriptural knowledge and his realization that he must be in my Father's house?, something more than simple human understanding or a mistake in setting out on a journey.

·       The earthly and heavenly have met. The mundane and the miraculous are present at the same time and in the same actions. It is nothing less than a revelation of the Incarnation of Christ for those who are willing to see it.

·       We are blessed to be present at a similar event today… the baptism of Hayden here among us. The earthly and the heavenly, the human and the divine have come together. Really, that is what sacraments are all about – earthly elements bearing divine grace to the people. Whether is it water poured and joined to the Word of God or bread and wine eaten and drunk “in memory of me”, the reality of the created and the uncreated eternal are together.

·       The celebration of Christmas is called in the Church “The festival of the Incarnation of Christ”, the taking on Flesh of Christ.

·       Jesus did not refuse to take on the flesh of humanity, nor did he refuse to take on all it means to be fully human – infancy, childhood, sickness, weariness, learning, fear, disappointment, happiness, sadness, and even death. All of these and more he embraced.

·       This embrace continues today. God is with us in our daily lives and every aspect of our lives. Nothing is outside of this embrace of Jesus Christ. There is nothing on earth that is not the concern of God.

·       If I may be permitted to do so, I’d like you to hear a text from the Gospel of John, one that all of you might know by heart: 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.

·       We could add that God so loved the world, that God entered into creation as a part of creation… and creation will never be the same again. Thanks be to God.

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 

Christmas Eve --- 24 December 2018

Luke

    In those days a decree went out from Emperor 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 for them in the inn.
     In that 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. But 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, as it had been told them.]

Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people

·       Put yourself in the place of the shepherds for a moment. We can all use our imagination for this.

·       We’re out in a field with our companions, watching over the flocks in case a predator or a robber comes, so our staves or “crooks” are handy. The quiet is deep and the conversation with the others has stopped. The sheep bleat every so often, but we’re used to that. Another normal day in the land outside the holy city, Jerusalem. We can’t often go there because we’re watching the flocks and we rarely get to clean up to go into the famous city. BUT we don’t have to deal with the Romans very much out here. Still in all, not much happens out here.

·       Wait! What was that? Did you hear something? The wild animals sometimes make noise, but that was no wild animal.

·       Where’s that light coming from? Did we light a fire or does someone have a lantern? No? Then what’s going on? We’d best look to protecting our flocks!

·       Who’s that? Over there! What did he say? “Do not be afraid!” Don’t come any closer! I’ll smack you with my stick! Of course, I’m afraid! Do you think I’m a fool? You just don’t sneak up on shepherds out here in the fields like that! We should’ve seen you coming.

·       But we didn’t. What’s that he said? “Good News of great joy for all.” What does that mean? Is this a joke? I’d laugh if I weren’t so scared!

·       You bring good news, eh? Is this freedom from Rome? From Rome’s puppets here in Judea? From laws set up as hurdles and barriers between us and God? That we would hear as good news!

·       Now there’s a whole bunch of these messengers, and they’re praising God! I don’t care what the first one said! It’s still scary! “On earth, peace to those he favours.” So for the special ones who keep the Law and decide who is special!

·       Wait… what if… we’re the ones who were meant to receive this Good News, rather than the powerful and the rich and the self-righteous? That would be something!

·       Maybe we should head over to Bethlehem and see about this. Maybe that herald and his choir know something.

·       Well, you know the rest of the story, so we can come back to ourselves and look to the angel’s proclamation: Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people…

·       That statement may have stunned the shepherds as much as the surprise of the “glory of the Lord” shining around them. Could this be? Are there more surprises?

·       Could the Messiah be born among us?

·       Could the Messiah be born as one of us?

·       Could the one to save us from our own evils have more to say about the world and the powers of the world?

·       Could those same concerns be with us now some 2000 years later?

·       Well… Yes!

·       People remain people. Problems remain problems. Sin remains sin… and thanks be to God, grace remains grace.

·       Christ is born… not over again, but once in a poor birth for us worth celebrating every year and probably every day.

·       Christ is born, and the life of God is among God’s people, within and around all of us.

·       Christ is born and new life is possible for each and every one of us… grace, the free gift of God, makes no exceptions.

·       Christ is born and our world cannot be the same… and neither can we.

·       You all know I’m no angel, but I’m charged to give the same message as those better heralds, a message to each of us individually.

·       So I might say to you and to myself…

·       O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;

Come and behold him

Born the King of Angels:

O come, let us adore Him, (3×)

Christ the Lord.

and another less-known, un-official verse...

·       Oh, come, ye unfaithful,

Broken and mistreated!

Oh, come ye, Oh, come ye to Bethlehem.

Come and behold Him,

Born the Friend of Sinners.

O come, let us adore Him, (3×)

Christ the Lord.

·       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.

The Fourth Sunday of Advent ---- 23 December 2018

Luke 1:39-45(46-55)

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord."

[And Mary said,

"My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.

His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;

he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,

according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever."]

