Christmas Day (Luke 2:1-20)

This is such a familiar reading of the nativity story. What does it conjure up in our minds?  Which lens do we look through? Is it a Rose tinted lens?  School nativity plays, angels with tinsel head bands, a baby Jesus being born. Shepherds with tea towels on their heads. It is Christmas Day!  What fun, what hope! What celebrations!  That is surely a good and right thing. All is well in the world, if only for a moment.

 Or is our lens Stark realism and historical context.  A young man and women, living in a country occupied by an invading army under the control of the Roman Empire, A heavily pregnant young girl forced to make an arduous journey, in order to comply with the imposition of bureaucracy, of an occupying force who want to record every person in a nation that they have power over. A young mother having to give birth in an animal shelter, use a manger as a crib, because they can't find any available or suitable accommodation.  A baby born in a nation whose own King is a collaborator with the occupying power, and who will soon commit an appalling genocide on his own people, because he hears news of a new king being born, turning Mary Joseph and Jesus into refugees as they flee to safety in another country.  A baby born in Bethlehem a place now encircled by a high thick concrete wall, with armed soldiers on it, sometimes taking pot shots at Palestinian children playing below. The tragic Grim reality in the Holy Land today, where despite huge divisions many still work steadfastly to resist hatred, celebrate hope, struggle for justice, and try to build peace.

 Or do we look through The lens of Joy, and Joyfully rejoice at the birth of Jesus. What is that Joy? What does real Joy look like? It is far more than momentary happiness, or a warm feeling inside.

 For a week in April 2015, Archbishop Desmond Tutu visited the Dalai Lama at his residence in exile in India. Their conversationsand discussions became The Book of Joy. I’d like to share some of their hard-won wisdom about Joy.

Suffering is inevitable, they said, but how we respond to that suffering is our choice. Not even oppression or occupation can take away this freedom to choose our response.

They came up with eight pillars of joy. (All of which Jesus was an example of)

Four were qualities of the mind: perspective, humility, humour, and acceptance. 

Four were qualities of the heart: forgiveness, gratitude, compassion, and generosity.

Archbishop Tutu said, “Our human nature has been distorted, . . . I mean, we are actually quite remarkable creatures. In our religions I am created in the image of God. I am a God carrier. It’s fantastic. I have to be growing in godlikeness, in caring for the other. I know that each time I have acted compassionately, I have experienced a joy in me that I find in nothing else.”

When we practice a generosity of spirit, we are in many ways practicing all the other pillars of joy. In generosity, there is a wider perspective, in which we see our connection to all others. There is a humility that recognises our place in the world and acknowledges that at another time we could be the one in need, whether that need is material, emotional, or spiritual. There is a sense of humour and an ability to laugh at ourselves so that we do not take ourselves too seriously. There is an acceptance of life, in which we do not force life to be other than what it is. There is a forgiveness of others and a release of what otherwise might have been. There is a gratitude for all that we have been given. Finally, we see others with a deep compassion and a desire to help those who are in need.

Archbishop Tutu said, “Dear Child of God, you are loved with a love that nothing can shake, a love that loved you long before you were created, a love that will be there long after everything has disappeared. You are precious, with a preciousness that is totally quite immeasurable. And God wants you to be like God. Filled with life and goodness and laughter—and joy.  Joy, which you had not sought, comes as a gift, for the non-self-regarding caring for others.”

Joy is a gift, a grace, which proceeds from the inner realisation of union with God, which falls upon us at ever deeper levels as we walk our faith journey.

This Joy began to be realised with the birth of a vulnerable baby, born in a stable over 2,000 years ago who would show us by his life and example, ‘The Way’, the way God always intended human beings should live.

Bishop Michael in part of his Christmas message says, ‘wherever Christmas is celebrated we are telling again the story of Jesus who carries the wonderful name Emmanuel, ‘God is with us’. The early visitors at the birth of Jesus were a pretty mixed bunch: shepherds from the hillside; wise men from the east; Mary and Joseph, themselves travelling away from home; angels from the realms of glory; and tradition has added the ox and ass to represent all creation. What they have in common is just this one great gift: that God is with them, Emmanuel.

This is a message of hope, unity and peace for our times. When we look around at our society we so often see division, anger and anxiety. But when we look at the crib of Emmanuel we see one who has crossed the great divide that separates us from the God who loves us; and that should encourage us to cross in love, the divides that separate us from one another. Whoever, or wherever, you are visiting this Christmas, remember that God is with them and theirs, as he is with you and yours’.  Jesus has come to us all to make our home - his own.

So, whatever lens you are looking through today- rose tinted- stark reality- or the lens of Joy- Rejoice! We remember Jesus Christ is born this day, Emmanuel- God is with us!  

 Let's end with a prayer

May we be filled with life, goodness and laughter

May we give the gift of Joy, and the message of hope this Christmas 

Treasure with Mary the miracle of Christmas.

Celebrate with the shepherds the joy of Christmas.

Sing in unity with the angels the song of Christmas.

And go in the peace of the child of Christmas.

Jesus Christ our Lord - Emmanuel - God with us. Amen

 © 2018 Gill Shilkoff