Christmas Eve – 2019: May God’s words alone be spoken, may God’s words alone be heard. Amen.
There’s a relatively new feature on iPhones called Night Shift. Introduced a few years ago, it “uses the clock and geolocation of your device to determine when it’s sunset in your location. Then it automatically shifts the colors of your display to warmer colors. In the morning, it returns the display to its regular settings.”[1] The idea is to reduce the amount of bright blue light hitting our eyes in the dark so that we can sleep better. Still, we all know that the best way to do that is to stop holding onto our phones at all hours of the day and night like they were some kind of security blanket.
But Apple is right that there is something about the way light piercing in the darkness affects us. And that is what Isaiah was getting at in his prophetic witness. Tonight we hear this prophet of old talking about a whole other type of night shift when he tells us that “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness–on them light has shined.”
While I don’t think Apple was trying to make any type of theological statement, if Isaiah were alive today, he might add to his proclamation “This is a light that no app can dim, nor power button can destroy, for now is not the time for sleep!” Indeed, for on this night, on Christmas, everything changes.
For the story of Christmas is all about light and dark, and a significant night shift that should wake us from our slumber, while also setting our hearts at peace – something no tech company will ever be able to achieve. And, as familiar as our texts are to us, we come here every year to hear it once more, because it is still a message that resonates in our hearts deeply with every reading. Perhaps that is why this particular gospel account of the birth of Jesus is a favorite of so many – because it isn’t about those wealthy wise guys of the gospel of Matthew coming to visit the Christ child living in a house, but about a dark night in a humble setting when the light of angels filled the sky for those working the shepherding night shift.
Most of us know this gospel by heart, perhaps especially from hearing it each year as part of “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” But did we ever notice something that happens in that TV moment – something that Isaiah would totally blog about in his review of the animated show if he were alive today? Let’s revisit that scene…
Charlie Brown, feeling discouraged and confused over the
seemingly endless commercialism that has become the season (not much has changed since 1965) shouts out to all the other kids “does anyone know what Christmas is all about?” His friend Linus responds… “sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you.” And then Linus walks out to the center of their school auditorium stage and says, “Light’s 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 and goodwill towards men.’ That’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.’”
And Linus is right…that is what Christmas is all about. This moment, this cold dark field lit up with angelic light, this straw filled cradle, this silent night. That’s what Christmas is all about. But to really understand it, go back to the moment when Linus walks out onto the stage.
Now, up until that point, the lights in their school auditorium were on. But to tell the story, Linus says what? He says “Lights please.” And all the auditorium goes dark, except for a light shining on Linus – shining on the proclamation of the gospel – the witness of the good news shared by Linus of the light shining in the darkness. And when he gets to the part where the Angel says “Fear not…” Linus drops his trusty blanket – something he is never without, but clings to always for security – to feel safe in the world. And in that moment, his telling of the story changes everyone, not just Charlie Brown.
Now I can’t be sure that Charles Schultz, a man with a deep and abiding faith, was bringing to mind the passage from Isaiah, in addition to the gospel of Luke, when he wrote that scene, but I am sure that the prophet would understand the sentiments of one producer who many years later called it “the most magical two minutes in television.” Though I think Isaiah would argue – not magic – but filled with mystery, wonder, and the profoundly unexplainable – while noting that Schulz got the lighting just right, and the effect on Linus and the others – spot on.
No, not magic, but mystery, and not two minutes, but more than two millennia!
You know, during our Eucharist we always proclaim the mystery of faith – that Christ has died, Christ is risen, and Christ will come again. But perhaps the greatest of all, the one we most need to hear, is that Christ was born in the first place! That God came into the world – our world – for us!
The message of the angels wasn’t Christ is born, but Christ is born for us!
The Word didn’t just become flesh, but dwelt among us!
That is the mystery of Christmas – that, as we heard in the epistle of Titus, the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all. And the greatest gift of this mystery is that God became incarnate in a baby born not in a palace, but on the margins, not in the light of day, but in the deepest of nights, that we might truly understand that we are loved just as we are – the imperfect and vulnerable children of God. It is a gift that keeps on giving through the centuries to today.
For you see, God enters into our world – not because it is perfect, but because it is not. And God is born to us as a small and vulnerable child – not because we are invincible, but precisely because of our frailty, our fear. And God’s light, while always present, is most visible, most needed, not in the light of day, but when the world around us is most dark.
Perhaps that is why you come here tonight. It isn’t that you don’t know the story, but maybe, like Charlie Brown and his friends, we all need to be reminded of what Christmas is really all about, we need someone to say “lights please” to cut through the darkness. Because amidst the stresses of the season, this message of the angels, this mystery, this gift of God, can disappear from our hearts – perhaps when we need it the most. The problems we face now – those of the world, or of our lives – can weigh heavily on our hearts and minds, particularly at this time of year. The contrast of winter’s cold and dark nights can feel strikingly stark against the warm lights of the season. We can feel lost, lonely, hopeless, and afraid.
And having grown up in the church, you remember that it is here, amidst the candlelight dancing brightly in the dark, that you come to know once more, in the deep recesses of your heart, the meaning of this night – the promise of God to all people, to you, throughout the ages.
For tonight we hear the message of the prophet that a great light will shine upon us.
Tonight we who dwell in darkness hear the message of the angels to not be afraid.
Tonight we remember God’s history with us – always yearning to be in relationship, always striving to let us know who we are, and how deeply we are loved, always wanting us to know that Her dream for us of a world that is just and peaceful is possible.
Tonight we come to know again what Christmas is all about – the Word, our God, became flesh and dwelt among us.
So yes, “light’s please,” and let go of your proverbial security blankets whatever they may be, because this is a night shift that changes everything, and it is no time to sleep. On this night the proclamation of prophets and the message of angels becomes reality for us anew, and we must now proclaim this good news in our lives by word and deed.
Jesus, our light and salvation, is born to us – born for you, for me, for the world – and nothing will ever be the same.
Merry Christmas everyone!
For the audio from the 10:00pm service, click below, or subscribe to our iTunes Sermon Podcast by clicking here:
The Rev. Diana L. Wilcox
Christ Church in Bloomfield & Glen Ridge
December 24, 2019
Christmas Eve – Christmas Day Selection I
1st Reading – Isaiah 9:2-7
Psalm 96
2nd Reading – Titus 2:11-14
Gospel – Luke 2:1-14(15-20)
[1] https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207570
