Much like all the characters in the
story we just witnessed – the wise men, the shepherds, and even the unruly
animals present on this holiest of nights – we too have been drawn to one place
by a light – the birth of Christ Jesus, the Light of this World. We too have,
in some way, been magnetically pulled in to witness the mystery that lies at
the center of this drama. And just as the original cast came together, each
with their own unique concerns, so too do we who are gathered here this evening
have our own reasons for coming… We come for the hope and transformation that’s
found in the birth of God-with-us!
But, none of us can fully understand
our need for this hope OR the significance of Christ’s birth, unless we first
pause to hear the rest of this story we’ve just witnessed. For, yes, it is true
that there is a cuteness and familiarity to the first Christmas—with all its
angels, and swaddling, and cuddly barnyard animals—but… there also was a
harsher side to the world into which Christ was born.
For, much like the world we know, it
too had real people, who experienced real pain and struggles. And they also had
to contend with violence, corruption, and prejudice. And we catch glimmers of
this when noticing just why it was that Jesus’ family was traveling to
Bethlehem in the first place. For Jesus’ people were being taxed and controlled
against their will by Rome’s invading armies! And so, as is true of much of
human history, we see that the setting of this first Christmas was neither
serene nor without its challenges.
But it was into this darkness that
Christ’s light first beamed! And, I think, knowing of these struggles can help
us understand why the Magi, shepherds, and even the animals sought refuge in Christ’s
light… and maybe a little about why we too draw near. Maybe we can even see some
of ourselves in the concerns of these characters... For instance, I envision the
Magi as society’s “successful people” – those who commanded respect… maybe rode
the Lexus of camels, if you will... They suffered no want for food or fear of being
thrown to the streets. But… they also would have been familiar with the emptiness
of mere outward success.
As Jim Carrey, the famous actor is
quoted to have said, “I wish everyone could get rich, famous, and have
everything they’ve ever dreamed of… so they would know that it’s not the
answer.” The Magi would have understood this… for they were intimately familiar
with their own still lingering hungers for fulfillment – for the desire to
connect with others… and ultimately.. God. And so the Magi ventured out, following
the promise of this mysterious light.
Next came the shepherds—our story’s blue-collared
heroes. They worked hard, thankless jobs that still left them teetering on the
brink of ruin. They knew, first-hand, the stresses of living in this broken and
sometimes brutal world… of having to sacrifice luxuries (or maybe even meals),
so their children could receive medical care. The shepherds are they who hunger
for relief… and for justice in this world. And so the shepherds, at the angel’s
bidding, also set out to follow this promising, yet mysterious light.
And lest we forget the animals, who remind
us of all the other creatures we share this planet with, we see them too draw
near. For they represent our struggling environment, damaged by human excesses…
and from them we hear cries for temperance and God’s restoration.
The truth is, on any given day, we
can find ourselves identifying with any or all of these characters—the Magi,
shepherds, or the sheep—but with Christ and his birth into this world, we find all
our longings simultaneously gathered together and fulfilled. For Jesus is our
long-awaited salvation and hope! He lies at the source of this light and satiates
our every need! And the clues have been there… right in front of us.. all along…
for we find Jesus, this little baby, not-so-subtly laying in a feeding trough!
As if saying to us, “I’ve only ever
come into this world to be consumed! Not looked at, admired, or enjoyed from a
safe distance… but to be taken in, digested, and to become part of each one of you!”
Tonight we encounter this truth at the source of this light that’s drawn us all
together. And in this mystery of a God who came to be with us as one of us, our
prayers for wholeness and healing are answered, as are our hopes for true
communion with each other AND peace for this world!
Tonight we see that, despite our
various situations, Jesus is the hope that meets us where we are! He comes to
us despite our world’s condition. He is the light that dispels darkness… by
laying down his life for ours.
And we then are challenged to go and
do likewise… to be this for others. We are drawn together so that we can be
sent out.
And when we go… when we do so… when
we take those steps—like the magi, shepherds, and even beasts who went before
us—we discover that God’s mystery and promise will be there burning brightly
within each one of us… to faithfully light our steps along the way!
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