Christmas Day - more than just a memory

 

Christmas Day

I heard a comment recently that BC and AD were going to be redefined from “before Christ” and “Anne Domini” (the year of our Lord) to Before Covid and After Delta.

Yes it’s true that history in the immediate term will be forever remembered as a time of lockdowns and restrictions.

This pandemic will be remembered for all the wrong reasons and will rewrite our modern history books.

However the real BC and AD belongs to Christmas, the day that changed our world forever through the birth of Jesus Christ, but in a good way.

In time Covid and its memory will fade and it will be just that – a memory.

But the birth of Jesus Christ has changed history forever for the good of all – as the angels proclaimed – I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. The birth of Jesus is more than just a memory as it has been over 2000 years since the birth of Christ and despite rumours of the demise of Christianity and the church it continues to survive and grow.

Covid was very difficult for the church but it could have been even more difficult.

We learned to adapt with technology.

We didn’t let the regulations become too difficult as people volunteered to sanitize churches and develop the technology we needed to livestream, do QR codes and a host of other innovations.

We were prepared to adapt away from traditions – individual cups, recorded music, booking for church, social distancing, staying seated while the bread and wine was brought to you, the wearing of masks.

We were given some freedoms other gatherings weren’t such as allowing services for unvaccinated members.

It wasn’t easy but whatever we could do we found a way to do it.

We zoomed for morning tea, bible studies, confirmation and meetings.

We learnt to adapt to the circumstances surrounding us and were prepared to change and even sacrifice and we did it because of our love for the church and each other.

To me that is Christmas in a nutshell.

God too had to adapt to circumstances that confronted him and he did so out of love.

Jesus said that God loved the world so much that he sent his one and only Son so that whoever believed in him would not perish but receive eternal life.

God loved us so much that he did not want us to perish.

And Paul says the same thing about God and his love for us that required him to adapt to the circumstances facing him:

In Romans 5 he says - God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Love moves us to do whatever we need to do.

As we celebrate Christmas today with our friends and family whom we love we are asked to spare a moment for those for whom this Christmas is not going to be such a celebration.

We have those who don’t have friends or family to celebrate with.

There are the homeless.

There are the unemployed who cannot afford the celebrations.

Those whose friends and family are separated because of border closures – nationally and internationally.

Those who are in isolation – those in hospital because of Covid.

And let us also remember those who have chosen not to get vaccinated who are unable to celebrate with friends and family who are concerned or compromised by that decision.

There are those who would love to be worshiping with us but for various reasons may not be able to including concerns for their health.

If this pandemic has taught us anything it is the value of family and relationships especially those who could not see their family because of the 5km limit or the limit on house gatherings, restrictions on visits to hospitals and nursing homes to see loved ones.

And for many restrictions of some sort still affect them.

Jesus knows the challenges we face – rejected at birth because there was no room at the inn.

Forced to flee to a foreign land because Herod wanted to kill him.

Rejected by his hometown when they ran him out of town.

Handed over to be crucified by his own leadership.

Abandoned by his disciples at his arrest.

Denied by his dearest friend and disciple 3 times.

Feeling abandoned by his own Father.

But through it all Jesus love for us never faded.

In fact at his death he pleaded with his father to continue to love those who put him to death asking him to forgive them.

And all of this because 2,000 years ago God loved the world so much that he sent his Son to us knowing that this is what we would do to him.

This Christmas let us look for ways that we can appreciate what we have.

The friends and family.

But let us also look for ways that we can share the love of Christmas with those for whom Christmas may not be joyful.

A phone call – a card – a small gift – anything that reminds them that they are not forgotten either by us but especially by God who loved them so much that he gave his one and only Son for them.

Christmas Eve 2021 Text: John 3:16 – God’s suffering love

 Christmas Eve 2021

Text: John 3:16 – God’s suffering love

On that very first Christmas Eve as Mary began her labour pains and was preparing to give birth she discovered that her child was going to be very different. It must have initially surprised Mary, after all, she was told that her baby would be a special baby – in fact he would be God’s own son., Surely she should be privileged enough to jump any queue like a VIP who always seems to be offered a table at a booked out restaurant. But as it happened – the answer was no. There was no room at the inn.

