Christmas Day 1 Year B

Christmas Day 1

Year

December 24, 2008

St Francis, Norris

Luke 2: 1-20

Have you ever tried to show a young toddler where something is by pointing to it? What happens? You are excited because it is something you don’t want them to miss. Look, look you say as you point to the object and all they do is look at your finger you are using to point with. No, not my finger, over there, look. Whatever it was passes and they never saw it, much to your frustration.

I think God must feel some of that frustration with us sometimes. He sent Gabriel, the messenger angel, and a whole heavenly host to tell the shepherds look, look. a manger.

The story has been told for two thousand years and God is still telling us to Look, Look!

But what is it that you and I see? Do we see a baby lying in a manger? Yes, but what is that manger scene like? Is it a babe wrapped in strips of cloth in a trough used to feed animals? Or, do we see the ox and the donkey and maybe some sheep? Is Mary dressed beautifully as she peers lovingly at the baby she just bore? Are the Angels hovering above the stall? Is Joseph in a nice colorful robe? Is the star in the east shining brightly in a cloudless night sky? Are the three kings present? How about the wise me? If so, you are not looking where the angel was pointing the finger. What you are looking at is where Hallmark cards are pointing their finger.

Why is the manger so important anyway? Luke mentions it three times in the scripture reading for tonight. There is no mention of the star or the sheep or the donkey etc. The wise men actually come on the scene about three months later. What is the significance of the manger?

The reason this manger was emphasized by the angel is so that the shepherds could find the right child. You see, there was no mysterious glow emanating from a stall or from Mary or Joseph or even from Jesus. I hate to be the one to you this but there was no glowing golden circle magically suspended above Mary’s head. The forbearers of Hallmark put that their in paintings.

A king is born. How about that? A king born in a ground floor of a house. A place where the animals are fed. And he is identified as the one lying in a feeding trough. That is what a manger really is. That is where the finger of God is pointing, saying Look, Look. All we see is the finger doing the pointing though isn’t it? We get reverent and holy thinking about it all. And God is pointing to the manger but all we see is His finger.

We always think about the Roman occupation and emperors as the elite in the society of the day when Jesus was born and it is true. But there was another elite class that is not so emphasized in this same time period and that would be the Jewish leaders or the Pharisees. If a child was born to a Roman leader, all of the ruling class would have been invited to stop by and see this future leader and to bring gifts. There would have been a decree or an announcement so all would know of the birth of such an important one. The same is true, albeit to a lesser degree of a son born to a Pharisee of stature. There would have been no mistaking who this baby boy was because of all the adornments surrounding this child. In other words, they had no need of Hallmark. They could make the scene beautiful and Holy without anyone’s help.

And another thing, who would have thought that the most important person to ever be born, would be announced to some lowly shepherd boys in the middle of the night? Yes, it is highly likely that these shepherds were boys or at least very young men. Kings should be first announced to royalty, with much pomp. Of course who could ever top an announcement by an angel … accompanied by the heavenly host at that. But then isn’t that the whole point? Rich elites announce to rich elites. Pharisees announce to Pharisees

God announces to the children of God.

This infant child, born into a world of common people will change the world as no one else has ever done. The most influential persons up to this time were influential in their might and power. They conquered all foes to assert their total dominance. Yet this child that is identified by his being placed in a feeding trough, will grow to be so important that even the concept of time itself will be based upon his human existence. All history is recorded either before or after his birth. Before the Christian era or after. B. C. or A. D. In the year of our Lord.

The pointing finger is the manger. But the manger is of no importance, itself. The contents of the manger are the beginning of time. A new beginning. This child will grow into the king of all creation. Luke will tell the story of Jesus coming into that kingdom.

As Christians who love our church we too, need to realize that our church is also just a pointing finger. Our church is at its very best when it points the way to Christ. We need to look beyond the church itself. Quite often it is the same mindset they use at Hallmark that makes a church. It isn’t wrong by any stretch of the imagination to have a beautiful, ornate church. We should always, put our best foot forward for God.

But whether our churches are plain and simple or ordained with gold and intricacies, the church is like the manger…a place to show us the direction … a place to begin or renew our relationship with the Son of God. As I look at our church tonight, I am inspired by its beauty. The bows and greenery and candles and incense are all signs of our celebration of this most blessed birthday. It is quite appropriate for us to put on this finery to once again welcome the coming of God’s very own child into humanity.

The celebration would be no less meaningful, though, if all we could see was the manger. The contents of the manger are where God is pointing. We are here tonight because of those contents of the manger some two thousand years ago. No matter how Hallmark packages it. No matter how St. Francis church packages it. This is the time and this is the place that the light of the world comes into humanity. Whatever the setting;  It was a new creation two thousand years ago. It is a new creation tonight. It will be a new creation next year and every Christmas that follows. Don’t just see the manger. Don’t just see the pointing finger. Look where that finger is pointing. See the light of God, coming into the world and celebrate this Christmas.

Amen.