Sunday Eucharist 8:30 a.m. - Spoken Word 10:00 a.m. - Music & Live Stream
Sunday Eucharist 8:30 a.m. - Spoken Word 10:00 a.m. - Music & Live Stream
Christ the King-Epiphany, Wilbraham
The Rev. Martha S. Sipe
December 24, 2024 / Christmas Eve
Luke 2:1-20
In one home, a young girl handed her great-grandmother a badly crumpled gift bag. “What have we here?” the white-haired woman asked, as she pulled from the bag a misshapen, glitter-glistening, popsicle-stick star for the Christmas tree. Her great-granddaughter answered shyly, “I made it for you.”
In another home, a mother had one hand on a slippery turkey and the other deep inside the bird, stuffing it, when she heard her phone ring from the living room. “Can someone please get that for me?” she called out. She heard her husband answer, and a moment later, he came into the kitchen, grinning from ear to ear. “I’ve put it on speaker,” he said. “It’s for you.” “Merry Christmas, Mom,” said the couple’s daughter, who was stationed overseas.
In yet another home, a young couple stood close together by the Christmas tree. “I want to ask you something,” whispered the one to the other. He reached into his pocket and took out a small box with a tag marked “For you,” handing it to his beloved. “Will you marry me?”
I made it for you. The phone is for you. The tag said for you. For you are two of the most beautiful words we hear at Christmas. And it has been that way ever since the beginning. For on that first Christmas night, an angel of the Lord spoke those two words to the shepherds. “I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.” Good news for you. “To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior.” A Savior is born for you. “You will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger – this will be a sign for you.”
Like the precious handmade gift and the special phone call and the intimate invitation to
marriage, this good news which is for you and for me is intensely personal. It wasn’t delivered by a tweet or on Facebook. It wasn’t broadcast on MSNBC or Fox News. The angels delivered their message directly to a small band of shepherds on the outskirts of the little town of Bethlehem, and while the message came in terrifying glory, it was softened, personalized, by two more beautiful words from the angels: “Fear not.” You, there in the fields, scared to death by the angels: “Fear not. God is for you.” You, there in the back row, just trying to make it through this holiday season without falling apart: “Fear not. God is for you.” You, watching from home, who feel all alone: “Fear not. God is for you.” The message of good news comes to us wherever we are. And it is for the whole world.
So, if tonight you’re feeling angry and frustrated by the injustice and oppression in our
world; if you feel like the people who make decisions are hopelessly out of touch with your life and you are powerless to do anything about it; if you are feeling hopeless and are tempted to bury your head in the sand and just wait for this moment in history to pass – then fear not. Christmas means that God is for you. Jesus came into this world as the prince of peace, who will, in time, defeat all the powers of injustice and oppression.
If you’re feeling as though you’ve made a mess of your life; if you struggle to keep your failings hidden from others; if you are weighed down by feelings of guilt and unworthiness – then fear not. Christmas means that God is for you. The one who was born this night comes offering forgiveness and pardon, wiping our slates clean with h
If you’re hurting or sad; if you have a freshly broken heart or you live with an old loss or an unresolved grief; if you’re trying to put on a brave face in the midst of your pain but what you really want to do is curl up in a ball – then fear not. Christmas means that God is for you. Emmanuel has been born: Emmanuel, God with us, beside us for companionship, behind us for support, in front of us to lead us, and embracing us in love.
Or maybe on this holy night, you are filled with peace, love, and joy; you are amazed by the gifts of love you have received and been able to give; you are awestruck by blessings too numerous to count and gratitude too deep to express. Perhaps you have nothing to fear. But Christmas is also for you. Because when you come to the altar tonight; whether your hearts are heavy or light; whether you believe with all your heart in the child in the manger or you’re having trouble getting your head around this whole God-come-to-earth-as-a-baby idea; no matter. When you hold out your hands to receive to receive Christ’s body and blood, you will hear again these words: this is for you. You need never be afraid: I AM for you.
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