Loving God, we are bombarded with so many things this time of year that clutter our lives. Make room in our hearts tonight to receive your love afresh and to marvel at the birth of our Saviour; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

I don’t know if it’s a sign of age, or what, but I’ve been finding myself talking to my TV a lot lately. This happens particularly during commercials which try to tell us what Christmas is all about. Of course, none of them use the word “Christmas,” which is a further source of annoyance. If I hear one more reference to “a big holiday party” or “your holiday shopping,” I might very well lose it. “Come on, people,” I say to my TV. “If it weren’t for Christmas, you wouldn’t be having a holiday.” However, that is a whole different subject.

My main diatribes against the TV are prompted by those commercials that pretend to tell us what the holidays are all about. “The holidays are all about entertaining family and friends,” says one commercial. I find myself saying sarcastically to my TV, “I’m so glad you told me that. I wouldn’t have known otherwise!” Another ad chimes in, “it’s all about the giving.” Translation?: Come and shop at our store so that you can give the most!

The tragedy is that people start to believe these messages. Those who simply can’t afford to buy expensive gifts begin to feel that they have failed in some way. Those who don’t have a lot of family and friends or who are simply unable to entertain anybody begin to feel as though they are missing out. It seems that the reasons for people to get depressed around Christmas time have continued to multiply. Some become overwhelmed by money issues. Many mourn the loss of family members who are no longer with them. Others will spend Christmas alone. Still others will mourn the loss of traditions which they are no longer able to uphold. Meanwhile, family issues are amplified, and expectations run high for what family members are “supposed” to do. Is it any wonder that Christmas shows up as a stressor on most “stress scales”?

How far we have strayed when the birth of a Saviour becomes a depressing and stressful event! Have we forgotten the meaning of Christmas?

Many of you have probably seen at some point in your life “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” In this show, Charlie Brown tries, without much success, to direct the Christmas pageant, and fails even in a simple task like finding a suitable Christmas tree. Eventually, Charlie Brown gets so frustrated that he yells out, “Will somebody please tell me what Christmas is all about?” Do any of you remember what the response is? Linus stands up and recites part of the gospel that we heard tonight.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 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: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours!” (Lk. 2:8-14)

Then Linus concludes, “And that is what Christmas is all about.”

Christmas is about the birth of our Saviour. However, it is not just a birthday party. You see, this is no ordinary child who is born of Mary and announced to the shepherds. This is God with us – Everlasting Father – Prince of Peace. This is God becoming fragile and vulnerable for our sake. This is the depth of God’s love for us. This is the wonder of Jesus entrusting himself to us.

Tonight I invite you to focus not on giving but on receiving the Saviour of the world. He is born for our sake - born to save his people from their sins - born to share in our life so that we might share in his. Receive his love. Receive his forgiveness. Receive life in all its fulness. Only then are we able to truly give – not out of obligation but out of a glad and generous heart.

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 (Luke 2:10-11).

Amen.

The Nativity of Our Lord - Christmas Eve Luke 2:1-20
December 24, 2007 Isaiah 9:2-7
St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church
Pastor Lynne Hutchison Moore

© 2007 Lynne Hutchison Moore All Rights Reserved