Christmas Eve 12/24/22 - Sidney UMC
Sermon Title: “What Will We Do With This Child?” (“The Reclaiming Hope” Series: Part 5 of 5)
Old Testament Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7
New Testament Scripture: Titus 2:11-14
Gospel Lesson: Luke
2:1-20
Through the season of Advent and through
tonight, Christmas Eve, I have been preaching a sermon series called “The Reclaiming
Hope” series. Why have I been preaching this sermon series? I have been
preaching this sermon series because this is the first Christmas in three-years
that we can gather without all of the COVID-19 restrictions. It is true that
many hospitals right now are overrun with the flu, RSV, and yes, some COVID,
but we are back to somewhat of a normal level of functioning. Due to this, may
we on this Christmas Eve and in general, “Reclaim Hope.”
It is fair to say that many of us have
lost and have suffered in many ways in the past three years. We have lost loved
ones, some have lost jobs, relationships have ended, people have felt isolated,
etc. “Reclaiming Hope” is something we have to do. With all the hurt, brokenness,
and wars in the world, we need hope! We need hope in Jesus, and we need hope in
each other. Sidney and the Tri-Town Area has been through a lot over the years.
Floods, stores closing, downsizing of jobs, etc. It can be easy on this
Christmas Eve 2022, to have only grief, despair, and negativity. Gas prices are
way up, heating fuel is way up, inflation, the war in Ukraine, Tom Brady
getting divorced, etc. There are a lot of problems.
One could ask then, is it really practical
for me as a pastor to encourage us all to “Reclaim Hope” on this Christmas Eve?
Maybe we should all just give up and watch the world crumble. I don’t know
about you, but because of the hope that I have in Christ and all of you, I don’t
give up. I fight, I have hope, and I believe that the love of Jesus can make
Sidney and this world so much better. We are stronger together, and great churches
like this exist to be beacons of hope, light, life, and love. Churches like
this make Sidney and the world better.
Aside from all that churchy stuff
though, Christmas Eve is often a night that churches have many visitors. Some
of these visitors want to be here, but some have come with a little persuasion.
I remember when I was a little kid, my mom told me that if we did not go to
church on Christmas Eve that Santa would not come. So apparently my mother was
claiming the Santa and Jesus Christ had some sort of Christmas Eve church service
scam going on.
Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t hate
going to Christmas Eve church service. The church was beautiful, and I loved
the hymns. Sometimes I even got a candy cane! So, we all are here tonight for
different reasons. In fact, I have put together a list of the top ten reasons people
go to a Christmas Eve church service that don’t really want to go.
1. Grandma or Mom
told me I have to go, or else!
2. I don’t have to
go to work tomorrow, and I don’t want to watch Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
for the 100th time.
3. My significant
other has wanted a date night for a while, and since the church looks pretty,
this is it.
4. My boss goes to
this church, and I really want a raise.
5. I’m running
from the law, and no one will think to look for me at a Christmas Eve church
service.
6. I realized too
late that I was not at the mall.
7. After
everything that I have done wrong this year, it’s my last chance to repent and try
to get gifts from Santa.
8. I can get out of
wrapping gifts, cooking food, and dealing with guests at home that I don’t get
along with.
9. Are you sure
this isn’t the mall.
10. I am here because Jesus is born, and everyone loves a baby.
With all of this said, why does this
night matter? Why do make such a big deal every year about the birth of Jesus?
Many of us know that Jesus was likely born in the spring, but for centuries the
church has celebrated Jesus’ birth on December 25th. We also can’t
change it now, we already have the tree up, and we have already sent out Christmas
Cards. Whatever the actual day that Jesus was born, I want us to consider this
question on Christmas Eve, 2022. This question is, “What Will We Do With This
Child?”
For those who have children,
grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, etc., you might remember
the joy that you felt when first held a newborn baby for the first time.
