Sermon Luke 2:8-16 December 24, 2021 Christmas Eve meditation Monica Gould @ NMPC & FMPC
Light
It is in the gospels of Luke and Matthew that we encounter the
heavenly raid on earth through the rendering of God with us. The austere
thrusting of flesh through flesh to be fully Emmanuel, wonderful
counselor, prince of peace is how God chose to bring us the Light of
life.
The power of God come to us through images of humanity makes us mesmerized and in awe of God so willing to be entrapped in his own creation of bone upon bone and sinew, and muscle and flesh.
No one saw it coming even though it had been foretold for 700
hundred years. It is still so unbelievable that we encounter the birth of
the God who birthed us at the dawn of creation each Christmas as a miracle
of love born fresh in our hearts.
The light of life comes to the shepherds in the gospel of
Luke. In the gospel of Matthew it is the magi who witness and follow the star.
We ask ourselves how will we get to Bethlehem this
night?
Will the angels come to us and announce the
Savior’s birth?
Perhaps, like me, you have wanted a disturbance in the
night by a grand company of angels making it abundantly clear that Jesus is
here.
Each year I seek to draw closer and closer to the light, so I
don’t miss out on anything. FOMO, I think is what they call it. Fear of missing
out.
The shepherds would have completely missed out of the
experience of the presence of Jesus if it had not been for the announcement of
the angels. The angels thrust a spotlight from heaven upon the men and women in
the field. It was unmistakable that something very heavenly and very God appearing
was happening.
If only God could do that for us every year. To send
out a spotlight from heaven and cast it down on our house, or in our car, or at
our job-and scare the bejeebers out of us so that we’ll see the light and
pay attention this time.
photo credit Megan Ames
Every night there is light in the sky to show us the handiwork
of God. Every day there is light in the sky to remind us of the warmth of love.
We have the sounds of the birds, the creatures, the sea, the storms, the wind,
the soft breeze. We are surrounded by the power of God, by the love of
God in every breath we take.
This is the good news told to us today.
It is the good news told to us tonight.
It is the good news we are given throughout all of life.
You see the darkness is always showered with
light. We only have to have the patience to wait for the moon to rise or the
sun to come forth.
So here we are again as God’s people witnessing the great
light shatter the darkness announcing the good news. Jesus is here. God’
grace is upon us. There is joy and celebration as the light of life has come to
live within us. Let us make haste to Bethlehem and see this thing that
has taken place!!
Be at peace. Amen.
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| Photo credit Megan Ames |
Resources: NIB Luke. Original works and quotes of Monica Gould 2021.
