The Rev. Dr. Kenneth H. Saunders III
St James Episcopal Church
Greeneville, TN
Christmas Eve
Pieter Bruegel: The Census at Bethlehem (c. 1566)
I am distressed tonight. I’m distressed about the state of turmoil that the world is in. Some of you may share in that distress.
There are counties that are at war. Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Palestine. These are not the only countries at war. These are the ones folks talk about the most. There is also war in Yemen, Ethiopia, Sudan, India, Pakistan, Myanmar, and Korea. Libya in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in at least 20 other countries. Regions and, people and lands are being divided, the innocent are being killed, and families are being displaced; ripped apart because of fear and distrust.
They are ripped apart because countries are fighting over resources and financial gain, fighting over perceived power and position. It’,s either a war between countries, or the political instability has become so divided that the country is at war within itself. There is so much muck-slinging and social and political posturing in this country, that the frenzy continues.
There is anything but... peace on earth.
A few years ago, in the Christmas Eve sermon, I spoke about each member of the nativity scene. I talked about the figurine arrangement that we use to decorate our mantles, place on our tables, and under our Christmas trees. It looks so peaceful, sweet, and lovely, but it really should make us uncomfortable. Of how it should make us upset that the world had gotten to a place so bad that a dominant government forced relocation to impose taxation on even the poorest of the poor.
It was so wrong that a poor family with a pregnant soon-to-be mother couldn’t find a place to stay. She had no place to lay her head, so they had to make do in the filth of a stable among the livestock. Poverty so profound that they probably didn’t know where their next meal would come from. In the midst of all that, God decided to break forth into this world.
We should think about some things this evening, think about some things that will hopefully stick with us for a while, at least the rest of the year. I want us to put ourselves at another time in history. A time when the world was a mess, socially, economically, and politically. Much like it is now.
I want us to put ourselves in the ancient world of Bethlehem. I want us to put ourselves in a place
where we can hear the busy town teeming with people, all looking for a place to stay. I want us to put ourselves in the middle of the road brok, helpless, and tired, with door after door slammed in our faces.
I want us to put ourselves in the stable, in one of the cattle stalls, able to smell the rotten hay and manure. I want us to try to feel and know what it is like for this young homeless couple as they encountered more incredible hardships than any of us sitting here in this warm church could ever imagine. And I want us to ask ourselves, what would we do for them? Would we take them in and give them a place to stay?
Now, for us, knowing who this couple is, it’s probably easy to say… yes… Yes… of course. Yes, we will let them in, give them a place to stay and comfort them. After all, it’s Mary and Joseph, and the child she will have will save the world. But what if you didn’t know the rest of the story? What if you didn’t know how it played out? Would we give them a place to stay? Something to eat?
In the Benedictine practice, there is a rule written by St. Benedict that governs monastic life. It’s called simply the Rule of St. Benedict. A portion of this rule states all guests who present themselves
are to be welcomed as Christ! They made it a required part of their communal behavior to receive all guests, all passersby, as if they were the living Christ himself, standing at their door.
They were on to something there. They realized that humanity is sacred and precious, something of value, regardless. They know that welcoming and taking in strangers and treating them as if they were Jesus honors the image of God that they bear and respects the divinity that can be found in humanity.
Brothers and sisters, each and every one of us bears the image of God. When you look deep into the eyes of your spouse, child, parent, family, or friend, you are looking at the image of God. But also, when you look into the eyes of a stranger, someone different from you, I mean different from you in every way, in shape or age or color, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, personality, or even political party, you are looking at the image of God.
Would we let them live among us in peace? Would we give them something to eat if they were hungry? Would you give them a drink if they were thirsty? Would we provide or help them seek shelter?
But what if they were that young refugee couple that had to leave their home for whatever reason and stay in a cow stall? What’s the difference?
If you think that Jesus is the difference, you’re right! Jesus is the difference between respecting the dignity of every human being and the cold, harsh fears and behaviors of this world and its governments. Jesus is the difference because God chose to break forth into this world in the person of Jesus Christ to show us how to be fully human. Jesus is the difference because of the hardships he faced in this world that offered him nothing but cruelty. Jesus is the difference because he taught us to love one another and taught us in loving one another, we are loving God.
Jesus is not just a baby crying in a manger in a stall in some barn in Bethlehem a long time ago that has somehow become a sweet story about a baby being born. Who doesn’t like babies?
As sweet as the story may be, if it doesn’t stir us to some level of discontentment and engagement with the world, if it doesn’t call us into deeper relationships with each other, and move us to be uncomfortable with the status quo, then what’s it all about, anyway?
Jesus is relevant, and Jesus is active in our everyday lives, but we often fail to see it. And Jesus is here tonight, but we sometimes fail to recognize him. He is among us, and we fail to welcome and invite him. God loves us so much, but we often fail to acknowledge it... Acknowledge it by being Christ to one another and loving each other as we should.
I want us to do something this evening. As we share the peace, I want us to look deeply into each other’s eyes, look for that divine spark, see Christ’s light burning within the other, and know that in this community of faith, there is always room to grow in peace and love, with one another and with Jesus Christ as Lord. It’s a way that we can begin to keep the spirit of peace at Christmas all the time!
I saw a writing early this month from an unknown author.
It said every time a hand reaches out To help another...
That is Christmas
Every time someone puts anger aside and strives for understanding...
That is Christmas
Every time people forget their differences and realize their love for each other...
That is Christmas
May this Christmas bring us closer to the spirit of human understanding
and closer to the blessing of peace!
My friends, let that spirit of peace and love ripple out from this place and go out to all places and nations on the earth. Glory to God in the highest heaven and peace and goodwill among all people. Amen!
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