Looking at the child with joy, wonder, and considering what that child will
grow up to become. Jesus’s mother Mary of course new her son Jesus was
different, special, God among us.
What is amazing to me about Christmas is
that the birth of one child can be so significant. So significant that two-thousand
years later we still have Christmas Eve services, and Christmas Day service tomorrow,
to commemorate the birth of this child. Many of us know that the Christian faith
teaches that Jesus was born, grew up, loved, healed, forgave, transformed, died
for us, rose again, ascended to heaven, and will one day will return in glory. All
to often though we can view Jesus’ birth, live, death, and resurrection, as
some sort of legal transaction. Jesus came to do X, Y, and Z, and as result we
get X, Y, and Z in return. I would challenge us all tonight however, to consider
the question of “What Will We Do With This Child?”
I remember as a little boy going to
Christmas Eve church services and sometimes being a little rambunctious. A little
hard to handle. In fact, on Palm Sunday as a little boy, we were always given
palms to wave around, to celebrate Jesus entering Jerusalem. One year, as a
little boy, I thought that it would be fun to find a palm with a long stringy type
of palm hair on the end of it. When my mom wasn’t looking, I tickled an older
man’s ear in the pew in front of me. When he turned to look, I put the palm down,
and sat up straight. I got away with this, until mom caught on the third tickle.
As a result, I was not allowed to have a palm on Palm Sunday for a few years
after this. Mom said, “Paulie, special kids get a palm after the church service”.
Since I was sometimes rambunctious at
Christmas Eve services, and in general in church, my mother would correct my
behavior. One Christmas Eve my mom snapped at me and said, “Paulie behave and
be nice, you are supposed to behave and be nice on Christmas!” Me being usually
pretty quick witted responded and said, “So I can be rude and mean the day
after Christmas?” Well my mom did not how to respond. Her face got red, and she
finally just said, “No!”
You know what is amazing to me though?
The birth of Christ has become so baked into Western Culture, our culture, that
people are nicer on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day. Not everyone, but in general
people are nicer on Christmas. Jesus Christ, our Lord, who is coming amongst us
soon as a baby, is the very source of love itself. God in flesh, born outside,
with barn animals, laid in straw in a sheep trough for a manger. God amongst
us, Emmanuel, born to a young and powerless woman name Mary, a loving father
named Joseph. The savior of the world born on that night, homeless.
So insignificant, so uneventful, and
yet we retell this story every year, and have done so for two-thousand years.
We retell this story not just because Jesus will die for us, but because Jesus
has changed the world. No one has changed more hearts, more people, or more
cultures than Jesus. He taught us and still teaches us to love God and to love
our neighbor as ourselves. Through all the struggles that we have been through and
maybe are still our going through, “What Will We Do With This Child?” We will
go forth from here loving more people like he did. Will we seek peace, hope,
mercy, and a brighter future. Will we work together to make the world better. Friends,
this is why he is coming amongst us, and why we need to “Reclaim Hope”.
In our reading tonight, from the Prophet
Isaiah, Isaiah wrote centuries before Jesus’ birth of what this child will grow
up and become like. In Isaiah 9:6-9 it says, once again:
6 For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders, and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Great will be his authority, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this (Isa. 9:6-8, NRSV).
Some might ask if this scripture is true, then why is there
still so much wrong in the world” Part of the answer to this is us “Reclaiming Hope”.
When we come together, when we love like Jesus, the world will be better. This
is why this night matters, and why this child matters.
In our gospel of Matthew lesson for tonight we hear one of
the two narratives of the birth of Jesus. It is a narrative that includes all
manner of people. God among us, born in the simplest of ways, so that we can
see and live and love anew. So, “What
Will We Do With This Child?”
Hopefully, prayerfully, we will go forth and live
and love like him. For when we do, Sidney, the Tri-Town Area, and the world
will be much better. For this is why he came and believe me, it is much more
exciting than watching “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” for the 100th
time. Merry Christmas and God bless to you all! Amen.
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