Nativity of the Lord, Christmas Eve—Proper 1

In O Little Town of Bethlehem the first verse ends with this profound statement

In thy dark streets shineth

the everlasting light;

the hopes and fears of all the years

are met in thee tonight.

We’ve talked a lot about the theme of light and dark

and about how in order to really understand Christmas we need to be honest about the darkness that is in the world … and in us.

That might be a little easier to do this year

The darkness feels a bit closer, and little more difficult to ignore

We’re confronted with the REALITY that the world is not as it should be

Sickness and death, hatred and violence, injustice and oppression

these are the symptoms of a disease that has infected all of creation

Scripture names that disease sin

Which is our rejection of the God of love who created all things good and desires peace (shalom) for us

We’ve turned from him

And turned inward upon ourselves in self-centeredness

turning against one another

entangling ourselves more and more in the darkness

Individually and collectively

Still enough light shines through sometimes to kindle our hope that everything’s not lost

That there is some purpose

That peace can be a reality

That goodness and beauty can be restored

That there’s some future possible where things are set right again

And as followers of Jesus we believe that our only hope for this cosmic healing of creation lies in the redemptive work of God.

We participate with him in his work

But we’ve shown we can’t fix it on our own

And his redemptive work ALL HINGES on one person, the promised messiah

The prince of peace who would come and reign over all creation with justice and righteousness

Through him all things will be made new

HE will do it

And so this Christmas hymn has it right about the small town of Bethlehem

All of humanity’s hopes and fears converge on this moment where an infant is being born

Is it possible that THIS child can set right what is wrong?

Do we dare hope?

The answer is yes.

Because this isn’t just any child.

He is Emmanuel, God with us.

He is the Everlasting Light in in our midst.

Fully God and fully man, come to conquer sin and heal creation of its effects.

John tells us that the light of the world has entered into the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome him.

But John also tells us that many are so entangled that they prefer the darkness.

Which is a reminder to us to not only remember the light of the world this Christmas, but to receive him, to claim him, to welcome him into our lives and say “have it all, make me whole again”.

“Let every heart prepare him room” says one hymn.

Or, as O Little town of Bethlehem phrases it

How silently, how silently,

the wondrous gift is giv’n!

So God imparts to human hearts

the blessings of the heav’ns.

No ear may hear his coming,

but in this world of sin,

where meek souls will receive him still

the dear Christ enters in.

In this meek, difficult, abnormal Christmas, this year more than any other, let’s open ourselves to receive him.