Rev. George Miller
Dec 25, 2022
Luke 2: 8-20
Our minds are amazing things, made to process information in a way that’s
quick and simple.
One way they do this is the things we see everyday eventually become
almost invisible. We get used to them,
so we no longer have to process them.
For instance, the big, beautiful oak in front of my cozy cottage. I see it
every day, but it’s not until I go out for a night walk or come back from a
vacation that I actually “see” and appreciate how magnificent it is, the limbs,
the Spanish moss, the height.
Same with the Christmas story. We’ve
heard it so many times, seen so many depictions, that we think we know the
story, only to discover that we’re just starting to know the story.
We celebrate Jesus’ birth with a tale so familiar, that it feels comforting.
Shepherds in the night greeted by a heavenly messenger as the sky lights
up with the glory of our Creator.
The shepherds receive the Good News and run to the manger where they see
Mary, Joseph and the holy child.
Such a well-known story. We think-
of course there were shepherds, of course it was night, of course it was a
manger. What else could it be?
But since Jesus is revolutionary, so is his birth. Not only did it involve Joseph making a
radical choice and Mary taking a treacherous journey, it involved unexpected
people.
Think about it.
If you were God, and you were fulfilling ancient prophecies, sending your
Son to be King of the world to save the people and lead them into glory, who
would you send your messenger to?
Shouldn’t it be to the highest-ranking priest at the Temple, during Sabbath
worship with everyone in attendance?
If you were God, giving the best news the world has heard, wouldn’t it be
to the King of the country, in the palace with banners, trumpets, and royal
decree?
If the purpose of sending your Son was to save the people, wouldn’t you
send your messenger to the army general with all the troops are in attendance?
If it was today, and you were God, how efficient it would be to share
your message during the Super Bowl half time show?
If Jesus was born today in Highlands County, wouldn’t it make sense to
let a church the size of Grace Bable or Bible Fellowship, to first get the news?
But that’s not what God does. God gives
the message at night to a few shepherds in a field.
This great news is given to the smallest audience possible, to what was
seen as the lowest class of people,
at the darkest time of day, where they are exposed to the elements and
far from any temple, palace, army barracks or community center.
To put it this way- more sheep hear the news before people do!
If this story took place in 1868 Cuba, the angel would’ve appeared to the
enslaved people on the plantation of Carols Manuel.
If this story took place in Germany 1938, the angel would have appeared
to the Gypsies at their seasonal camp.
If this story took place in Florida 1968, the angel would have appeared
to the cucumber pickers in Okeechobee.
If this story took place in the Dominican Republic, the angel would have
appeared to the Haitian community.
If the angel was to come to Sebring today, it would not be to Chief Blackman,
or Mayor Shoop, or Alan Jay or even me, but to be the migrant workers in the
orange groves.
When we step outside of our comfort zone, the Christmas story isn’t what
we think it is. It doesn’t make sense in
terms of world logic or those who think in terms of “I’m better than you.”
But in other ways, it does make sense.
It does make sense that God would send a message of hope to folk who the
world sees as hopeless.
It makes sense that God would bring light to those in literal darkness.
It makes sense that new life would enter in when others are asleep.
Think about it, think of your own life.
When have you felt the most alone?
When were you the outsider?
When were you surrounded by darkness?
When have you been vulnerable to the elements of life?
When were you up and awake when the rest of the world was asleep?
When have you felt the furthest from another, even if they were in the
bed beside you or you were in a house filled with family?
Looking over my life, the times I felt the loneliest was when I was in a
store full of folk, surrounded by smiling faces while shopping for presents.
Can it be said that when it comes to feeling like an outsider, feeling
like we are alone, feeling like we can’t fall asleep because our minds are
racing with worry, we are all shepherds?
Is it fair to say that no matter how rich we are, no matter how powerful
we are, no matter what role we play, no matter who we are or what we do-
We still get cold when it cold?
Lonely when we are away? Worry
when someone gets hurt or sick? Feel
like heck when a loved one dies?
Is it fair to say that no matter who we are, we all have moments in which
we feel like we are by ourselves, we are in the dark, and we are victim to
whatever circumstances that life throws our way?
Is it fair to say that we have all been the shepherds, will be the
shepherds, and may even be the shepherds right now?
And when you are a shepherd, when you feel like a shepherd, that’s when you
need the Lord’s light the most.
That’s when you need a message from Heaven. That’s when you need to hear angelic songs to
lift up your soul.
The Christmas story can seem so comfortable, but it’s not. It’s not cozy, it’s not neat, it’s not drama
free.
The Christmas story is about how God enters into our lives via situations
that are not ideal, how God enters our lives that are not what we planned.
The Christmas story is a reminder that the presence of Jesus often comes
to us at the moments we feel the most alone, the most rejected, the most in the
dark, and the coldest of heart.
The Christmas story isn’t about perfect people having the most perfect
life.
It’s a validation that life is messy, life is unexpected, life is not
what we always hope for…
…but there God is, and there God will be.
And when Jesus enters our lives, we can’t help but to move and act in a
way we never imagined a few moments before.
Amen and amen.
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