Thought for Today
Luke 2:1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should 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. . . 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.
Christmas Eve is finally here. I wrote yesterday, “In Greek, ‘the day before’ would be something like ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ ἔμπροσθεν (haymera mia emprosthen).” That ‘day before’ is finally here! Irrespective of what meteorologists try to tell us, every child knows with certainty that Christmas Eve is the longest day of the year. Although I cannot do the math or even explain the math for Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, I have long suspected that he derived E=MC2 to try to explain his own realization as a child, that on Christmas Eve one can look at a clock, read the time and then come back 3 hours later only to find that 15 minutes have gone by.
ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ ἔμπροσθεν, Christmas Eve, is not a day for science. It is not a day for mathematics. It is a day for magic and mystery. It is especially a day for anticipation. It is such a long day, because of that anticipation. Of course, as a child, I might have also been anticipating what might be in the presents under the tree.
Recently, Greta and I came across a list of some of the ideas we assume about Christmas, about Advent, and about all of this liturgical season. I will not enumerate the things on that list. We both found the whole idea disquieting. Not that we encourage inaccuracy in how anyone understands holy scripture, we do not. But Advent and Christmas are not merely restricted to facts and details.
For me, the stories about ‘no room in the inn,’ about ‘shepherds watching sheep and hearing angels,’ stories about ‘wise men, μάγοι (majoi) from the East’ all add to the true magic of what actually transpired in Jerusalem all those long years ago. The devotional in These Days this morning begins, “Many writers have imagined the night that Jesus was born.” That is true. But exactly what time of day was Jesus born? The hospital birth certificates for our children do show a time of day for their birth. My own certificate is blank on the time of day. Does the exact time of day or night really matter?
Tonight many of us will attend Christmas Eve worship services. In ours, as with many others, there will be lessons and carols. We will once again hear the familiar verses; we will once again sing the treasured carols. Like so many others we will close by singing “Silent Night” to candlelight. For us, there will even be a light covering of snow on the ground outside.
For me, much of that service will remind me of my own childhood. Not the snow. In the 70+ years I lived in Houston, we never had a white Christmas at our home. In all of those years, I only remember 1 Christmas where any snowflakes fell, and those did not stick on the ground. But the memories of those verses, of those songs still resonate in my mind. I remember sitting with my family. I remember the feeling of joy and good will filling the church. I remember the anticipation and excitement.
Tonight and tomorrow are times of special wonder, of great joy. We need to once again hear, "Luke 2:10 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." That is the true meaning of this season. That is the true wonder and magic of this season. The truth is that the Creative Word of God is incarnate in that child. The wonder and magic is the birth of Jesus, the Christ.
Stay safe, enjoy the wonder and magic, trust God,
Pastor Ray