Christmas Day Sermon
Hebrews 1:1-12
John 1:1-18
Let the words of my lips and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Amen.
There are many sentiments and slogans that float around during the holiday season. Many are cute, some are schmaltzy, others we could do without. But, one thing that is for certain, many of us feel a great desire to be generous with financial and material gifts that we do not act upon during the rest of the year. Those who look upon the homeless with suspicion and fear in July, will mysteriously send a big check to the local homeless shelter. From Thanksgiving through Christmas, people purchase toys for strangers, send money and food to food pantries, and give support in many other different ways to lots of helping organizations.
We can add to the list of sentiments and slogans that “this is the season for giving.” I have helped out at Food Pantries and various other ministries. I can assure you that every bit of generosity that is extended is greatly appreciated.
When we find ourselves in a position to be generous, we should be proud in the best sense of the word that we are using the resources that God has given us to bless those who are less fortunate right now. I do believe that we are blessed by God as we give generously.
While giving, especially with a joyful heart, is essential part of loving our neighbor, we must understand that today, we learn a very different lesson. Today is about receiving. On Christmas Day the church acknowledge that we are receiving a gift that is essential to our life and if it did not arrive unbidden, we would not know to ask for it. The Giver on this day is God. We are totally, completely, and only, receivers.
The Lord God, in his mercy, has blessed us with the gift of His Son. John 1says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth…And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
The Old Testament is full of promises that the Christ is coming. God never once asked if it was Okay if the Son came. God does not ask permission. God does not take a poll seeking approval or present his plan for salvation of the whole world and then request a vote of confidence before going forward. The gift of the Son simply arrives. The Word is born of Mary in a stable in Bethlehem and placed in a manger because there is nowhere else to be. The Word’s arrival is announced by the Angels. The shepherds did not seek an angelic choir performance that night. God decided that this was the right time for the Son to appear. And there He is. He will now go forward from here and eventually take up a cross for our sakes. Sacrificing himself so that our sins may be forgiven. Long before we might conclude that we have to get right with God somehow, Jesus, does that for us too. He doesn’t ask. He simply does. His death on the cross justifies us before the Father.
All that is left for us to do is to receive this gift with faith.
For those of us who prefer to give, prefer to be in charge, prefer to make decisions for ourselves, prefer to seek our own counsel, God taking charge of our salvation can be a bit of problem. To those issues of ours, God simply says, you never really were in charge in the first place, that is your sin talking, that is the lie of Satan. Despite yourself, the gift of the Son is born for you. Receive the Word as the gift that it is. He is here as an act of grace.
Frederick Buechner writes this in his book Wishful Thinking: A Theological ABC: “Grace is something you can never get but only be given. There’s no way to earn it or deserve it or bring it about any more than you can deserve the taste of raspberries and cream or earn good looks or bring about your own birth. A good sleep is grace and so are good dreams. Most tears are grace. The smell of rain is grace. Somebody loving you is grace. Loving somebody is grace. … a crucial eccentricity of the Christian faith is the assertion that people are saved by grace. There’s nothing you have to do. The grace of God means something like: “here is your life. You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn’t have been complete without you. Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can separate us. It’s for you I created the universe. I love you.” There’s only one catch. Like any other gift, the gift of grace can be yours only if you’ll reach out and take it. Maybe being able to reach out and take it is a gift, too.”
All of that is true. Including that last bit. Faith is created by the Holy Spirit. Faith comes by hearing. It is a foregone conclusion that we will receive the gift of the Word made flesh through faith that is in itself a gift of God.
My dear brothers and sisters, let us receive the Christ child in our hearts on this blessed morning, for He is born for us. Receive Him in the Word; Receive him in the bread and wine. Know that His grace is with you always. He is our greatest gift.
The peace of Christ which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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