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THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD 2009

Let me tell you about Bubba. In the eight grade, Bubba was not like the other kids. He weighed 250 pounds at that point. But he had a beautiful singing voice. And so, when the school presented its Holiday Concert, he was selected to sing an aria from Handel’s “Messiah.” The auditorium was packed with students, teachers, and parents. There he was, center stage, dressed in red, holding a candle. As he stepped forward to begin the song, he misjudged the edge of the stage and tumbled down into the audience. Face down on the carpet. His mother who was sitting in the front row, ran over to him, and in a way only a mother could, said “Don’t worry, honey. Nobody noticed.”

Of course, everybody noticed. Nobody wished Bubba harm, or delighted in seeing him fail, but his falling was the big show.

Everybody likes the big show. Our human nature is to look for the dramatic and spectacular. We often exaggerate our own situations to make our lives seem bigger. When our lives seem mundane or ordinary, we judge ourselves as being failures or less than accomplished.

It is also in our nature to look to the rich and powerful in our society as the standard by which we should live, the mark of success, and the position to be envied and reverenced.

And when the ones we look up to come up empty-handed, all too often we try to increase our status by consuming more, and making a name for ourselves. A name that the world (or at least our neighbors and friends) will respect and honor. We of course are not the first to do this. It is a story as old as human history itself.

Along comes Christmas.

There is something interesting in the Gospel tonight. Luke records the birth of Jesus by naming some rather powerful folks (in fact, the most powerful folks in the world.) We are told a baby is born during the reign of Emperor Gaius Octavius Thurinus Julius Caesar Augustus. (Try getting that on a business card.) The next name listed is Quirinius, the governor of Syria. And then Joseph, where Luke quickly adds that he was the ancestor of the famous King David. Mary is added in as an afterthought, as the wife of a nobleman.

In this passage, one name is not mentioned, that of Jesus. Notice that the shepherds are simply told that a child has been born.

Why no name when there is so much attention to all the other lofty names? The scripture addresses the audience with Big Names because Luke knows that we are all impressed by these important people, by rich people, successful people, people with authority. We would not be so impressed with babies being born in mangers.

Yet we are told that this no-name kid is the one for whom the generations have waited and hoped. The scripture contrasts what impresses us with what is truly impressive. In humble surroundings and in ordinary origin, God comes into the world.

To drive the point home, Luke tells us that the angels are singing in the sky (something that would truly impress anyone.) But the angels begin the song by telling the shepherds “Fear Not!”

This is an odd word, fear, because it has lost much of its ancient meaning in the modern vernacular. In this context it is not so much horror, but reverence, respect, shock and awe. But the angels are telling the shepherds “Quit spending so much time reverencing us and go to this unnamed baby.”

Which they do.

And to underscore this point, we are told that Mary took these things and treasured them in her heart. Most of us, when asked “what treasure did Mary receive at the birth of her son” would immediately say “Gold, frankincense and myrrh brought by the Magi.” But the real treasure is the arrival of these simple, poor, hard-working shepherds.

If you only saw Bubba fall and the ensuing commotion the night of the concert, then you missed a teenager who was brave enough to get back up and continue on, despite the embarrassment. If you only saw the Big Show you would have missed the beautiful aria that he sang so well.

If you only look for singing angels, then you miss the God who enters our lives, often quietly and in unassuming ways. If you look only to the costly gifts, then you miss seeing the God who comes to us as a free gift. If you only look to the extravagant and ostentatious, the shiny tinsel, then you miss the God who comes to us, humble and meek.

The story tonight is the story of God that comes to us despite our distraction. God who comes to us when we least expect Him, in ways we least expect. Tonight is the story of God who knows the names of no-name people.

Christ was born for this, Christ was born for this….




		THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD 2009 Let me tell you about Bubba. In the eight grade, Bubba was not like the other kids. He weighed 250 pounds at that point. But he had a beautiful singing voice. And so, when the school presented its Holiday Concert, he was selected to sing an aria from Handel’s “Messiah.” The auditorium was packed with students, teachers, and parents. There he was, center stage, dressed in red, holding a candle. As he stepped forward to begin the song, he misjudged the edge of the stage and tumbled down into the audience. Face down on the carpet. His mother who was sitting in the front row, ran over to him, and in a way only a mother could, said “Don’t worry, honey. Nobody noticed.” Of course, everybody noticed. Nobody wished Bubba harm, or delighted in seeing him fail, but his falling was the big show. Everybody likes the big show. Our human nature is to look for the dramatic and spectacular. We often exaggerate our own situations to make our lives seem bigger. When our lives seem mundane or ordinary, we judge ourselves as being failures or less than accomplished. It is also in our nature to look to the rich and powerful in our society as the standard by which we should live, the mark of success, and the position to be envied and reverenced. And when the ones we look up to come up empty-handed, all too often we try to increase our status by consuming more, and making a name for ourselves. A name that the world (or at least our neighbors and friends) will respect and honor. We of course are not the first to do this. It is a story as old as human history itself. Along comes Christmas. There is something interesting in the Gospel tonight. Luke records the birth of Jesus by naming some rather powerful folks (in fact, the most powerful folks in the world.) We are told a baby is born during the reign of Emperor Gaius Octavius Thurinus Julius Caesar Augustus. (Try getting that on a business card.) The next name listed is Quirinius, the governor of Syria. And then Joseph, where Luke quickly adds that he was the ancestor of the famous King David. Mary is added in as an afterthought, as the wife of a nobleman. In this passage, one name is not mentioned, that of Jesus. Notice that the shepherds are simply told that a child has been born. Why no name when there is so much attention to all the other lofty names? The scripture addresses the audience with Big Names because Luke knows that we are all impressed by these important people, by rich people, successful people, people with authority. We would not be so impressed with babies being born in mangers. Yet we are told that this no-name kid is the one for whom the generations have waited and hoped. The scripture contrasts what impresses us with what is truly impressive. In humble surroundings and in ordinary origin, God comes into the world. To drive the point home, Luke tells us that the angels are singing in the sky (something that would truly impress anyone.) But the angels begin the song by telling the shepherds “Fear Not!” This is an odd word, fear, because it has lost much of its ancient meaning in the modern vernacular. In this context it is not so much horror, but reverence, respect, shock and awe. But the angels are telling the shepherds “Quit spending so much time reverencing us and go to this unnamed baby.” Which they do. And to underscore this point, we are told that Mary took these things and treasured them in her heart. Most of us, when asked “what treasure did Mary receive at the birth of her son” would immediately say “Gold, frankincense and myrrh brought by the Magi.” But the real treasure is the arrival of these simple, poor, hard-working shepherds. If you only saw Bubba fall and the ensuing commotion the night of the concert, then you missed a teenager who was brave enough to get back up and continue on, despite the embarrassment. If you only saw the Big Show you would have missed the beautiful aria that he sang so well. If you only look for singing angels, then you miss the God who enters our lives, often quietly and in unassuming ways. If you look only to the costly gifts, then you miss seeing the God who comes to us as a free gift. If you only look to the extravagant and ostentatious, the shiny tinsel, then you miss the God who comes to us, humble and meek. The story tonight is the story of God that comes to us despite our distraction. God who comes to us when we least expect Him, in ways we least expect. Tonight is the story of God who knows the names of no-name people. Christ was born for this, Christ was born for this….