Christmas Eve Meditation 2024, Colchester Federated Church (Luke 2:1-20)
“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”[1] The Christmas story begins with adversity. We know the story well. Mary and Joseph need to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem, to the town called “House of Bread” while Mary is expecting a child and close to giving birth. Luke tells us that there was a Roman census being conducted, to have a head count for taxes and military conscription. Jesus’ birth is shared within the context of an event felt across the Roman Empire to show that this baby coming into the world is going to have far-reaching significance.
The couple has to make their way to Bethlehem no matter the terrible timing. Once they arrive, there is no room for them to stay, no room available to rent in Joseph’s hometown. Mary gives birth to Jesus away from their home and wraps him in bands of cloth to provide warmth and comfort. Mary lays Jesus to rest in a manger—a feeding trough for animals.
To say that the circumstances of Jesus’ birth are not ideal is an understatement. Throughout the season of Advent here at Colchester Federated Church, we have been pondering hope, peace, joy, and love growing from the manger. We have been contemplating that hope is believing things can get better with compassion and imagination. Peace is what happens when everyone treats each other, themselves, and the world with kindness. Joy is when we feel so thankful we could burst with excitement and gratitude. And love is the care and connection that binds us together with each other and with God.[2] Jesus our Emmanuel comes to us and connects us for God’s kingdom, but this happens in an unexpected way. Sometimes God shows up in the world and in our lives in unexpected ways. We remember on Christmas Eve that all of this compassion and kindness and gratitude and connection we hopefully experience as part of this Christian community grow from the manger.
This humble feeding trough for animals—the manger Mary lovingly placed Jesus in after giving birth to her precious child—will symbolize the purpose of Jesus’ ministry among us. Jesus came to feed a world hungry for the presence of God. The symbolism is startling. Jesus, born in a town called “House of Bread,” will come to be called the Bread of Life. Jesus, lovingly laid in a feeding trough for animals, came to feed a hungry world. And we’re not just talking about feeding hungry bellies (though there are times when Jesus would do that too). Jesus would come to offer our hearts love and joy, hope and peace. Christmas is about acknowledging the historical circumstances of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. We could even identify Mary and Joseph as people struggling with access to shelter and adequate health care. There is a timelessness about our sacred story.
The deep hope of Christmas is also about the continual birth of Christ in the human heart. It’s about that continual process of Christ’s presence in our hearts changing us from the inside out. For Jesus came that we may have life and have life abundantly. As Jesus is born in our midst, we can respond to Christ’s compassion with compassion of our own. We can see the light of Christ in ourselves and in one another. As the prophet Isaiah once proclaimed, “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.”[3] We can see the light of Christ here in our historic sanctuary with faces illuminated by candlelight as we sing, “Silent night! Holy night! Son of God, love’s pure light.”
For a child has been born for us, and God has come to us in the vulnerability of an infant. It matters that Jesus was born into a hungry world, and that Jesus came to feed a hungry world. It matters that the angels don’t appear to the high and mighty any more than Jesus is born in luxurious comfort. The message of the birth of the Messiah is first announced to modest folks who are protecting the sheep entrusted to their care.
Yes, we know this story well. And it remains amazing that Jesus’ birth is announced to those shepherds with heavenly glory and splendor on full display. It is amazing that the peace of our Savior is first announced to those who specifically labor in fields in the middle of the night. Maybe they were physically hungry out there too. We certainly know that these were not the folks living in big houses and feasting at fancy banquets. Is it any wonder that these humble shepherds were told to not be afraid before hearing the heavenly host proclaim, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom [God] favors!”?[4] In a great reversal of power and privilege, Luke places the peace of God (the peace among those whom God favors) among shepherds of all people. This is good news of great joy for all the people, and we can already see it!
Tonight, as we experience hope, peace, joy, and love growing from the manger—the feeding trough for animals—we know that hunger is a universal human experience. As human beings, we need nourishment for our bodies to be healthy. People also have more complex hungers, emotional and spiritual hungers. As we gather, we may hunger for a sense of belonging. We may hunger for healthy relationships with those we love. We may hunger for forgiveness or to forgive another person. We may hunger for peace in our personal lives and in the world. We may hunger for meaning and purpose through it all. Sometimes we are downright starved for meaningful connections if we’re honest. During Advent and now on this Christmas Eve night, we can wonder what it means that Jesus was born into a hungry world.
Friends, let us hear the good news once again. Let that good news move from our heads to our hearts. Because the good news of great joy for all people is born to us this night. In Jesus’ birth, our weary world does have reason to rejoice. In Jesus’ birth, we see love’s pure light. Love grows from the manger. Merry Christmas, and thanks be to God. Amen.
[1] Luke 2:7, NRSV.
[2] Advent Candle Lighting Liturgy, From the Manger, © 2024 Illustrated Ministry, LLC.
[3] Isaiah 9:2, NRSVUE.
[4] Luke 2:14, NRSVUE.
Lauren Ostrout ~ on being made well 