Readings
for Christmas Eve:
Isaiah 9:2-7; Luke 2:1-20
December 24, 2005
The Rev. Karen Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church, Cupertino,
CA
During World War I, in the winter of 1914, one of the most unusual events in all of human history took place. The Germans had been in a fierce battle with British and French troops on the fields of Flanders Belgium. Both sides were dug in the muddy, man-made trenches that were six to eight feet deep. All of a sudden, on Christmas Eve, the German troops began to put small Christmas trees, lit with candles, outside of their trenches. They started to sing Christmas carols. A spontaneous truce resulted. Soldiers from both sides left their trenches and met in the middle of "no man's land" to shake hands. The first order of business was to bury the dead who had been previously unreachable because of gunfire. They exchanged gifts of cake, cognac, postcards, newspapers, and tobacco. In a few places, soldiers exchanged rifles for soccer balls and began to play games.
The truce didn't last forever. In fact, some of the generals didn't like it at all and commanded their troops to resume shooting at each other. Soldiers eventually did resume shooting at each other for the next four years, killing 8.5 million people and wounding another 21 million. But for a few precious moments on that Christmas Eve of 1914, there was peace on earth on goodwill towards the enemy. There is something about Christmas that has the power to change the human heart from a place of fear to a place of love. {This story found on internet, 2005}
Since that time, our world has continued to experience incredible violence, wars, human rights violations, and the trafficking of women and children. It is into this world of darkness that we once again celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace. 2000 years ago, in a world where brutality, slavery, poverty, and the disregard for human life, was the status quo, a prophet was born to an insignificant family in an insignificant part of the world. "In him was life and the life was the light of all people. This Light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it." [Jn. 1]
In Jesus, the Word of God became enfleshed and lived among us and we have beheld his glory. Through his teaching, healing, and prophetic ministry, Jesus turned the conventional wisdom of the day, up side down. He gave hope to the poor and oppressed, and wisdom to the disillusioned. He blessed the peacemakers, the merciful, and those who mourn. He healed the sick. Instead of laying out a political or military strategic plan as a means of peace, he encouraged his followers to have mercy, to turn the other cheek, and to seek first and foremost the kingdom of God and its righteousness. Why this approach? Jesus knew that a forced military or political strategy could never bring true peace. Only a heart filled with compassion and a self-less love toward one's neighbors can do that.
Tonight, we begin our celebration of the holy child who came into the world to show us the way, the truth, and the life. But our celebration must not be limited to observing an historical event of the past. Our celebration must not be one of nostalgia and sentimentality. At the center of our celebration of Christmas, must be a personal commitment to follow the path of unconditional love that was shown to us by Jesus the Christ. This is a kind of love where self-sacrifice and compassion for the other is at the center. A love that is patient, kind, and does not insist on its own way. A love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things; a love that never dies. This love can only be sustained by a faithful relationship grounded in God. Glory to God in the highest and peace to all people on earth!
| Updated 12/31/05 |
|