Bible Text: Luke 2:1-20 | Preacher: Rev. Jenn Geddes
I’m sure you all have your favourite Christmas Special. I listened to a podcast about why, even as adults, we make an effort to watch these specials, year after year. One commentator supposed that we revisit them each year “because of nostalgia and tradition. It becomes part of our fabric. It speaks to a yearning of what Christmas is supposed to be.” I have numerous favourites, from ones involving Muppets to the classic Grinch but I think my two favourites are Mr. Bean’s Christmas and Charlie Brown’s Christmas, and I think they are my favourites for the same reason. They both display an honesty about Christmas that is not totally sweet or hokey or fake or romantic. Charlie Brown, of course searches for the true meaning of Christmas and at every corner seems to disappoint his peers, including the purchase of an infamously sad looking tree. Mr. Bean, played by Rowan Atkinson does things that many might call lonely- he writes Christmas cards and then in the next scene we see him popping the cards into his own mail slot. There’s a scene in Mr. Bean’s Christmas where he is in a shop and he turns to the window display and sees a nativity set. He then persists in playing with the characters until there’s all kinds of chaos including a dinosaur (watch it??). You see, the thing is- he’s right. It was chaotic, maybe not with robots and the military guard, but certainly with the anxiety involved in birthing your first born child. And who can forget Linus’ speech in which he quotes from the King James Version of our passage in Luke. It is only after hearing about how angels spread the Good News to the shepherds that Charlie Brown’s peers understand what Christmas is all about.
It has become so familiar to us that we maybe don’t realize how breathtaking a story this is. Luke begins by saying, “In those days.” While some might compare it to the statement, “Once Upon A Time..”, this is really about a notice, and heralding to the community to collect their memories, experiences and hopes because this Galilean scene in amongst Rome and Jerusalem- the religious centre for the Jews and the civic centre for the gentiles- something huge is about to take place. It is during a time of political unrest, and a census no less. It is going to be chaotic, messy, ridiculous, frightening, and maybe a bit lonely. Mary and Joseph, after all will be exposed to the elements as they bring this child into the world. Historically when the words, “in those days” were used it was for the announcement of a great one’s birth, but it was not found within the pages of books. Rather it was announced by the Governor or Emperor. It’s like imagining the town crier saying, “Hear ye, Hear ye, a descendant of the king has been born.” But instead of elected officials making this announcement in Jesus’ birth it is brought on by shepherds.
I said it in passing but we would do well to remember that Jesus is Mary and Joseph’s first child. This may seem obvious but it was important enough for Luke to make mention of it. This is important because it reminds the first century readers, and us, that Jesus is now entitled to the first son’s birthright- which in this case is a member of the house of David. While it is the angels who state “Glory to God!”, it is that one word, firstborn, that brings to mind the fact that Jesus is the descendant of David that everyone has been waiting for.
Not only have the people of Israel waited for this descendant, but so has all of creation. Theologian Joy Moore states, “Comparisons to the universal and cosmic responses to Jesus’ birth by angels and shepherds signal that redemption is not merely for one ethnic group but for all creation… Luke[‘s Gospel] tells us that God shows up in the ordinary and the heaven’s respond in a chorus of awe.” Luke uses all the right language to get the readers to understand that something great has happened, and yet it still happens in a stable, it still spreads to lowly shepherds, it takes decades for people to understand why this is good news, and I would argue it is still taking centuries. Glory to God! For God is with us; and yet how many people even realize it. I think that this is the challenge that some classic Christmas specials face. We are drawn into all kinds of traditions, myths and desires at this time of year, and yet the true story of Christmas was chaotic, challenging and even lonely. When God is among us, is with us, it doesn’t mean that the loneliness will cease, or that sadness will disappear. When we say God with us it doesn’t mean God for us. Rather it means that the presence of God is with us in our loneliness, in our sadness, in our chaos, in our challenges. And that is the good news- it is not just for an elite few, or for one particular segment of society, but it is for all. Merry Christmas indeed. Amen.