During this pandemic the thought went through my mind that perhaps Churches should also have a privilege during lockdown. After all we are important for people’s spiritual well being in a time when people were struggling with their mental health. I presumed as a Pastor I could visit people in hospital who were unwell. Surely if a bottle shop could be deemed as necessary to be opened to help people cope, a church should have been right up there also.

But what we learned through this pandemic, as Jesus did, rejection can happen to the best of us, even God. And as much as I struggled with this realization it has actually helped me to empathise and perhaps rethink what Ministry is all about.

One of my favourite passages in the bible is a passage in Hebrews that speaks of this empathy that Jesus is able to express for us. In Hebrews chapter 4 it says - for we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

Empathy is different to sympathy. Sympathy feels sorry for someone’s suffering. Empathy feels the suffering of others. Empathy is at the heart of Christmas when Jesus says – God loved the world so much that he sent his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him will not perish but receive eternal life.

It’s been hard during these past 2 years but I think it would have been harder if the church did not suffer with the people. And through that suffering we learnt some very valuable lessons. Firstly, that like Jesus, the church is truly human. We might have thought we had a right to stay open because people need us but we learnt that our place in the world is WITH the people. As YOU suffered so did the church – so did God. But through this we found ways to stay with you. We connected through technology – through recorded services and livestream services. And even though we have returned to gathered worship we still provide these. Because these are not just for those who haven’t returned to church but for those who miss a week here or there. For those who want to hear the sermon again or listen to the hymns and songs again. You shared them with your friends and family. We have reached even beyond our membership to all parts of Australia and even overseas. And therefore through this lockdown we actually were able to break free and fulfill Jesus’ commission to us – go to all nations.

But the 2nd thing we learned was just how much you love and support the church. Even though many suffered physically and mentally and spiritually – you supported our Parish with your offferings and your viewing of our church services and praying for us. You told your friends and they also watched. You rang each other to see how you were coping. And isn’t that what the Christmas spirit is all about. The spirit of giving – the spirit of love – the spirit of sacrifice. All part of that Bible text I just read out  The love – God loved the world. The giving – God gave his Son. The sacrifice – God gave his one and only Son who died for us.

Many people questioned God during this pandemic. Why has God allowed this to happen? Perhaps we are starting to see why God allowed this to happen. We’re not there yet – we’re still making our way. Our attendances are down from before the pandemic.

We still have the challenge of vaccine certificates. But we’re going to get through this and we’re going to look back and see what God has been doing all along and maybe even understand why. We know God loves the world – that’s what began our very first Christmas – God loving the world to send his Son to us.

So there should never be a question or doubt in regards to God’s love for us. His love has already been shown for us and he will keep loving us. And through this pandemic and the suffering we’ve been through perhaps it has taught us a very valuable lesson of loving and caring for one another as we all experienced this suffering together including God. We are the body of Christ and as St Paul reminds us that if one part of the body suffers then we all suffer together. So let us keep looking out for each other because united we can get through this. And through Jesus Christ as God’s Christmas gift to us we are united with God and have the assurance that Jesus is Immanuel – God with us.

Sermon 19th December 2021 – 4th Sunday of Advent Text: Luke 1:39-55 – An unconventional God

 Sermon 19^th December 2021 – 4^th Sunday of Advent

Text: Luke 1:39-55 – An unconventional God

Today’s Gospel is a little different to others in that  it features two women dialoguing with each other and we know both of their names – Mary and Elizabeth.  Usually men are the centre focus in most of the narratives.  Women were important in Jesus’ ministry.  They will be part of Jesus’ traveling community and will be faithful to Jesus to the end, as he dies on the cross surrounded by women, including his mother Mary, even though he was abandoned by his male disciples. At the empty tomb two angels in dazzling white garments will tell the women who came to the tomb about Jesus’ resurrection even though their message will be rejected as “nonsense.”

Luke tells us that the two women in today’s Gospel trusted in the words God had spoken to them even though their husbands had doubts. It’s interesting that both Mary and Elizabeth represent two extremes in God’s actions to bring about his love by sending his Son into the world. Elizabeth was well past the time of childbearing while Mary was at the other end of the age scale, Elizabeth was married to Zechariah while Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but not yet married.

They were given a considerable role to play that involved great trust in God, putting them at odds with the cultural and religious norms of the day, especially Mary. Elizabeth was beyond the child bearing age while Mary was unwed. So what can we learn from Mary and Elizabeth other than the importance of both of them in the work of God.

