Merry Christmas. It is such a joy to be spending Christmas morning with you all, and I am so glad to see each and every one of you on this blessed Christmas morn. Christmas is about joy – the joy of God’s love coming to us in Jesus, the joy of gathering as beloved community to receive the gifts of God in music, Scripture, and Sacrament, and the joy of hearing the Good News of our salvation.
Gracious God, give us hearts to be enchanted by
your love on this most holy night ☩ in the name of the Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Tonight is about enchantment. By enchantment, I mean an openness to trust that there is more to the world than meets the senses. That there is a truth, goodness, and beauty that surrounds us that is waiting to be discovered and is making itself known to us. This is a truth that our ancestors knew in their bones – that instead of us being the masters of creation, we are very much a part of it and are susceptible to forces beyond us. Sometimes these forces were called spirits, sometimes they came through incantations, sometimes through the actions of God. But we live in what some have called a buffered world – a world that has been disenchanted by rationalism, closed off from possibilities beyond what we can imagine or make for ourselves. On Christmas though, we are enchanted by Good News that a child has been born for us, a son given to us, and that he is Christ the Lord.
O God of our salvation, grant us to trust that
because of your grace, all shall be well ☩
in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
There are things in life and faith that we wonder about, even if we do not worry about them; things that we are curious about or questions that we have for which the answer is not really a make-or-break issue. That’s not to say such topics are not important and can’t have an impact on us, it’s just that they aren’t foundational to how we live life and follow Jesus. Given the season and today’s readings, I want to consider such a topic: the virgin birth.
Lord Jesus, as we await the day of your coming,
give us eyes to see your grace all around us. Amen.
If we are doing God’s work, why is the church’s budget so tight? If God cares about justice, why is there so much inequity and injustice in our society? If love is the way, then why does it seem like bullying and greed get better results? If Jesus gives us the peace that passes all understanding, why do so many struggle with depression, anxiety, and addiction? Or, in the words of John the Baptist, “Is Jesus the Messiah, or are we to wait for another?” Would it be better for us to put our trust in strength, our investments in the market, and our hopes in self-improvement plans?
Loving God, we thank you for having prepared the
way for us through your servant John the Baptist, give us grace to walk in that
way which leads to abundant life in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Have you ever noticed that is often easier to do something once someone has showed you how to do it? Whether it’s a golf swing, singing a particular melody, having a difficult conversation, or learning how to tie a knot – when we can watch or hear someone do it first, not only do we have a better sense of what to do, but we also gain confidence in knowing that the task can be accomplished. Every Second Sunday of Advent, John the Baptist appears in our Gospel text just as he appeared in the wilderness of Judea proclaiming the message – “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
