A Sermon for the First Sunday after Christmas Day
Dr. Robert C. Cavanna
Isaiah 62:6-7,11-12
Psalm 97
Titus 3:4-7
Luke 2:1-10
Christmas is over, says our culture and the world around us!!! For many of our friends and neighbors, the tree and all the decorations are put away today. I even know some people who boast that all the decorations are down and Christmas is basically over on the 26th. For many, today is a day to rest and clean things up so "life can get back to normal," whatever that is for them. In our church, we often refer to today as a Low Sunday. This is also the Sunday in Episcopal churches across the country when a Rector assigns the task of homily writing to a seminarian or regional team homilist if she or he is fortunate to have one in their congregation. It's a day when we don't expect many people to show up at church. The have had enough of church and are content to stay at home.
We have a small family at our house. Both my wife and I have only one sibling - my sister lives in New York and her brother lives in The Netherlands. So when we came together yesterday, we were only 8 people - my wife and I, our two daughters, their boyfriends and my parents. It was a happy and celebratory time but certainly without the hustle and bustle of a large family Christmas reunion. Perhaps because we were so few, I had time to think of all the blessings that God has given to each of us at the table. My parents are still alive with Mom turning 80 on December 29th and Dad 83 and both in fairly good health, our two daughters completing college at the College of St. Benedict and beginning their careers and Alison getting married this coming May. Gina and I are happy and comfortable with where we are at in our lives.
Grace upon grace!!! Yes, from God's fullness we have all received "grace upon grace." What blessings have you received from Jesus, the Incarnate Word made flesh?
As you think about that question, today is also the day not only to ask about our material blessings but also about our spiritual blessings and to reflect on them. Where have you and I been spiritually and where are you and I heading spiritually?
The Christian life is more than just going through life's motions day in and day out all year long! It's about REALLY living - living in that "light " of Christ. "What has come into being in Him was life and the life was the light of all people."
Today's Gospel is tied to the Genesis story of creation and the beginning of the world. "In the beginning God;" "In the beginning the Word." John takes very seriously the fact that in Genesis the creation of light and life and of all creation happens with a word! God said - "let there be light and there was light." The saying is the making. In the beginning, the word.
John identifies light with the life we have in Christ Jesus. "In him was life and that was the light of all people." When John calls Jesus the light of the world, he wants us to reflect and contemplate the full meaning of that message. This theme resounds in his gospel, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the LIGHT of life."
Is the spiritual light bulb on in your life or is it just a 45 watt bulb dimly lighting your way? Do you let your light shine for others? Perhaps your heart has been hardened by sickness and tragedy, perhaps you have become cynical and skeptical over the years, perhaps depression and marital or financial problems are overwhelming you, perhaps loneliness and alienation from your loved ones has left you bitter and negative about life in general. Today and everyday forward from today is the day to choose Christ's light over the darkness, to choose prayer over negative thoughts, to choose the grace of the sacraments especially Holy Communion over keeping your heart closed to God's grace, to choose giving of time and talents to either volunteering to work in a Food Shelf, help with a meal for the needy or just plain helping a neighbor who is alone or handicapped over wallowing in self pity and thinking defeatist thoughts. Take you troubles this morning and ask Christ in Holy Communion to renew your commitment to walk in the way of his light .
I could go on and on with examples of choosing "Christ's light" over darkness. Remember you can't do it alone and this is why we need "community" in the Body of Christ not to only help us choose the "light" but also to remain in it. As each of us becomes stronger in our faith, others will begin to see the light in each of us.
This light will be apparent to all we interact with and with a little encouragement on our part it might result in our bringing others back to Christ and his church. As a member of the Spirit of the Heartland regional ministry team, I want to encourage, challenge and urge you most strongly to "let your light shine with all you know." The Episcopal Church has a lot to offer Central Minnesotans - we are a church of compassion, acceptance and love. We are not a dogmatic or guilt preaching church! WE JUST HAVE TO TELL PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE STAND FOR AS GOD'S PEOPLE! Yes, as a church too we have also received "grace upon grace" but we now have to share it with others.
No, sisters and brothers in Christ, Christmas isn't over!!! It has just begun and it continues today with the receiving of Jesus Christ in our hearts in Holy Communion and everyday thereafter for the rest of our lives. Let's give a resounding AMEN to "Christ being the Light of our lives" and act upon this belief sharing with others our confidence and belief that God's mercy, goodness and love are at work in every facet of our lives. The choice is theirs and ours: to choose light and the Incarnate Word or to choose against the Incarnate Word and choose darkness.
Blessed are those who choose the light of Christ for their light will shine before all to see and follow.
AMEN.