It’s that time again, the time that confronts us each year, that calls us to once again reflect on the mystery of God’s amazing love brought to life in the infant birth of our Savior. It’s a well-known story, old but ever new, that offers both a challenge and an opportunity to witness and to celebrate yet again the mystery of God’s amazing, expansive love for humanity. So, what new can we offer? What remains to be said, to be seen, to be imagined for the sake of the waiting congregation, for the enjoyment and even the awe of the people who have gathered to bear witness again to the birth of the Redeemer of the world?
The selected text for this Christmas Day overlaps with the selection or perhaps reinforces the story of our Savior’s birth. Yesterday, we heard once again the decree proclaimed by Caesar Augustus that sought to give witness to the power of his position. As Caesar, he sends a message that requires the people under his rule to respond by gathering in response to his directive.
His demand for an accounting of those he considered his subjects, was indicative of his power over the people. He specified where and how the people should gather so they could be numbered as a representation of his wealth and position in his world, and their response changed their lives in tangible ways. Certainly, it impacted the movement of the community, including the one who had been selected by God to carry and bring forth the human Jesus.
In like yet unlike manner, God sends a message to the people of God that also requires a response that will impact their lives in significant ways. God makes a demand to certain of God’s subjects, and it serves to call forth specific action that was and is significant to those who belong to God, and that has the power to change lives—theirs and ours. We recognize the significance of the angel’s message to the shepherds as it got them moving to take the selfsame message forward. They are words of life, a message of new life sent by God, that spoke joyfully of a Savior for all humanity. But there is one element of this story that, in my opinion, has not been a predominant factor or recognized element of the shepherds’ story.
Luke 2:9b says: “The glory of the Lord shone around them.” In this simple statement, we are confronted with the very element of the divine that serves as the guide to our lives, namely light. The beginning of John’s gospel makes the powerful claim that God is light, and that the coming of Christ into the world was not only as light that overcomes the darkness that keeps so much of the world in thrall, but also as light that cannot be overcome. Here in Luke’s gospel, the shepherds are confronted first by the light of God manifested in the appearance of an angel, who shines on them so overwhelmingly that they are not simply afraid, but terrified.
Consider the fact that as shepherds, they carried out their duties in the darkness of night and were privy to seeing and experiencing signs and wonders in the skies and in nature, especially at nighttime. Yet, not only did the light that appeared with the angel get their attention, but the extent or perhaps the density of the light was of such magnitude that the shepherds were deeply fearful. The light that shined on them moved them so far from their comfort zone that they had to stop and give the angel their full attention. And then the light was further magnified as the single angel was joined by a chorus, also glowing with light as they sang their praises in honor of God’s majesty, power, and love.
This story of the shepherds that we sing about each Christmas reminds us that in Jesus Christ, we are presented with the peace of God that passes all understanding. We celebrate with the angels singing glory to God in the highest, but there is no direct mention of the light of God that comes with the peace Christ’s presence offers.
I believe it behooves us to also use this text, which gives witness to the light of God that has come into the world, to offer praise to God for the light that not only marks the coming of Jesus as Savior, but also offers all people the antidote for the darkness of sin that is part and parcel of all humanity. The message of light that is embedded in this story of the shepherds is, and should be, a source of great joy for all people, especially in the present times that seem to offer too many messages and situations of darkness.
Nationally and globally, there are too many instances of oppression and injustice, of war and other forms of conflict, of hunger and death, as communities and cultures, individuals and groups suffer their consequences. People of every ilk seem to find more and more ways to dismiss efforts that foster peace, that in hope bring us into the light, and instead hold fast to the tenets of separation and dissension that pit groups against each other. Sadly, in many places where such a situation prevails, the message of this text is being read in this season without recognition of its intentional call to experience the light of God and accept the message of God’s saving love for their lives.
The shepherds and the angels in this text serve the same purpose, and both offer an example that we, who have accepted the grace of God made real in the birth of the Christ child and our redemption from sin through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, need to emulate as we seek to navigate the challenges of our world. The light of God that shone on the shepherds on that first night when Jesus was born continues to shine on us as we strive to live into the peace and joy Christ gives. We, too, like the angels and the shepherds, have a message to offer the world. The substance of our message is that we have the light of Christ shining on us always, which impels us to give glory to God in the highest heaven. And for that we say, thanks be to God.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Creator God,
We rejoice at the birth of your son! With Mary, Joseph, and the wise men, we delight in the celebration of Jesus’ glorious arrival. Amen.
