Nowhere in the Gospels is found a more glorious passage than the one read as our Gospel today. The ideas here are unique to the Gospels. The writing soars in words and thinking. The entire passage has the effect of a piece of music which stirs within us strong emotions and thinking. It leaves us breathless with awe and wonder.
Possible this is the reason the writers of the lectionary selected this reading for the first Sunday after Christmas. What tine of year, with the possible exception of easter, can inspire the kind of awe that Christmas does?
It reminds us first of the past. It takes us back to our roots. “In the beginning” it says. So begins the Torah: “In the beginning, God created . . . ” In both cases there is a beginning and a God with no beginning. God’s Spirit is always one with Him, who is to God what our words are to our thoughts. It is our means of communicating. Life flows from God an “without Him not anything was made that was made.” God creates and then nurtures what is created.
“There was a man sent from God . . .” Again, we are pulled back to our own beginnings. Moses was sent from God to free the people of Israel from the bondage of Egypt. God sent judges to rule His people. He sent Samuel to choose a King for the nation of Israel and, even with God’s blessing, the King proved to have feet of clay. Others were sent from God: Elijah, Ezra, Jonah, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Hosea, Zachariah. God even promised that one of those men would return. Still, people went their own ways in opposition to God’s ways.
It is out of this tradition, “there was a man sent from God whose name was John.” He lived simply. He baptized hundreds. But who was he? Was this the promised return of Elijah? Was this the One who was coming? “One greater than I is coming,” he said. “He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness to the light that all people through him might believe.”
God called people no matter what they did to get away. He loved, cared, and continued to call. He created and would not let it go. It would not escape Him, but what would God do now?
“The true light that enlightens every person is coming into the World.” The light was coming to speak of life’s realities in a time of turbulence and confusion. A time very [much] like our own now. A very young woman and her even more confused spouse are the central characters. It started with a mysterious announcement from God to the young woman. An even more mysterious pregnancy. A long ride to participate in the Roman census. A rejection at an inn. Finally, in a cave-live stable, a child is born. He grew to manhood. “He was in the World and the World was made by Him and the World knew Him not. He came to His own home and His own people received Him not. But as many received Him, who believed in His name, He gave power to become God’s children.”
God has acted in the past and now acted in the most decisive way possible. THE WORD WAS MADE MAN! Not a shadow of a man. Not something like a man! But a man! A man who could become angry; who could love and hate; who could laugh; who could joke; who could cry. Oh yes, God had acted – and in a way He had nor acted before! He showed everyone that in this one man was reflected the perfect image of God and the perfect image of man.
This man gave people something. He gave them power, but not as we know it. He showed them that power was not found in weapons, revolt, and violence, but in love. He made people who were sick, well. He gave sight to the blind. Peace and calm to those who were disturbed. He gave people life, but more than that, He gave them freedom to be. He forgave people ridden with guilt. He made people who felt worthless know they were valued and important.
“And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.” Here is the awe and wonder of Christmas. God loved His creation so much that He was willing to become part of it. He loved people so much, He was willing to die for them. He came to give people life and the freedom to live it. He offered people possibilities and hope. What more good news can we Christians proclaim to a broken confused and uncaring world! You have been given hope and freedom.
This sermon was given by The Reverend Peter Groschner on December 31, 2017