Rev. Dustin ParkerChristmas Midnight
Concordia Lutheran Church
Christmas Midnight Mass, 2010
Peace on Earth? YES!
† IN JESUS NAME †
This night, may you see God’s intention, from the Creation, to the Manger, to the Cross and Grave, to the Throne above, which prepare us for His Second Coming!
The traffic…
The celebration of Christmas in the twentieth and now the twenty-first centuries since the birth of Jesus seems to have reach the highest levels of irony. This time of peace, and of grace has been flooded with images of anything but peace, or grace.
Look at the mad traffic on the roads, and the way people greet each other there. Look at the stores, crowded with shoppers who seem too busy to even acknowledge each other’s presence. For every Christmas card, or letter wishing the blessings of Christ’s presence, the mail box and email box are filled with ads, telling us how perfect Christmas will be, how happy those we love will be, in only we buy their item, reduced especially for us. This car, this electronic toy, this piece of jewelry, this medical supplement, that trip, this new pet, that new health product –even things that call us back to reminisce about the past and its simplicity. It is amazing to me, that even the song “where is the line to see Jesus”, that I played a few weeks ago in Sunday School, is now being used to promote books and videos that will “change your life”
We live in the middle of a society that seems driven to prove our lives are not perfect, and who use to cause such great dissatisfaction that we are easily manipulated to make choices that allow us to purchase a better way of life.
In the midst of this lack, the words of the massive angelic choir ring out clear and loud. Glory to God in the Highest! On earth peace… Good will towards men!
Where did the Angels sing?
It has been years since I realized that the three wise men, normally show in the romanticized manger scenes, were not there the night Mary delivered Jesus in that primitive stable. This year, while hearing the story yet again, it hit me that the angels may be out of place as well. Surely they were there, wondering what it meant for God to be lying there in the feeding trough.
While Joseph tended to his wife who was in labor, the angel and the heavenly choir were at another venue, a command performance like none other scene on earth.
On behalf of all creation, those who would be considered among the least received a blessed message from heaven. Not delivered to kings, or even to their captains or head of the temple guard. The stage was not the superbowl, or a grand arena or concert hall or cathedral. I
These shepherds, in the middle of their shift, were given a concert like none other seen this sign of the second coming. They heard the angels glorifying, praising, adoring God and sharing the incredible blessing of Peace, and God’s gift of the Savior’s birth.
In the city of David, was born the Savior – Christ the Lord.
That message was delivered so incredibly, because the message is so incredible. God dwelling among us. God here to save us, to rescue us. In the midst of our lives, He comes to us,
And brings us peace, in the midst of confusion. In the midst of a world telling us we aren’t good enough, because we don’t have this or that, the angels tells us we are children of the King.
In the midst of a mad rush, we see a cross, or a manger, and we know that the madness isn’t comparable to the peace we have been given.
The message the shepherds received would later be demonstrated by church bells tolling throughout the lands of Christendom. For the bells toll, proclaiming the news of victory, and no victory as sweet as this. For those bells toll the hope and knowledge expressed 150 years ago, God is not dead, nor doth He sleep.
He is here, as surely as he laid in that manger in swaddling clothes, as the shepherds rushed to see. He came for us long ago, that we would be ready for His second coming advent. He sent the Holy Spirit, to create in us life, and faith, as He cleansed us from sin, and made us His people.
As long ago prophesied, the Babe born is the light unto the gentiles, and the hope of Israel.
The Babe that laid in the manger that brought grace and peace for you and for me. That even in the midst of this maddening world, we would God’s love, and knowing that, dwell secure in Christ Jesus.
AMEN?
Christmas Midnight Mass, 2010
Peace on Earth? YES!
† IN JESUS NAME †
This night, may you see God’s intention, from the Creation, to the Manger, to the Cross and Grave, to the Throne above, which prepare us for His Second Coming!
The traffic…
The celebration of Christmas in the twentieth and now the twenty-first centuries since the birth of Jesus seems to have reach the highest levels of irony. This time of peace, and of grace has been flooded with images of anything but peace, or grace.
Look at the mad traffic on the roads, and the way people greet each other there. Look at the stores, crowded with shoppers who seem too busy to even acknowledge each other’s presence. For every Christmas card, or letter wishing the blessings of Christ’s presence, the mail box and email box are filled with ads, telling us how perfect Christmas will be, how happy those we love will be, in only we buy their item, reduced especially for us. This car, this electronic toy, this piece of jewelry, this medical supplement, that trip, this new pet, that new health product –even things that call us back to reminisce about the past and its simplicity. It is amazing to me, that even the song “where is the line to see Jesus”, that I played a few weeks ago in Sunday School, is now being used to promote books and videos that will “change your life”
We live in the middle of a society that seems driven to prove our lives are not perfect, and who use to cause such great dissatisfaction that we are easily manipulated to make choices that allow us to purchase a better way of life.
In the midst of this lack, the words of the massive angelic choir ring out clear and loud. Glory to God in the Highest! On earth peace… Good will towards men!
Where did the Angels sing?
It has been years since I realized that the three wise men, normally show in the romanticized manger scenes, were not there the night Mary delivered Jesus in that primitive stable. This year, while hearing the story yet again, it hit me that the angels may be out of place as well. Surely they were there, wondering what it meant for God to be lying there in the feeding trough.
While Joseph tended to his wife who was in labor, the angel and the heavenly choir were at another venue, a command performance like none other scene on earth.
On behalf of all creation, those who would be considered among the least received a blessed message from heaven. Not delivered to kings, or even to their captains or head of the temple guard. The stage was not the superbowl, or a grand arena or concert hall or cathedral. I
These shepherds, in the middle of their shift, were given a concert like none other seen this sign of the second coming. They heard the angels glorifying, praising, adoring God and sharing the incredible blessing of Peace, and God’s gift of the Savior’s birth.
In the city of David, was born the Savior – Christ the Lord.
That message was delivered so incredibly, because the message is so incredible. God dwelling among us. God here to save us, to rescue us. In the midst of our lives, He comes to us,
And brings us peace, in the midst of confusion. In the midst of a world telling us we aren’t good enough, because we don’t have this or that, the angels tells us we are children of the King.
In the midst of a mad rush, we see a cross, or a manger, and we know that the madness isn’t comparable to the peace we have been given.
The message the shepherds received would later be demonstrated by church bells tolling throughout the lands of Christendom. For the bells toll, proclaiming the news of victory, and no victory as sweet as this. For those bells toll the hope and knowledge expressed 150 years ago, God is not dead, nor doth He sleep.
He is here, as surely as he laid in that manger in swaddling clothes, as the shepherds rushed to see. He came for us long ago, that we would be ready for His second coming advent. He sent the Holy Spirit, to create in us life, and faith, as He cleansed us from sin, and made us His people.
As long ago prophesied, the Babe born is the light unto the gentiles, and the hope of Israel.
The Babe that laid in the manger that brought grace and peace for you and for me. That even in the midst of this maddening world, we would God’s love, and knowing that, dwell secure in Christ Jesus.
AMEN?
