Roger's Postings

Friday, December 23, 2011

Luke 2:15-20.              True Christmas response!!!                 25/12/11

 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

 A blessed Christmas to you all. Again we are reminded of what makes Christmas a truly great time of the year. It is much more than presents, parties and holiday break. Despite the hollow outward revelry and Christmas cheer, there is here something very deep and powerful; life-changing and life-giving in the message of Christmas; something that really does give peace, joy and hope to our lives. Here today we are celebrating a truly magnificent event that has turned the world upside down and changed the lives of countless millions of people.

 And it all had its beginnings two thousand years ago in little village in country Israel: In a stable in the back of an inn. The first news of this tremendous event was given to lowly shepherd on the hillsides outside of this little village. Yet the impact of this seemingly insignificant event has gone world-wide and carried forward throughout time, to change the lives and histories of many, many people.

 It is interesting to focus on the response of those ordinary people in that event; and of people down through the ages; as well as that, what our response is to this wonderful ‘Good news of great joy.’ Certainly across our nation the attitudes and actions surrounding Christmas are quite different from what we have recorded here about the shepherds and Mary. As a result, the good feelings of Christmas, for many, is shallow and short-lived.

The reality of Christmas is still there but the impact is not. Jesus has come into the world whether people believe it or not. He is God’s only begotten Son whether people accept him as such or not. He is the Christ – that is the Messiah – the one God had promised throughout Old Testaments times that he would send to save his people who had fallen into sin and deep trouble. Here in Jesus is this very one, who then goes on to die on the cross; taking the punishment that everyone of us deserves, on himself, so that God could forgive us all and accept us back into his family and so that we can live with him forever in eternity. This is all for real. It is true, beyond any shadow of doubt, yet the response of so many is to ignore and even poo hoo it.

 However, think of the shepherds out there on the hillside: yes sure it would have rocked them to the core to see and hear the angels that night; but they didn’t shrug it off as no big deal; they didn’t make up the excuse that they had work to do and that their employer would not have been happy if he knew that they were going to leave the sheep to the dangers of the predators that were around. Nor did they hesitate and say to themselves, well look we’ll leave it till tomorrow, or next week or next year. No, they said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

 They heard the message and they knew it was important. This was the Lord’s message to them: “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Coming from him meant that it was obviously of vital importance. This was not something to be ignored or put off to another time. Even though it was only a baby and only in some backyard stable and not a palace, this could not and should not be by-passed or passed off as a fairy tale.  

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. They didn’t just go, but their hurried off to see and be with this one who was so great and important. They were not put off by the lowly stable, or the fact that he was only a baby, or that it would be boring. Here was God come into their vicinity and they, I am sure, went to receive the blessings that he had for them. They also would have went there to worship him.

 And it did not stop there. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. Yes, they understood very well the importance of what they had seen and heard and so they wanted others to know it also. They did not hold back because of the fear of being ridiculed for telling such a ridiculous story. I mean, ‘who has seen a hold host of angels. They obviously had too much to drink. Then a great king being born in a stable; now this is just stupid.’ No they went out despite all of this, because they knew that this was the message that we all need to know. It was for real, and everyone needs to know it, so they told as many as they could.

 The other wonderful response that we hear in this reading is that from Mary herself. She treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. She adds all of this together with everything else and builds up and holds dear all of these things that are happening; and continually thinking deeply about what God is doing here. For her too, this was all something that was truly amazing and so very important. So with deep humility and reverence she treasures it all and ponders over it.

 From the responses here, of the Shepherds and Mary, we see already that there is something happening that is hugely significant and important here that would and has impacted on the whole of humanity throughout all time. And as history continues on we can see more and more the depth and greatness of what is happening. For this baby grew up and then performed miracle after miracle and explain God’s Word to the people to show that he truly was the Son of God come into our world. But even more importantly he then allows himself to be led to the cross to die. To die for us all: taking the punishment that we deserve, on himself, so that God would not hold our sin against us.

Then to the absolute amazement of all, he rose again from the dead three days later. Now all can be assured that all of this is for real: it is much more than a made up story: it means that there is salvation and eternal life there for each and every one of us who are connected to this Jesus. Now there is real peace, joy and hope for us all. This is amazing. This is the most wonderful news that humanity could ever hope to hear.

 From there the response has continued to be just as amazing. Those early Christians have shown us the tremendous change that comes of people and nations as they believe and trust this Good News. They were more than willing to rush to get be where they could hear more of this Jesus and to receive the gifts that he has for us all in his Church. The Word and Sacraments, prayer and song, fellowship and service to one another were eagerly sought by them and many down through the ages to this very day.

 Many of them have then gone out in their daily living to share this Good News with the people that they come into contact with: Wanting them to know of this amazing thing that God has done for us all through Jesus Christ. The result is that across the world millions of people have come to know and believe this Good News. Two thousand years later millions of people are still being transformed by this Jesus Christ whose birth we celebrate here again.

 Even in our own country where most say they no longer believe, there is still an understanding that Christmas is something special: it is still something that has to be held onto, even though they do not want to acknowledge the true significance and importance of it.

 But what about us, here today, again we have heard the message: “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” We have heard again of how this Jesus and what he has done for us, is of such great importance to us all.

 So surely, we too, will want to week in week out, rush to see and receive this one who has done all of this for us. We too will want to, treasure up all these things and pondered them in our heart. And we also will spread the word concerning what has been told to us about this child. Christmas again has reminded us of just how tremendous God’s gift to us really is. May we now continue to celebrate and appropriately respond this this great news that is commemorated here today. A blessed Christmas to each of you today and each day of the rest of your lives.  AMEN.

 Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish


0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home