Is
9:2-4,6-7; Tit 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-16
The winter of
1911 was very bleak in Ukraine, especially for Mennonites (The Mennonites are a
group of Christians). The Russian Revolution was in full swing and Mennonites
all over the country were living under the threat of violence. Every day
stories of great atrocities circulated around the small
community. Robbers rode in the night, demanding food and horses. They burned barns and destroyed crops. Women were assaulted and men were kidnapped. Apprehension permeated the entire area because people never knew when they would become the next target.
community. Robbers rode in the night, demanding food and horses. They burned barns and destroyed crops. Women were assaulted and men were kidnapped. Apprehension permeated the entire area because people never knew when they would become the next target.
Amidst this
violence and dark moments, the Krause family decided to celebrate the birth of
Jesus. A musical Christmas tree stand was brought as a present for their
parents. On Christmas Eve, the family gathered around the tree to watch it spin
in the glow of the candles it had been adorned with. Suddenly the door burst
open and a band of ruffians stormed in, all holding guns. Shock blitzed through
the family. Silence and terror filled the air. Death hung over their heads as
the sword of Damocles. Unexpectedly, the musical Christmas tree stand clinked
away “Silent Night.” Miraculously the intruders stood still for a moment, and
then backed out of the house and closed the door, leaving the room peaceful.
Their childhood
memories of Christmas might have taken them back to the Silent Night when the
Angels announced “Peace to all men of good will.” Those sweet memories softened
their hearts, and they forgot violence for a minute.
The music of the
Silent Night from the Christmas tree gifted life for the Krause family. Two
thousand years ago, the song of the Angels in Bethlehem announced life for the
entire humanity.
The promise that
had been made through Isaiah is fulfilled. “The virgin will be with child and
will give birth to a son, and you will call Him Immanuel, God is with us.”
(Isaiah 7:14).
The Biblical
Account of creation tells us that God created Heaven and Earth, and all the
beings in the sea, land and air in five days, and on the 6th Day God created
man. According to the Biblical writer the entire creation took place in 6
days. From that time onwards God had
been preparing the human race for the greatest manifestation of His love, the
birth of Jesus.
The first
promise was made in the Garden of Aden. Not long after Creation, God pronounced
His judgment on the Serpent and promise to humanity, “I will put enmity between
you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed.”(Gen 3:15). The promise
was renewed through the centuries. According to the biblical account, to be
very precise in the words of Luke, God has been preparing humanity for 77
generations from Adam to Jesus. During these generations the Prophets gave a
very clear Picture of the Messiah. His Lineage, His nativity, the hardships he
would have to bear and the final triumph. In today’s first reading from the
book of Isaiah, we are given the details of the names given to the promised
saviour. He will be called:
Wonder-Counsellor,
Mighty-God
Eternal-Father,
Prince-of-peace.
"The people
who walk in darkness will see a great light. Those who live in a dark land, the
light will shine on them." [Isaiah 9:2] These words from the prophet
Isaiah told of the coming Prince of Peace, and of the light and life He would
bring.
When Isaiah told
of the coming of Prince of Peace, he spoke of light dispelling darkness. The
image of light dispelling darkness is central to our understanding of the
incarnation and its meaning. The metaphor of light makes sense only against a
background of darkness. In the Bible, darkness is a rich metaphor that refers
to evil and wilful blindness or sin.
Since sin pushed
humanity into darkness, men dreaded the presence of Light, God. In God’s
presence the people were terrified. When Adam heard the voice of God he hid
himself behind the bush. In Mount Sinai the Israelites saw the glory of God and
cried, “do not have God speak to us or we will die." When the shepherds
saw the Angel, they were afraid. The angel spoke to them. "Do not be afraid. I'm here to bring you good news. Today in Bethlehem a baby has been born, He
is the one that will save the world. "
The angel told
the shepherds that “This event is to you,” and the shepherds’ response was
immediate and practical: “Let us go to Bethlehem.” The angel’s message had
power; it moved people. When Cicero addressed the Roman senate, everyone
appreciated his eloquence and said, “How beautifully he speaks!” But they
remained in their seats. Yet when Demosthenes addressed the Greek army, they
leaped up, clashed spear upon shield and said, “Let us march!” Angels’ message of birth of Jesus moved men
of peace and the forces of darkness alike. The shepherds rushed to the manger.
The wise men set out following the star. At the same time Herod paced up and down
all night worrying. His soldiers rode
across the land in search of the infant. The soldiers never found the baby,
because they were not searching for the light, but they were groping in the
darkness. The shepherds met him, as they followed the light.
The shepherds
required to come only a short way to meet Him, from the fields to the stable.
But He came an infinite distance to meet them; from heaven to earth, from
eternity to time, from infinite joy to suffering and death. The shepherds met in the manger the Universal
healer without a doctor to attend to him, the king of kings without any sentry
or attendant, the master of whole creation without a proper bed to lay his
head, but the joy that prevailed in the manger was magnanimous.
Tonight as we
share in the joy of Shepherds, we share in the joy of the angels, and we share
in the joy of Joseph and Mary, it must move us to action. We should leave the
way of darkness and follow the path of light, to meet the Saviour who has come
from Heaven to Earth to meet us, and take us back to Heaven. St Athanasius
wrote, "God became man so that man might become god"
Let us join the
Angels and sing, “Glory to God in the highest, and peace to men of good will.”
Satish