Christmas Eve 2014 Isaiah 9:2-7; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-20
If Paul would have been able to “tweet” his letter to Titus, keeping in mind that it can only be done in 140 characters, it would have been something like: “The Grace of God has appeared offering salvation to all people.” Tonight, if you have a cell phone handy, I invite you to “tweet” or “text” or “message” your “contacts” and “friends” the message of Christmas which I will “tweetify” in under 140 characters at the end of my sermon.
Isaiah speaks this evening from the past, from the darkness in which Israel lives, within their time. Simultaneously, he is speaking to us in the darkness of our time. We are not unlike Isaiah’s audience because we share the darkness that they experienced. Individuals, victims of violent circumstances. Abuse of power and authority over others. Uncertainty about the future and where we are heading. Some feel as if they are under the yoke of others. But an even greater darkness overshadows us, the power of sin that enter the world in Genesis 3.
But God is up to something. God has a surprise wrapped up for us. First in the womb of an unassuming young woman, then in the crude swaddling cloth and a feeding trough. A special gift who would feed the world with Good News that would be for all people. Not just his birth, but his entire life and ministry, in his message that God loves the world so much that he sent his son to redeem it.
As Isaiah emphasizes to us, there is no darkness so dark…there is no valley so deep, no mountain too high that God cannot and will not reach into it with his gracious light and bring us peace and hope of a future of justice and righteousness.” His is a light of hope that will show over all of creation. He comes to redeem us from all ungodliness and to purify us for himself, eager to do what is good. Eager to triumphant over evil and injustice and uncertainty.
On this night, full of lights, wrapping paper and shiny new gifts, it is easy to overlook the darkness of life for 24-48 hours. But December 26th will come and the situation in our world news will not be changed. Whether we are speaking about two police officers shot in New York, or citizens like ourselves, the victims of crime and violence in the streets of our nation.
When you listen to the news, do you ever feel or think, “It seems that all we hear is bad news, which induces fear and dread? How much do you feel that you, that all of us, need to hear some good news, a good human interest story? How different would our days be if we heard more good news?”
The angel said: “Do not fear. Behold, I bring you good news of great joy.” The Christmas story is a human interest story about a Lord who is pleased to be born among the human race. Even as he is human, he blesses that human race because he is also “God with us” who keeps his promises. He is “God with us” who is in control of human history, even in places and times that might seem God is forsaken and hopeless. He is still God on our side, so we do not need to fear.
Come what may in the days ahead, we can daily open up this gift anew and be surprised by God, in startling and unexpected places and circumstances. God will not give up on you and me. God will not give up on this troubled world. That is what we celebrate, our God's surprising and incarnate gracious love of you, me and all people that we know through Jesus Christ our Lord.
With the shepherds and the hosts of heaven, we praise and glorify God for the surprising gift of his Son wrapped in humble wrappings.
So your final “tweet” of 140 characters or less for tonight is:
I bring you some surprising good news. The Grace of God has appeared,
offering the light of salvation and hope, God’s love and peace to all.
Amen.
