A 5 pointed sermon for you today! Afterall its Christmas!
It’s a prayer, a blessing, for you to know – the Eagerness of the Shepherds, the Joy of the Angels, the Perseverance of the Wise, the Obedience of Joseph and Mary, and the Peace of Jesus Christ. That’s my prayer, that’s the 5 points.
The Eagerness of the Shepherds – that comes about because in the midst of their dull drudgery, feeling forgotten, lost in their night shift, they have an epiphany where suddenly they see the world, life, themselves differently.
Let’s go and see –
They are eager to discover that God has not forgotten them.
Let’s go and see – perhaps they would have found an Alpha course helpful.
This Epiphany has come about because they have heard the Joy of the Angels. Rather consistently whenever the angels appear – anywhere in the bible – the initial effect is often Shock, Terror, Fear. There’s a reason why their catch phrase is Don’t be afraid!
But the after effect of an angel, is joy.
So look out for one. I often find that it helps if you start by counting your blessings, and over time realise that you have more blessings than you realised. Because there you may find that angels have been quietly going about their business.
The Magi don’t get an angel, they got science and curiosity, and that’s enough to draw them closer to God. They follow the science – they persist through the danger of Herod, to come to an experience of Worship. Yes they give their gifts but they got back far more than they gave.
I think Giving has a way of doing that. I hope you will find that as you give your presents to others over Christmas.
I think Worship has a way of giving back more than was given. We sing and bring our hearts to God, and find that in our worship we encounter the Love that holds us and brings us healing.
The Magi had to persevere – may you also persevere.
The Obedience of Joseph and Mary – they each have quite different struggles and confusions but in either case it boils down to saying Yes and Amen, May it be to me according to your word.
This next year no doubt God will call upon us to take another step of faith, to trust.
It won’t be as big a moment as what Joseph and Mary were facing, but it will probably feel like it at the time. But it will require that same quiet step of obedience, that same quiet prayer of Yes and Amen.
Look for the Eagerness of the Shepherds, the Joy of the Angels, fuel your curiosity as you persevere like the Wise, and as you take your step of faithful obedience like Joseph and Mary.
Perhaps you may find yourself at an Alpha Course.
And Receive this Peace. John’s Gospel begins with this invitation – to all who received Him, He gave the right to become Children born of God.
This is the peace that comes from being loved, being received, knowing that you’re held,
And that you’re called, called to a purpose of living a life that shows that peace, that works with God to bring that reconciling peace to all of God’s creation.
Receive this Peace, in worship, in sacrament, and prayer.
My prayer for you – is that when later someone says What did you get for Christmas? That you might say – I got Jesus for Christmas.
I got some Eagerness, some Joy, some Perseverance, even a little Obedience, and I got a deep Peace – I got Jesus for Christmas. Amen.