Sermon Tone Analysis
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Title
The Mystery of the Nativity
Outline
We say “Merry” or “Happy” Christmas because of good news
What is the good news?
Hebrews has it in 3 verses
“In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the ages.
3 He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power.
When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high”
We got a taste of the prophets in the Vesperal readings
We learned about creation in the first Vesperal reading, which takes place “in the beginning” and is structured around tohu and bohu.
In the prophets we anticipate the Son, the true King.
But we also learn that he existed before creation and so under or beyond creation
In Luke we get the narrative of his entering creation:
We are now not “in the beginning” with Genesis or “in those days” with Isaiah, but in particular days when particular rulers ruled, in the time of the pax romana or pax augusta when Romans brought relative peace by force.
That force required an itinerant laborer, Joseph, to return to his home town, Bethlehem, probably because he had some type of property there - otherwise travel was not required.
Walking along with him was his pregnant wife - only Luke, who has explained earlier how she became pregnant, calls her “engaged” to indicate she was legally his wife but that he had not had relations with her.
We do not know when they arrived in Bethlehem and probably were put up in a lean-to on the roof of one of Joesph’s relatives.
But wherever they were staying, when Mary went into labor there was not enough room, so they end up in a peasant house where animals were brought in for the night.
We do not know if the animals were inside, but when the baby was born, they wrapped him properly and placed him in the manger, the one protected place.
That was how the Creator of the universe entered the human race - no pomp and circumstance there.
On the hills surrounding Bethlehem there were some hired shepherds, despised men thought to be thieves - they had no halos in Jewish eyes.
Suddenly a divine messenger appears and a great light lights up the area - the divine messenger wants to give good news that is for all peoples and it is not that Caesar won another great battle.
No, there is a Messianic King the Lord, not Caesar the Lord, in David’s city.
He is a newborn, and he is in the house the poor live in.
These insignificant men then get a celestial concert of praise.
They rush off to Bethlehem and soon locate where the baby is and went off rejoicing and telling everyone in earshot - in the middle of the night.
Probably most who heard thought they were drunk, but Mary knew enough to ponder their strange tale for years.
Brothers and sisters, the one beyond creation entered creation - that is the mystery and the good news
He did not come to societal leaders, but to a poor couple in a hovel and was announced to some disrespected shepherds.
What was called for was commitment to him a King and God, Christ and Lord.
That good news is greater than any of the battles of Caesar or the pax augusta or anything else in that age.
That is why we cry out, “Glory to you Lord God.”
Readings
Vespers
Gen 1:1-13
Is 11:1-10
Is 7:10-16, 8:1-4, 9-10
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