Loving God, you walk with us through the darkness and into the light, bringing us joy when we least expect it.  Plant the gifts of joy, peace and love in our hearts this night by the power of your Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

    I had heard about the “Long Day’s Journey into Night” before, but didn’t realize until I looked it up that it is both a play and a movie.  It is full of addictions and dysfunction and conflict, making it a very long day, indeed!  However, it has been suggested that the gospel that we heard tonight from Luke is just the opposite: The long night’s journey into day, followed by joy and celebration.

    This is especially true when we think about things from Mary and Joseph’s perspective.  After all, here is Mary – expecting and due any day now – and she and Joseph are basically forced by the Romans to travel.  Wouldn’t you be at least a little perturbed if you were about to have a baby and an occupying force gave orders that would mean travelling for at least five days on the back of a donkey?  On top of all that, they probably only wanted to count you so they could tighten their grip on you.

    Then, of course, Mary and Joseph get to Bethlehem and there is no room to be found.  While they are, of course, aware that this child is supposed to be the Son of God, they had no idea it was going to be this difficult.  The time comes for Mary to give birth, and the best place they can find is some straw in a stable where the animals are kept.  Do you really think that this is what Mary pictured when she thought about giving birth to her first child?  Yet, the story does get better from there.

    The scene shifts for a while to some shepherds who are out in the fields watching their sheep.  All of a sudden, they are surrounded by the most brilliant light, and there is an angel standing there, ready to give them a message.  They are so startled and terrified that they don’t know whether to jump up and down or run away.  In fact, they are probably expecting judgment, and even death, for shepherds were not considered to be the most trustworthy people around.  The angel, of course, realizes this and starts out with, “Do not be afraid” (Lk. 2:10).

    What follows, then, is good news.  The angel does not deliver a message of judgment, but a message of salvation.  A Saviour has been born, who is the Messiah, the Lord.  This is good news of great joy for all people.  The shepherds, then, are given a sign to look for in Bethlehem.  They will find there a baby wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.  In other words, the baby is lying in a feed box that’s normally used for animals.  Surely this is a sight that will only be seen in Bethlehem once!

    Then, as if all this isn’t already enough, a whole host of angels appear and give glory and praise to God, and speak peace to God’s people on earth.  Who would have ever thought that lowly shepherds would witness such a great sight!  Of course, once the angels have disappeared again, the shepherds are eager to go to Bethlehem and see if all of this is really true.  And there they do find Mary and Joseph, and the baby, lying in the manger.

    It is entirely imaginable that Mary and Joseph might have been having some doubts by this time.  Yet, here come the shepherds, with a wonderful story about seeing angels, and being told all about this baby, who is the Messiah, the Lord.  It is perhaps at that moment that the day begins to dawn for Mary and Joseph.  They really weren’t imagining things.  The shepherds and the angels have confirmed that this child is, indeed, from God.

    Yet, this story is not only about Mary and Joseph.  This story is about shepherds and angels and townspeople rejoicing that a Saviour has been born.  They, too, have survived the long night’s journey into day, just like 33 Chilean miners.  They, too, have seen the light in the darkness and can rejoice, even in the midst of a sinful and mixed up world.

    The Christmas story is full of joy and celebration, yet, it is not a “happy, happy, joy, joy” - “praise the Lord anyway” - and fake it even if you’re miserable - kind of joy.  Instead, this is the kind of joy that comes out of the long and difficult night, because of the Saviour who came to live among us and to share our joys and our sorrows.

    No matter what we might be going through, the angel’s message for us has not changed: “Do not be afraid; for see–I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord” (Lk. 2:10-11).  And all those who trust in him will not be put to shame.  Amen.

Nativity of our Lord (Christmas Eve)                    Luke 2:1-20
December 24, 2010
St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church
Pastor Lynne Hutchison

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