Sermon Tone Analysis

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.

2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered.

4 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.

5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.

6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.

7 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.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

10 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: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

15 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.” 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.

17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.

19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.

20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Christmas — A Full Sensory Experience

Sight, sound, touch, and taste.

Lights, carols, warm hugs, and good food.

The 5th wheel of the senses — smell

But smell brings it all together.

Stinky shepherds out in the fields

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Cold sweet grass, sheep, a winter chill in the air

Animals in the stable, the manger trough, hay

Sweat and blood and birth

The Aroma of God — we are invited in this moment to breathe God’s presence in deeply.

To let it evoke all sorts of memories and hopes and possibilities and longings.

Scent is actually incredibly powerful at triggering the brain’s emotional receptors.

Imagine Mary breathing in deeply, locking in the scent of that moment, holding onto it with joy that savored God’s faithfulness to her.

Or Joseph

In 2 Corinthians, Paul proclaims that those who are faithful to and proclaim the good news are to God the aroma of Christ — the sweet smelling, evocative goodness of love abiding on earth.

We, friends, are invited to be that aroma, to be transformed from stinky shepherds into good news bringers.

As you celebrate Christmas this year, may you have the opportunity to see with your eyes all the joyous wonder of God’s love as it brims over in smiles, lights, candles, and the faces of people you love.

As you celebrate, may you hear the song of God, resonating in your ears and stirring your heart with gladness, inspiring and lifting you up out of any darkness, leading you to sing out as well.

As you celebrate, may you feel God’s cleansing touch, washing you with joy, sparking you with the flame of God’s Holy Spirit, lighting up and baptizing you unto a place of newness and joy in the year to come.

May you savor the goodness of God’s presence, like sweet honey on your tongue, like rich food upon your lips.

May it fill you and bless you to bless others in abundance.

And may you breathe in the aroma of God’s faithfulness in these moments.

May you, yourself, become one who carries that sweet smell out to others, sharing that divine scent with all people, bringing good news of great joy to the world that walks in darkness.

May you know Christ’s love and goodness with your whole being this Christmas, with all fullness of grace and peace.

Amen.

And may you

Charge & Blessing

Go into the night, glorifying and praising God for all you have seen, heard, touched, tasted, and smelled!

And may Christ be your light, this night and forevermore.

Amen.