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Creekside
Church
Sermon of December
24, 2007
Christmas Eve Service
"Christmas
Zeal"
Luke
2:1-20
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Rev.
David Bibbee
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You've
heard it many times already, and will hear it many more times before
the night is through, therefore, one more isn't going to hurt. "Merry
Christmas!" This is what I wish for you. I can underscore it
and say, "I wish you a VERY merry Christmas." I can
emphasize its religious dimension and wish you a "… truly
blessed, Merry Christmas." With all the sincerity I have, this
is what I wish for you and for me on this night. But I'm not comfortable
saying it.
It's the "wishing"
part that bothers me. Wishing seems rather lame. You know how the
adage goes-"If wishes were horses, then dreamers would ride."
Something more than wishing is necessary if Christmas is going to
grasp us and take root in us. So tonight, I'm not "wishing"
you anything. And while I'm at it, I'm taking the "merry"
out of Christmas and replacing it with something more substantial-ZEAL.
People with
zeal have "an intense desire for something." So tonight,
I hope for you, not wish you, a zealous, and not merely a merry
Christmas.
My mentor was
Paul Robinson. He told me about the time back in the early 1960's
when he was the guest preacher for the Chicago Sunday Evening Club.
Premiere preachers from across the country were invited to speak
on this weekly program that was broadcast by the public television
station in Chicago. It was the Sunday before Christmas, and in the
introduction to his sermon Paul wanted to say, "Christmas inspires
zeal and vigor in our hearts." That is what he wanted
to say. What came out was, "The wonder of Christmas inspires
veal and zigor ..."
Given the times
in which we live, I'm afraid that veal and zigor may be easier to
come by than zeal and vigor-- not because zeal is elusive and pays
only "occasional" visits. It doesn't pick and choose whom
to fill. It is not a prize that goes to those who work hardest at
it, and it isn't a passion we can talk ourselves into. The reason
spiritual zeal is so sparse is because we have built up defenses
against it.
"The
people who walked in darkness have seen a great light."
"We know that. We hear it every year." "To us
a child is born; to us a son is given… his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God…" "Yeah, yeah-we
know that too--Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Tell us something
we haven't heard."
Our ears are
plugged with familiarity. We can't hear the music of God's word.
We don't feel the zeal. So we settle instead for nostalgia with
pleasant memories of Christmases past. We get sentimental about
Baby Jesus, and we him asleep on the hay, forgetting that he came
to turn our lives upside down.
On the other
hand, we don't want be too zealous-- about anything! Who wants to
be called, overly passionate? We hear people saying, "Don't
go overboard! Don't get too worked up! Don't get carried away! Get
a hold of yourself! Settle down! Be rational! Chill out! Cool it!
Let's get something
straight this Christmas. First, God is a zealous God-- zealous about
justice, righteousness, and mercy, and especially about loving his
wayward children. Second, when Isaiah promises an end to all war
and a reign of endless peace, he doesn't say it is up to us. "The
zeal of the Lord will do this," is what he says. And third,
despite the mess we've made of the world, God loves us still and
always will, and will not let our sin be the last word. Kathleen
Norris says, "If God can do this, why not just go along with
it?"
Starting tonight,
why not let God be God for a change and stop being so scared? Rather
than carry the weight of the world, why not drop it and carry the
yoke of Mary's boy that is easy and light?
If you've worn
out the soles of your shoes from shopping and your nerves are worn
to a frazzle; if you think you'll scream if you hear "The Drummer
Boy" one more time; if you're sweating about how everyone in
the extended family will make it through tomorrow without any fatalities;
if you have had it with Christmas pageants and parties and can't
wait until December 26th arrives; if tonight finds you distracted,
worn out, and at your wit's end, that's good! I'm means you are
empty, and when you are empty, that means there is a place for God.
I know that
you know how the story goes, but instead of listening with familiar
ears, let yourselves be the ones to whom the angels say, "Don't
be afraid." Don't think about what to do or how to act or feel.
Laugh if you want to. Cry if you need to. Raise your hands in praise
if you feel led to.
But know this--
you've come to the right place tonight. Just sit still and let the
zeal of the living Word of God wash over you. Sit still and be an
open vessel. Like Mary, take the words in, and ponder them in your
heart.
May the Word
made flesh fall afresh on you, seep into you, and surround every
cell of your being, and may you have a very zealous Christmas!
This
meditation was inspired by an essay written by Kathleen Norris titled,
"Zealous Hope" which appeared in the Christian Century.
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