Christmas Eve 2023: Sing a new song to God, who has done marvelous things. Amen.
It is often said that Christmas is for children.
Soooooo, what are all you adults doing here?
Well, maybe because it isn’t just for children.
Perhaps Christmas seems to be for children because they see the world and this night in a way that we adults have sometimes lost. In a way that Christmas was meant to be experienced.
You know, amidst all the holiday special programming (and my annual Hallmark Christmas movie binge watching), there is the movie, The Santa Clause, starring Tim Allen, who plays a character named Scott Calvin. Now Scott is an ordinary man, but not the best dad in the world. Anyway, he accidentally causes Santa Claus to fall from his roof on Christmas Eve. When he and his young son finish Santa’s trip and deliveries, they end up at the North Pole, where Scott learns he must become the new Santa. But first, he must believe himself. In a conversation with one of the head elves, Judy, he says:
“Look, you’re a nice little elf.”
“Thanks,” Judy replied.
“But this is a dream,” Scott continued as he walked over to the balcony to peer down at the festive North Pole town square below. “I mean, this is fabulous. Is that a polar bear directing traffic down there? I see it, but I don’t believe it.”
Judy replied, “You’re missing the point.”
“What is the point?” Scott asked.
“Seeing isn’t believing: believing is seeing. Kids don’t have to see this place to know that it’s here. They just… know.”
To be clear, this isn’t because believing in Santa Claus and the birth of Jesus are the same – not at all (though the real St. Nicholas would say that his entire life was devoted to Christ – and he would be right). And, not for nuthin’, it was an Episcopal Seminary professor and son of an Episcopal Bishop, who penned the original poem “A Visit From St. Nicholas,” commonly known as “Twas the night before Christmas,” known to children everywhere.
The point of this reference to Santa, is to remember that this night of wonder requires something of us – something kids do naturally, but for we adults it is a bit harder. Maybe that is why Jesus often reminded his disciples that they needed to change and become like little children. No, not act childishly, as we know so many adults do. But to see, hear, experience the world, as a child does.
Which is why when a week or so ago, a child of our parish came up to me and very seriously said, “Mother Diana, I saw Jesus!” – well, I paid attention. I knew, in that moment, by the look in her eyes, that she had indeed seen Jesus. Where or when this happened isn’t all that important. In fact, it might make adults easily dismiss what she saw by trying to explain it away.
The thing is, we grownups need Christmas too. Perhaps now more than ever before, because the world feels so very dark, doesn’t it? Wars, shootings, hate, violence, and divisions – even among families. 2024 doesn’t promise much change as we head into an election year. It can make even the most faithful person begin to doubt that God exists, or even if so, what difference does it make in the scheme of things.
And so, on this night, we come here to be reminded of what we heard in the passage from Isaiah tonight, that a “people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” And we come most of all to hear the message of the angels who proclaim the birth of Jesus in our gospel from Luke.
You know, I think that is why it is this story of the birth of Jesus that is told on Christmas Eve, not the one from Matthew with the sages who follow his star – and why we hear this passage from Isaiah too – because it is what we most need to hear every year. Maybe that is also why the Luke text is the favorite moment for so many of that classic of Christmas Specials – A Charlie Brown Christmas too. We all know that animated special, right?
Now, about that speech by Linus – the network folks wanted it cut. Too religious they thought – too religious…for Christmas? Good Lord! Thankfully, Charles Schulz, the creator of the cartoon, insisted it remain – and to most, it is the heart of that entire production. And why wouldn’t it be? It is the heart of the story – our story – the one we tell this very night. We heard the NRSV translation of Luke tonight, but Linus uses the King James, remembered by many adults as being what we heard as children – and another gift of our Anglican Communion to the world.
When Charlie Brown, feeling unwanted, unloved, and lost, wants to know what Christmas is all about, Linus says he can tell him. Walking to the center of the school stage, he says, “Lights please. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” That is what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.”
Now, why did Charles Schulz have Linus tell this part of the story of Christ’s birth, from this particular gospel account? Why not the one from Matthew about the sages and the star. Or in this gospel, why not the part of Mary giving birth, or the long journey to Bethlehem and finding nowhere to stay? What about the census? Okay, that would be boring, except to statisticians.
Well, perhaps he knew that when we, like Charlie Brown and so many others today, are feeling lost, feeling like God has forgotten us, feeling we are walking in darkness and the light will never come – we most need to hear about those shepherds being the first to receive the message of the angels – the first to see the Christ child. We need to be reminded that it is to them, most of all, that Jesus is born.
For light is most needed in darkness, is it not? Hold a lit candle in the daylight and it is barely perceivable. Hold one at night, and the light shines brightly. So, it is with Jesus – we will find him most easily when we are walking in darkness, we will see him most clearly when we seek him in the dark and cold fields of our world.
For on this night – God responded to the darkness of humanity by becoming a part of it – the Word made flesh – dwelling among us – not to judge, not to punish – but to do one thing… tell us we are loved beyond measure just as we are.1
And to make that even more clear, the message of the angels was brought not to King Herod, not to Quirinus, Governor of Syria, not to the rich and powerful – but to shepherds who lived on the margins. Shepherds, who sat in the cold of night keeping watch. Shepherds who had nothing but themselves, their hearts, to offer to this new Christ child.
Think about that – God enters this world as the child of an unwed teen, born in a humble setting.
His birth is announced first to lowly shepherds.
If someone were to try to write this story for the first time today, every publishing house or film studio would reject it as being unbelievable. Maybe that is why the network folks didn’t want to include the gospel story in the show. Perhaps they thought no real God would choose to walk among us just to show us how deeply we are loved. There must be something more to it – something in it for God.
And yet – despite it all, as the epistle we heard tonight proclaimed “…the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all…”
Perhaps then, if we are to really understand Christmas – we need to see with the heart of a child. To remember that believing is seeing, not the other way around.
For then we too will see Jesus.
In those without a home as he and his mother were.
In the undocumented immigrant, as his family was when they fled persecution into Egypt.
In the poor and cold, as the shepherds.
In the strangers from other lands, as the wise men.
In the backwater places like Galilee where he called his disciples and began his ministry.
In the persecuted, as he was on the cross.
And we will see him standing right in front of us – yearning to be seen. Hoping we might come to feel his light. Wanting us to know most of all that he loves us – unconditionally and for all time.
A child in this parish saw Jesus the other day.
Do you?
Do you?
Because he is born to us this night – he is born to you!
He is here, just as the angels proclaimed.
Jesus is born this Christmas Eve – and every single night of our lives – that we may know that God never gives up on us.
That we may know that God loves us – deeply, unconditionally, and for all time.
That we, a people who walk in darkness, might see a great light – the glory of God shining brightly – for us – and share that with the world.
Believing is seeing – seeing Jesus – who is born to you this very night.
Glory to God in the highest, and by his light shining in us, may there be peace on earth for us all.
Merry Christmas everyone!
For the audio, click below, or subscribe to our iTunes Sermon Podcast by clicking here (also available on Audible):
The Rev. Diana L. Wilcox
Christ Church in Bloomfield & Glen Ridge
December 24, 2023
Christmas Eve
1st Reading – Isaiah 9:2-7
Psalm 96
2nd Reading – Titus 2:11-14
Gospel – Luke 2:1-20
1 Grateful to commentary by David Lose in this particular paragraph.