It’s that time again, the time that confronts us each year, that calls us to once again reflect on the mystery of God’s amazing love brought to life in the infant birth of our Savior. It’s a well-known story, old but ever new, that offers both a challenge and an opportunity to witness and to celebrate yet again the mystery of God’s amazing, expansive love for humanity. So, what new can we offer? What remains to be said, to be seen, to be imagined for the sake of the waiting congregation, for the enjoyment and even the awe of the people who have gathered to bear witness again to the birth of the Redeemer of the world?
The selected text for this Christmas Day overlaps with the selection or perhaps reinforces the story of our Savior’s birth. Yesterday, we heard once again the decree proclaimed by Caesar Augustus that sought to give witness to the power of his position. As Caesar, he sends a message that requires the people under his rule to respond by gathering in response to his directive.
His demand for an accounting of those he considered his subjects, was indicative of his power over the people. He specified where and how the people should gather so they could be numbered as a representation of his wealth and position in his world, and their response changed their lives in tangible ways. Certainly, it impacted the movement of the community, including the one who had been selected by God to carry and bring forth the human Jesus.
In like yet unlike manner, God sends a message to the people of God that also requires a response that will impact their lives in significant ways. God makes a demand to certain of God’s subjects, and it serves to call forth specific action that was and is significant to those who belong to God, and that has the power to change lives—theirs and ours. We recognize the significance of the angel’s message to the shepherds as it got them moving to take the selfsame message forward. They are words of life, a message of new life sent by God, that spoke joyfully of a Savior for all humanity. But there is one element of this story that, in my opinion, has not been a predominant factor or recognized element of the shepherds’ story.
Luke 2:9b says: “The glory of the Lord shone around them.” In this simple statement, we are confronted with the very element of the divine that serves as the guide to our lives, namely light. The beginning of John’s gospel makes the powerful claim that God is light, and that the coming of Christ into the world was not only as light that overcomes the darkness that keeps so much of the world in thrall, but also as light that cannot be overcome. Here in Luke’s gospel, the shepherds are confronted first by the light of God manifested in the appearance of an angel, who shines on them so overwhelmingly that they are not simply afraid, but terrified.
Consider the fact that as shepherds, they carried out their duties in the darkness of night and were privy to seeing and experiencing signs and wonders in the skies and in nature, especially at nighttime. Yet, not only did the light that appeared with the angel get their attention, but the extent or perhaps the density of the light was of such magnitude that the shepherds were deeply fearful. The light that shined on them moved them so far from their comfort zone that they had to stop and give the angel their full attention. And then the light was further magnified as the single angel was joined by a chorus, also glowing with light as they sang their praises in honor of God’s majesty, power, and love.
This story of the shepherds that we sing about each Christmas reminds us that in Jesus Christ, we are presented with the peace of God that passes all understanding. We celebrate with the angels singing glory to God in the highest, but there is no direct mention of the light of God that comes with the peace Christ’s presence offers.
I believe it behooves us to also use this text, which gives witness to the light of God that has come into the world, to offer praise to God for the light that not only marks the coming of Jesus as Savior, but also offers all people the antidote for the darkness of sin that is part and parcel of all humanity. The message of light that is embedded in this story of the shepherds is, and should be, a source of great joy for all people, especially in the present times that seem to offer too many messages and situations of darkness.
Nationally and globally, there are too many instances of oppression and injustice, of war and other forms of conflict, of hunger and death, as communities and cultures, individuals and groups suffer their consequences. People of every ilk seem to find more and more ways to dismiss efforts that foster peace, that in hope bring us into the light, and instead hold fast to the tenets of separation and dissension that pit groups against each other. Sadly, in many places where such a situation prevails, the message of this text is being read in this season without recognition of its intentional call to experience the light of God and accept the message of God’s saving love for their lives.
The shepherds and the angels in this text serve the same purpose, and both offer an example that we, who have accepted the grace of God made real in the birth of the Christ child and our redemption from sin through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, need to emulate as we seek to navigate the challenges of our world. The light of God that shone on the shepherds on that first night when Jesus was born continues to shine on us as we strive to live into the peace and joy Christ gives. We, too, like the angels and the shepherds, have a message to offer the world. The substance of our message is that we have the light of Christ shining on us always, which impels us to give glory to God in the highest heaven. And for that we say, thanks be to God.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Creator God,
We rejoice at the birth of your son! With Mary, Joseph, and the wise men, we delight in the celebration of Jesus’ glorious arrival. Amen.
HYMNS
Angels from the realms of glory ELW 275
Bright and glorious is the sky ELW 301
O come, all ye faithful ELW 283, H82 83, UMH 234, NCH 135
O little town of Bethlehem ELW 279, H82 78, 79, UMH 230, NCH 133
Angels we have heard on high ELW 289, H82 96, UMH 238, NCH 125
CHORAL
Oh, how beautiful the sky, Paul J. Christiansen