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December 25, 2008 - Christmas Day
The Rev. Canon Grant Carey
“O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright; westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.
“Starlight, Star-bright, First star I’ve seen tonight; wish I may, wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight.”
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I probably learned to wish on the evening star when I was about five - - looking up at the sky when my family went camping in the Sierras - - Who would be the first to find the evening star and make a wish. I remember being the first to see it and being so excited I forgot my wish!.
How wonderful stars are, especially on a summer’s night; and how wonderful was that star that shown in the sky to signal the Saviors birth; according to Saint Luke the shepherds gazed in wonder as the “glory of the Lord shown about them; and they were terrified - - but the angel of the Lord said to them: “Do not be afraid...;”
And later there was the star that led the wise men to the Christ Child - - from Arabia and Persia, ... maybe even from Afghanistan - - to seek and find and worship the One whom they recognized to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
When I lived in Puerto Rico during the ‘60s, Christmas was celebrated much differently than the way we do today. In those days I can recall seeing only a few Christmas trees only one Santa, heavily perspiring as he stood ringing his bell for the Salvation Army.
Unlike today when Christmas Carols ring out in November and cease abruptly on December 26th, my Puerto Rican friends took the season of Advent seriously. Children went house to house - - pretending to be the Joseph and Mary seeking a place to stay in the inn - - and of course this time they were welcomed and sang traditional songs that told of the Holy Family’s long journey to Bethlehem - -. but it wasn’t until midnight on Christmas eve that things really began to happen.
As I recall, there was an electric star over the church, and as the bells rang out at the elevation of Host at Midnight Mass, the star was miraculously illuminated, fireworks were went off in the plaza, and for twelve days there was non-stop fiesta until January 6th - - when gifts were delivered, not by Santa and his reindeer, but by the Three Kings on horseback - - led to the children’s’ homes by the light of the Christmas star.
What does this star of Bethlehem signify for us?
This light shining in the darkness affirms the loving kindness of God in sending his Son into the world and a specific time and a place.
It signifies God’s coming down to enter into the lives of his people in a way that they could grasp.
And no matter how some might try to explain this event away, the fact remains that the birth of Jesus that star-filled night so long ago has changed forever the course of history. Nothing would ever to be the same again.
Think of it! Had it not been for that wonderful birth 2000 years ago, you and I would not be here today - - there would be no America we know it, no Sacramento, no Trinity Cathedral - - because the all the events of the world for the past 2000 years would have been different. So whether people consider themselves believers or not, the child of Bethlehem has made their lives a reality.
What a Christmas gift that is!
Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the father but by me.”
Christmas comes into our lives to remind us that Jesus is indeed the way. No one, prophet, teacher, sage ... , no one else has shown humankind the way to follow that leads to life in its fullest and its best ... except Jesus. And in following him, he has given our lives both meaning and purpose,.. and his Presence with us, the strength to live victoriously.
And yet:
“How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts, the blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin,
where meek hearts will receive him,. still the dear Christ enters in.”
Saint John in the introduction to his Gospel puts all this into perspective when he says: “What has come into being through him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
True, we may not be living in happy times. But we are not discouraged because we live in hope.
We may not be living in times that were as secure and as well defined as before September 11th. And there is a lot of fear and uncertainty in the world.
But Christmas comes - - and we once again discover the Christmas Star shining in our hearts - - and wise men and wise women are summoned to seek and to experience the presence of God come down, Emmanuel - - God with us;
and surrounded by his light, we rejoice that God is with us still, Emmanuel-el - - that no power on earth can ever separate us from the love of God made known to us in our Savior Jesus Christ.
This is the message of Christmas.
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During the dark days of the second world war, King George quoted these words to people who were also living in uncertain times: I think this Christmas especially it is good for us to hear them as well.
I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God.
That shall be to you better than a light and safer than a known way.”
So I went forth and finding the hand of God, strode gladly into the night, and he led me towards the hills and the breaking dawn of the lone east.”
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May the one who is the Light of the World, continue to illumine our way and grant us joy and peace, strength, courage, and loving hearts as we journey together with him toward the hills and the breaking dawn. Amen. |