From the Pastor |
Christmas Eve 2020
This has been one heck of a year, hasn’t it? In fact… I believe that this year has been like any other… at least in my lifetime. We have had to deal with chaos and turmoil, isolation and grief… social and political unrest… and tremendous loss. This holiday season has been more of the same. Things are so different this year that many people have commented that it really does not seem like Christmas. We are living in a time of chaos and unprecedented uncertainty… it makes celebrating Christmas seem strange and even a bit difficult. But really… this is exactly what Christmas is about! Christmas is proof to us that the Lord is still at work even in the midst of chaos… after all… things were no different at the time of Jesus’ birth. The birth of Christ took place during a dark time in Israel’s history… much like today, it was a time of chaos and uncertainty. The Roman Empire cast a vast shadow over the world, and in 63 BCE, after much turmoil and civil war within Israel, the Romans successfully invaded and conquered Jerusalem. In order to maintain control and power over the people, Caesar set up Herod as a “puppet” king. Herod ruled the area with an iron fist and spearheaded many capital projects including expanding the Temple and establishing fortresses to reinforce Roman control. These great building campaigns were achieved by imposing heavy taxes on the people. Therefore, many lived in poverty since they not only had to pay their tithes to the Temple, but they were required to pay stiff taxes to the Empire. To say that this caused social unrest is probably an understatement. Add to this the census called for by Caesar Augustus so that they would be able to tax the people with greater accuracy… and well… you get it? Then into the socio-economic and political turmoil… we have our Christmas story. When you think about that 1st Christmas… about the day Jesus was born… what picture comes to mind? Mary and Joseph together in a stable… serenely looking over at this newborn baby boy? Do the words “Silent Night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright” echo in your mind? That is our greeting card image of the Birth of Christ… but is it the reality of that time? I highly doubt it. We don’t know a lot about what happened that night – Luke doesn’t give very many details – but we do know that Mary and Joseph had just travelled from Nazareth to Bethlehem (a journey of about 90 miles)… on foot or by donkey… that’s a long and exhausting trip… especially with a woman so near to “her time”. It had to have been a time of stress, fear and uncertainty for this couple. Then Luke tells us that “there was no guest room available for them.” In other words… the small town of Bethlehem was full… there was no available lodging. Everyone was gathered to be registered and counted and then appropriately taxed by the Roman Empire. There was no doubt great tension permeating the town… So here they are… overwhelmed with chaos and uncertainty… not sure what to do… the only place to stay is what we would call a barn or stable… and then… Mary goes into labor. I can only imagine what Joseph is thinking when this happens… This had to be a scary, stressful time for both of them… in this barn… surrounded by animals? But we are not done yet… Soon after the baby is born… a bunch of strangers… shepherds by trade, come bursting in excitedly telling this tale of angels on the hillside. This whole scenario had to be overwhelming for Mary and Joseph. Honestly… I’m not seeing that idyllic picture forming. All I can imagine is chaos, uncertainty, some fear and worry… and a smelly barn. In fact… it seems a lot like THIS Christmas… a time filled with socio-economic and political turmoil… where people are overwhelmed by the chaos and uncertainty… the fear and grief… all we need is a smelly barn. But we need to remember that it was in the midst of this dark, uncertain and chaotic time… that Jesus was born. The Christmas story proves that the Lord is still at work even in the midst of chaos… and this brings hope and joy into the midst of our tumultuous lives now, in the present, and for the future. For it was into a dark time in Israel’s history that God sent the light of God’s love… Christ Jesus… into the world. The same is true for us today… God is sending the light of God’s amazing love to us during these challenging times… assuring us that we are not alone… God is with us through it all. You see… Christmas has never been about joyous celebrations in the midst of perfect circumstances. It has never been about escaping the brutal realities of the world and trying to recapture some unrealistic, picture perfect night. Christmas is about God taking our chaos… our turmoil, grief and pain… and transforming it all into the most precious gifts of your life… hope that sees us through… peace of heart, soul and mind… uplifting joy and endless love. Jesus came to reveal God’s love for us… he came to teach us HOW to live lives centered on love, compassion and service… Jesus came… not to take away our problems…. no to lift us up out of the chaos… Instead, through Christ… God inserts Himself right into the middle of it all! This is the meaning of Christmas… God comes to us in the midst of whatever we are going through… God comes and dwells with us… among us. God comes to us wherever we are… no matter how imperfect we are. Christmas this year has come during a global pandemic… even now… in our brokenness and our uncertainty… Jesus is come… Jesus is with us. This night reminds us that there is good news of great joy for all people… even in the middle of chaos. So, remember that even in our brokenness, Jesus is with us. He feels your sorrow. He knows your anxieties. He wants you to experience His hope… his peace… his joy and his love. Christmas has come… Jesus, Our savior is born. Alleluia… Amen.
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Yeon Shin
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