Göttinger Predigten im Internet
ed. by U. Nembach, J. Neukirch, R. Schmidt-Rost

Christmas Eve, 24. December 2003
Sermon on Luke 2:1-20 (Revised Common Lectionary) by Luke Bouman

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Luke 2:1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see-- I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!" 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (New Revised Standard Version)

Prologue

Imagine humanity's longing for the Christ, In time and out of time. Journey with me to revisit the Christmas Story, with 21 st Century questions for the first century inhabitants of this familiar Gospel tale. Experience the joy of Christmas with me.

A Question for the Shepherds

Excuse me, Shepherds.
Sorry to bother you again.
I know it has been a long night,
The year's longest.
It's just that I've been out looking for God
And I seem to be lost.
Like you I spend time in a field,
Keeping watch over cubicle and assembly line,
Over flocks of a different sort than you.
But I have not seen God there in quite some time.
Sometimes I feel God near,
More often I wonder and wait, disappointed.
I know it isn't like me to ask for directions
But I've wandered too long
And the time seems just right to ask:
Can you tell me where I might
Find what I seek?

From the Shepherds comes a response
Echoing through time and place
We, Shepherds, know the search
Which occupies your time this night.
We, too, have wandered looking
But never further than our sheep.
The field ahead, not hills beyond
Were our only thought.
Then our lives were stunned and altered
By the angels simple words,
“He is born to you this day.”
And our vision was somehow broadened.
For an instant we could see.
Perhaps if you ask the angels, you might
Find what you seek.

A Question for the Angels

Pardon me, angel Choirs, I know how little
Directors like an interruption in their work.
Can YOU help me, I seem to be lost,
And you have a knack for directions,
So I've been told.
I've searched for God's light,
In the darkness of this world.
But there is so much flash and dazzle
In the beacons and the sirens of our muddled world.
They illuminate for an instant, but leave a cold trail.
Where is that light, that warms, that lasts?
Where might I see the face of God?

From the Angels comes a response
Echoing through time and place
Gods face and brightness little ones
Are too much for you to bear.
They would blind you, beat upon you,
Strike deathly fear, so far from your lights they seem.
Our light, a pale echo of the heavenly brilliance
Is stunning enough to such as you.
Our light announces God, but is not God,
And this, God always knew.
But still we rehearse and sing the song
That we have ever sung
The song the shepherds first gave ear
When darkness was undone.
It's news is God has tempered his light
And hidden it to shine within,
Subdued hues, no more no less
Than that of human skin.
You'll find it in the child that is born
To Mary and Joseph far from home.
To Bethlehem go, to ask them now,
The way to light and life for all.
They can tell you, as well as we,
How to see the face of God.

A Question for Mary and Joseph

Please don't be offended
By our tardy arrival on the scene.
We have come late from far away
And long to see God's love.
We look for love, as you do too,
In each other's eyes and thoughts and hearts.
We look to love our children dear,
And long to hear that love returned.
And yet we find that it isn't complete,
This love among us shared.
We give in part and partly receive,
And wait and wonder and suffer ill
In silence and in pain.
Our children grow and move away
And we grow weary and die.
Where is this love that has no end?
Where is the holy child?

From Mary and Joseph comes a response
Echoing through time and place.
We know the love of which you speak
We found it in our child,
Though he too, grew and moved away
And grew weary and died.
But his love did not fade,
Through time and years,
The love God gives through his own Son.
Look, the manger is empty.
The love you seek is not a child,
Nor is it found perfected in us.
God's own love was lived and died.
Seek him who loved unto death on a cross.
There you will find the holy Child.

An answer from Jesus

No need to question me,
Says Jesus from close by,
And no need to seek.
Do you not know that I hear
As I have heard, your longing
Throughout the centuries.
Have you sought me
In your work, and your children
In the lights and in the fields?
Did you not find me, for I am there?
I thought not, I know not.
Or else your search would be ended.
So instead I have sought you.
I was born as a child like you to be near you.
I lived among you so that I could have a face
That you could look upon and not die.
The face of a child so full of love,
The face of one dying on the cross
With a love deeper still.
And I have found you and loved you
As I always did and always will.
In me you can see the face of God,
In me you can know the love of God,
In me you can feel the forgiveness of God,
In me you can enjoy the Peace of God,
Which the world cannot know.
For this I came, and continue to come,
For this I will come again.
So that you might be my flock
So that you might know my light
So that you share my death,
And so also share my life.
So keep the feast, this feast of love
And through the nights and days keep watch.
For I am coming among you still.
And seeing me thus will change your hearts
And open your eyes to see me more
‘Til at the last we join the feast
Of God which has no end.

Epilogue

For now our search is ended. “God with us” is born, and died, and lives forever more.

Rev. Dr. Luke Bouman, Pastor
Peace Lutheran Church
Austin, Texas
plcluke@aol.com

 


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