Firstly we see with both Mary and Elizabeth everything is possible with God. In fact those very words were said by the angel to Mary when she asked - “How will this happen?” How will I give birth to a child if I am not married. Notice she said – how “will” I, not how “can” I. She wasn’t doubting the angel’s message but simply asking what she must do.

The angel explained to Mary about God’s work when he said:

See, your cousin Elizabeth, as old as she is, is going to give birth to a child. She was not able to have children before, but now she is in her sixth month. For God can do all things.”

Elizabeth is the barren woman who is made fruitful by God and will give birth to John the Baptist.  Just as God created the world from nothing, God can also create life from the lifeless. This is what we need to keep reminding ourselves of as we wonder where our world is going to find healing.

Our world is going exactly where God is wanting it to go even if it doesn’t seem like it – even if we don’t fully understand it. It didn’t seem like Elizabeth would or could give birth. Where there was barrenness, God created life. Where there seemed to be hopelessness God creates hope. That’s why we need to keep trusting in God for the future of the church. A church that seems to be barren. A church that seems to be without hope.

In Elizabeth we see a God of renewal in that he removes the disgrace she felt. Elizabeth says: “In these days the Lord has shown his favour and taken away my disgrace among the people.” Likewise we know that God is always acting in ways to renew the earth, to renew the church and to renew our lives even using what we see as evil being used to bring about good, such as this pandemic, as Joseph told his brothers who tried to kill him – what you intended for evil God used for good.

So too our hope is in that God will use these past 2 years of suffering and uncertainty to renew the world. But we don’t know how long it will be for the renewal or till we see what God will do.

Like Advent, we are asked to wait patiently as did Elizabeth who gave birth in her old age – well beyond the age that women gave birth. God did the same with Abraham and Sarah giving birth to Isaac in their old age as he had promised many years earlier. We too are asked to wait patiently in the hope that what God has promised will be fulfilled.

God has promised us new life and Christmas will affirm that promise when God’s love will create Jesus’ birth.  The Word of God will become flesh and dwelt among us and he will send him again to bring us to our eternal home. We are asked to wait patiently for the promises to be fulfilled which doesn’t mean we do nothing while we wait.  Until Jesus returns we are asked to be the presence of Jesus in the world by loving our neighbour and being Christ’s presence to them.

God is a God who works in unexpected ways. In our Old Testament reading we hear that God didn’t choose the largest of the states of Israel for the birth place but the one of the smallest: You, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel. Just as he chose King David rather than one of his older or outwardly stronger brothers as God said to the prophet Samuel - “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” as he did with Mary and Elizabeth.

How often don’t we judge the work God is doing by human or outward appearances: That church has more young families – more children – more money – more members – we need to do what they are doing. Does God do what others are doing? Certainly not with Mary and Elizabeth. And that’s what Mary discovered when she wrote her song which we call the Magnificat: My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. And again she continues: He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;

I know we all desire to have a full church with every seat filled. But do we desire that so we can meet our budgets and seem to be more successful so we feel a sense of achievement?

That should never be the aim.

The aim should be so that more people hear the Gospel. And if that is our aim then that will certainly motivate us. Let us never give up hope no matter how small our congregations get – remember God chose Bethlehem in Ephrathah, who was one of the little clans of Judah.

Let us never give up because the demographic of our parish is getting older – God chose Elizabeth and Sarah well beyond youthful child bearing age to bring about new birth and a fulfilled promised. Let us never give up because it seems impossible that anything could happen – God chose an unwed young girl to bear his Son for everything is possible with God.

This Christmas let us again celebrate that God is an unusual God who choses unusual ways to bring about his plan and uses very unusual people, like lowly Mary and like you and me to bring about his mighty deeds.

Sermon 12th December 2021 – Third Sunday of Advent Text: Luke 3:7-18 – Joy to the world

 Sermon 12^th December 2021 – Third Sunday of Advent

Text: Luke 3:7-18 – Joy to the world

 

The Third Sunday of Advent is known as “rejoice” Sunday. We know that Advent is a season of waiting and today we are called to be joyful as we await the coming of Jesus Christ. Paul is quite emphatic about it saying:

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. In our Old Testament reading, Zephaniah calls on us to sing aloud and rejoice. Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!

