Luke 2:1-14 [15-20]
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus
that all the world should be registered. This was the first
registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All
went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went
from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called
Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He
went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a
child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver
her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped
him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for
them in the inn.
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields,
keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the
Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they
were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be
afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the
people: to you is born this day in the city of David a
Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for
you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a
manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of
the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the
shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing
that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So
they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the
manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been
told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed
at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these
words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been
told them.]
If you’ve ever been in a
play or live production, I’m sure you have experienced the excitement and
vulnerable state of performing in front of a crowd and trusting that you and
your fellow actors remember their lines. After all the rehearsals, all the
costume fittings, all the studying of lines… eventually the seats will be
filled, that curtain will rise, the music will start, and the beginning line
must be spoken…because as they say in theater, “The show must go on!”
Throughout Advent we have
waited for the arrival of Emmanuel “Christ with Us” who will bring the blessing
of God to the whole world. The gospel of Luke brings our Advent journey of
hope, peace, joy and love to fullness and engages with people in a way that is
tangible and real – Christ with us.
In the account of Jesus
birth, we have heard how the hope of God is lived out in and thorough the lives
of people – all sorts of people like: from the Emperor, to Joseph and Mary, and
shepherds watching fields by night… each and every person is an important part
of Jesus’s story.
The birth of Jesus
connects biblical history of psalters, prophets, kings, shepherds and gentiles
and comes into being with the help of this vast cast of characters. Jesus is
the lead of God’s passion play that is only made possible by the inclusion of a
varied and colorful human cast.
·
God in all God’s strength, power and might
– places all his hopes for humanity in the hands of humanity, building a
foundation of relationship.
·
God comes towards people – engages with
the imperfectness, beloved-ness and vulnerability of people.
·
In this story of Christmas - God invites
all of us to take an essential role in carrying the hopes of God, because the
show must go on!
·
In the amazing story of Jesus birth, God
entrusts his hope for humanity, Jesus, to the lives of imperfect men and women
– to deliver Jesus the Christ - Emmanuel.
This Christmas, we may
wonder what our place in the story of Jesus. We may feel like anxious actors,
not sure of our lines. We may hope that our performances are ones that lead to
acceptance and encores. We may hope that the run of our passion play is long,
beloved and well-known. But in this passion play, there is God with us. In each
of our lives, God comes to us, calls us into the family of God; where who we
are is wrapped in the grace so that we can live out God’s call for each of our
lives. Follow God’s call, does not require perfection – but faith in Jesus the
Christ; who promises to ALWAYS be with us – this is Christ Emmanuel.
Jesus’s birth fills us
with the inspiration to take on whatever stage, whatever place we have been
called by God to serve. The dramas of life are many, but the beloved-ness of
God for people is eternal. Jesus – the Immanuel - is always coming to us,
calling us to the show of life that is both challenging and exhilarating.
In the words of writer
Alexander Pope:
There are no small parts or small actors in the
passion play of God – we all have an important role to live. As Jesus is
evidence of God’s commitment to hope and relationship with people – we are
called to take our places and roles on the stage of life; in grace and joy
knowing that God’s show must go on and Jesus, Emmanuel, is always with us.
AMEN
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