Christmas Eve

Isaiah 9:2-7; Luke 2:1-20

On this holy night “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.” On this holy night we come together in the gathering dark to celebrate the coming of a of a new light into the world, Jesus Christ our Lord. Tonight, we remember that Jesus Christ took on flesh and was born as one of us, that God has chosen to become incarnate and dwell among us.  Tonight, a new light dawns, and we hear again the ancient story of salvation coming into the world as we welcome the coming of the Lord.

And tonight we hear again that enduring message of hope, this ancient story passed down year after year, generation after generation for millennia, this message that has survived wars and persecutions, misunderstandings and heresies, exclusion and cooption, this message that shows us that love wins, in the face of every barrier, even in face of indescribable evil, hope always finds a way to survive.  No matter how dark the night may become, new dawn always comes.  Christmas always arrives, every year, in homes and churches around the world, without fail.

And this isn’t naïve hope or idle wishing, this hope that we remember tonight that we celebrate is powerful enough to change the lives of all who encounter it, is powerful enough to change the world.  And this is the hope that knows that no matter how dark it may seem, no matter the forces that seem to stand against us, the light will always be stronger.  Because as the light grows, darkness must always flee until everyone can see the way forward.

Tonight we get to be reminded that this hope in Christ, this light of Christ is an almost magical thing, one that defies expectations and sometime seemingly even logic.  Because the light of Christ is like the light of a candle, no matter how much you give it away, no matter how many more lights you light, your own light remains undiminished.  It can be given away freely, it can be multiplied hundreds even thousands of times over, yet that original light remains as whole and robust as ever. 

I want you to watch the light of our Christ candle spread during the singing of Silent Night tonight.  I want you to watch it spread from hand to hand, from person to person, from heart to heart, until the whole space is filled.  Because this is more than a metaphor, this is more than just a symbolic act, deep down, this is how the world actually works.  Light and hope really can and does spread from person to person, through kindness, through love, through generosity and joy, through refusing to give in to the forces of cruelty and jealousy and greed.  Love always ripples, love always grows when we set it forth into the world.

And this Good News this hope, this light is for everyone.  It is important to note that this Good News of a light shining in the darkness came first to people living in exile far from home in Isaiah.  And then again in our Christmas story tonight, this good news is not limited to the pious and the expected, the well-heeled and well prepared.  The good news of the birth of the Messiah, this great light, comes first to humble shepherds working the night shift.  To the least expected of all the unexpected people to receive welcome that day.

And this good news is for you to, no matter what brought you here, no matter if this is your first church service or your 500th, whether you feel prepared or not, whether you have experienced this welcome before or not, this Good news is for you.  There is a place for you in our song and there is a place for you at this table.  Whatever loneliness or worry or sadness or guilt you carry into this place tonight, Jesus wants to help you heal it.  And whatever joy and hope and thanksgivings you bring, Jesus wants to help you multiply them and magnify them in the world.

This Good news, these songs sung by angels are sung for you. And so together this night, no matter who we are, no matter where we are from, no matter what we brought with us today, we all hear this same good news, this same ancient story, “I am bringing you good news of great joy for all people, to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”

And this good news is yours to carry forth into the world.  Remember as you go out from this place, as you share your family dinners, as you give your presents, as you give those long awaited hugs to friends and family, as you make those phone calls to loved ones far away, that you bring that light with you.  You get to give a gift far more powerful than material things this and every Christmas, you get to give a gift of love and a hope powerful enough to change the world.

So may you receive the light of Christ this night, and may you carry it forth to all who seek to find it. Amen.

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