 

We have been experiencing tough times these last couple of years and many would say there’s not much to rejoice about.  With the suffering, loss, uncertainty, and the state of our beautiful and broken world, how can we hear these words and rejoice? Like Israel, in Psalm 137, when they were asked to rejoice while living in exile in the land of Babylon: How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land? Perhaps it’s because most people would associate joy with happiness.

 

Happiness is and emotion that is often connected with what is happening to us and around us in our day to day life. And let’s be honest that day to day life has not been all sunshine and rainbows. Happiness is fleeting – it comes and goes depending on our mood, so Paul doesn’t say – be happy always – again I say – be happy.

Happiness lasts for just a moment sometimes. And sometimes the same situation can produce times of happiness and times of sadness. Sometimes it’s based on our mood rather than the actual situation at hand.

When we are discouraged and afraid, rejoicing in the Lord can be a hard sell.  But the truth is that joy should not be influenced by happy or unhappy circumstances.

 

Joy, unlike happiness can be experienced no matter what the challenges. When you look at Paul’s life I would be surprised if he didn’t have times where happiness was not present but he was able to rejoice always. The prophets looked forward to the day of Jesus coming as a time of great joy but towards the end of his earthly ministry not everyone was happy with him. Zephaniah is an interesting book of the bible: Zephaniah mentions the day of the Lord more than does any other book in the Old Testament. It speaks of the people of God’s fall to Babylon and the judgment and restoration of all humanity in the future.  It speaks of God’s time of judgment on the nation of Judah where he saw in the day of the Lord the destruction of his country, his neighbors, and eventually the whole earth.

 

Zephaniah wrote that the day of the Lord was near, that it would be a time of God’s anger at sin. Zephaniah has been called the most despondent of the prophets BUT he kept the last word for joy—joy over the Lord’s presence, joy over renewal and restoration, and joy over God’s children coming home.  Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies. Most of the prophets were asked to deliver messages of doom and gloom. Isaiah also speaks of doom and gloom but he looks forward to the Lord’s coming as a time for shouting joyfully, “Surely God is my salvation.”

 

Paul was under house arrest when he wrote his letter to the Philippians, a time many would not find much happiness.  And still, Paul could say, “Rejoice!”  We might wonder what he had to rejoice about in that situation.  Paul rejoiced because he looked forward to the Lord’s coming, but he also rejoiced because the Lord is always near.  Paul experienced the Lord’s constant presence in his imprisonment and so, he could say, “Rejoice!”  Paul carried the joy of Advent – the joy of expecting Jesus to come wherever he went – even in a Roman jail.

 

Advent is not only a season for waiting. It is also a time of preparation – a time of looking for the coming of the Lord, for the fulfillment of God’s promised restoration, for the peace that overcomes all violence, and for that perfect love that casts out fear. John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way for Jesus. He was sent into difficult, complicated times – times we might even say like we are experiencing at present.  And his message was simple: repent; turn back to God.  For John, repentance was not about punishing ourselves because of the ways we have let God and others down;

 

To repent meant turning back to God for hope, for peace, for love, for joy. Even though John’s message sounds harsh and angry: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” they do not turn and leave.  Instead, they listen to his sermon.  John will teach them about how to find joy in their life.

He doesn’t ask the people to change the world, but rather to change themselves.  He tells the crowds to consider sharing what they have with those who lack what they have plenty of.  He told the tax collectors to be honest and fair.  He told the soldiers to act with integrity and not abuse of their power. “Go home,” John told them.  Go home to your families, your neighbours, your vocations, your friends.  Go home and live your lives as generously as you can.  Be generous  Be merciful now  Promote justice now. What John is trying to teach is that we can discover joy in our own lives by bringing joy into other people’s lives.

 

John was no stranger to joy from the moment he first met Jesus – before he was born. When Mary went to see Elizabeth, Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting and the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and with a loud voice she said: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Elizabeth voiced how the baby in her womb leaped for joy at the presence of Mary and Jesus.  No wonder it then became John’s great joy to always be pointing to Jesus.

 

Today, it is our great joy to be waiting for the coming of Jesus. So, as we wait and prepare, we are also called to rejoice.  The coming of Jesus, God’s promised one with the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the Good News we wait for. It is the joy the angel will speak of when appearing to the shepherds, “I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.”  This brings us hope and joy even amid our struggles and unhappiness so we can rejoice and sing with gusto, “Joy to the world! The Lord is come.”  And the Lord has come and the Lord will come again and that brings us and the world great joy.