My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…

·       This hymn/poem/canticle/whatever you might call it is placed on the lips of Mary, the mother of Jesus, by Luke. It’s a lovely poem and we sang a version of it for our Responsorial. In it, Mary gives thanks and praise to God for what she has been given. It’s called the Magnificat, because like so many other things in our church history, the Latin words that begin the prayer become the prayer’s title (so the Pater noster, the Gloria Pati, the Agnus Dei, etc.)

·       That’s not all that’s there. If I dare to say it, the Magnificat is altogether subversive! And maybe the world as it is needs a little subverting. In Mary’s song, everything in the world is turned on its head!

·       It’s right there for all to see:               My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

Mary declares that all generations will call her blessed, that is, all generations will recognize what God has done and what God is doing. No one could deny that she holds a special place in the history of salvation and grace. We don’t need to worship her to realize that no one else in the history of God’s people has the place she has. And we dare not deny that it is the grace of God that has done this!

·       She goes on:

for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.

Once again, Mary gives praise to God for God’s mighty deeds in the history of Israel up to and including her, and she takes it further in a word of what might be called “Prophecy”, proclaiming the mercy of God for all in every generation.

·       Now the topsy-turvy story/song of grace comes into play:

He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;

he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.

All that is powerful and great and honoured by all the world is dumped over the side and declared an illusion. God’s strength is greater than the strength of the proud, the powerful, and the rich. The proud are scattered “in their conceit” as another translation puts it. The powerful are pulled from their thrones and the rich are left in hunger while the hungry eat. As Jesus put it during his ministry “The last will be first and the first will be last.”

·       Mary ties all this to the story of salvation as it has come to her in the story of God’s people:

He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,

according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.

It is God who has remained faithful through all the years. It is God who is active in her life and the lives of all God’s people. It is God who will remain faithful and merciful from one generation to the next. It is God who has sent a saviour, born as one of us, and as the letter to the Hebrews states And it is by God's will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

·       To read and contemplate the Magnificat allows us to look over the history of our salvation through the eyes of one who was intimately involved in it while at the same time hear the prophetic word of what is to come, sooner or later.

·       Elizabeth greeted Mary and the unborn John the Baptist jumped in her womb… because of who Mary bore with her. Elizabeth said it best: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

·       Again it is God who is praised in the recognition of Mary’s place as Jesus’ mother. What she said of Mary I hope might be said of any of us here: …blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.

My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…

The Third Sunday of Advent ----- 16 December 2018

Luke 3:7-18

John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages."

As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

·       John the Baptist calls out the people who came forward for baptism in no uncertain terms: You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

·       What a thing to say! I wonder what the people listen on the riverbank thought. They had come out to be baptized and they get this sort of welcome. John may have been trying to sort out those who came out because it was new or trendy or stylish to be baptized there. Maybe there was no real intent to any sort of change or conversion, hence the next line: Bear fruits worthy of repentance.

·       Luke says the John proclaimed the good news. How could this be good news? Nobody I know of likes to be called names or likes being compared to a poisonous reptile. One of the modern objections to the Christian faith is a perceived insistence on the evil or bad nature of people and the necessity of change. There are people who object to being called sinners or to have it said they need something outside themselves. They like to hear that they are just fine exactly as they are. Actually I think we all do. If only that were true.

·       So, repentance is good news? Actually it is. I means that there is a way out. Having a way to exit is always good news, as we might say of a clear exit in a fire. None of us are stuck in our flaws and our failings, despite what we might hear from the world around us that does not permit renewal or forgiveness.

·       Repentance is a way to prepare for what is to come. It allows a clearing of space, a cleansing in response to the grace of God. It is part of the change that we are waiting for.

·       So, waiting is good news? Yes, if what is waited for is worth the wait. Having something to look forward to is actually good news. For John to say that one who is more powerful than I is coming is great news.

·       John’s charge to those who were taking their baptism “for the forgiveness of sins” was to go on doing what you’re already doing, but do it better. He didn’t require life in the desert or harsh penances or ambitious projects. He told them to do what they do and do it better, more honestly, and more sincerely.

·       Among those who came forward for baptism were tax gatherers and soldiers who served the government of the time and often abused their powers, profiting off of others or extorting more from them. John didn’t tell them to find another job, but to do their job in the best and most honest way possible. In its own way, that too was good news.

·       We may not see what we do every day as “spiritual” (whatever that means any more), as if spiritual things were reserved for priests, pastors, monks, and nuns. (The Reformation ended that, yet it remains.) However, so much of what we do is truly “spiritual.”

·       Acting in a new way because of repentance is a profoundly spiritual act, even if the person continues doing what they’ve always done. When we live out our baptism (which is different from John’s baptism, of course), it shows the Good News of Jesus Christ in action. Those simple actions, done in the grace of God and under the power of that grace, might not do what the world considers great, but they are vitally important. This season of Advent can make the ordinary special since we prepare to celebrate a birth, something blessing the ordinary and yet making that which is blessed, ordinary.

·       Once again, we make hidden preparation, not simply for the festival coming soon, but for Christ, having come in the past, coming daily, and yet to come.

·       A quote, from a great spiritual writer who will never be recognized at one – the British linguist and author, J.R.R.Tolkien: “Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.”

Paul writes: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. … The Lord is near….And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.