A sermon for Christmas Day
Image: courtesy of BBC
Strictly Come Dancing has always offered glitter, glamour and a touch of escapism on a Saturday night. Perhaps in the disappointments, losses and struggles of this year, even more so.
And here we are: a Christmas Day like none we expected. And here we are: a community welcoming this great little one whose all-all embracing birth brings earth to heaven, stoops heaven to earth.
In the final, Bill Bailey and Oti Mabusi performed to Queen’s iconic song The Show Must Go On.
They lifted the glitter ball trophy, hours after we went into Tier 4. Bailey said: ‘It very much was a rallying call… People are going to be isolated at Christmas. This is not just a song about the arts. This is an anthem about not giving up, keeping hope, getting through this!’
Albin Polasek: Shepherds and Angels
And we too are called to not give up, to keep hope and to get through this: together.
We’ve kept going: carrying out our tasks at home, at work, amongst friends and in our community. Like the shepherds keeping watch over those things we’re responsible for.
And there have been glimmers of light: acts of kindness and generosity; phone calls and offers of help; checking in with neighbours; opening our hearts to each other in the midst of the strangeness and loss, anxiety and isolation.
Today we, like the shepherds, are called to respond to a greater hope, a brighter light a deeper love.
Nicholas Mynheer: Nativity
For although, as Isaiah describes it, it can feel as if we are in a land of darkness: of social distance, financial pressure, disrupted eduction and uncertain futures, there is a new dawn.
A child has been born for us: after the pain of labour, in the frailty of our flesh, here is love.
God acts to transform the world, to open our hearts, through the greatest power there is.
Love.
Speechless and crying to be fed; dependent and carrying all authority.
This little one is our mighty God; the source of counsel and peace.
In this little one, fear is turned to love; despair to hope; isolation to friendship; hurt to trust.
Dinah Roe Kendall: The Shepherds went to see the Baby
The shepherds seek out this little one of great love.
The heart of the good news we celebrate today is God is with us.
That God loves us and will not let us go.
Limitless love in frail flesh.
Risking all; enfolding us in its fullness.
Abundant. Unconditional.
Calling forth love.
In this little one, we see a love bridges every social distance; teaching us new body language of care.
Refusing to give up; keeping hope; getting through this with love.
Luke will go on to tell of this boy growing in wisdom and debating in the temple; eating with tax collectors and pharisees; embracing women and men, old and young; healing, teaching, forgiving, restoring.
Joseph holding Jesus while Mary sleeps
For now this little one knows the vulnerability of every human need.
This little one will bear great love in suffering, dying and rising to new life.
It is a love that wins: the Word of God with us that has the final word.
The Christ-child comes to set us free to love:
to love God; to love ourselves; to love others.
This love is the main thing: it does not leave the world unchanged.
May this love keep us going in the disappointments, losses and struggles; strengthen us to get through this with hope and perhaps a little joy too.
As we kneel before our crib, and sing joyful carols, may we ponder the wonder of this birth.
We ponder love that makes us whole; and let us give all that we are, for those who live under the shadow of darkness.
The carol at the end of today’s service speaks the earth as hard, the winter is bleak; yet the angels fill the heavens with light and song; it is Mary who cradles Jesus, kisses him; Joseph who takes him as his mother rests.
This little family cradling love human and divine: drawing us to this light of love and hope.
What can we offer or give, knowing we are loved this much?
Our hearts.
Open the door; open our hearts; ponder what we find.
You are loved.
When the miracle happened it was not
with bright light or fire -
but a farm door with the thick smell of sheep
and wind tugging at the shutters.
There was no sign the world had changed for ever
or that God had taken place;
just a child crying softly in a corner,
and the door open, for those who came to find.
Nativity: Kenneth Steven [printed in the Church Times]
© Julie Gittoes
