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Christmas Eve 2017

1/2/2018

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Readings: Luke 2:1-20

​The good news of great joy, for everyone—a savior has come!  God’s own son, born to us which is good news for all people.  And his birth?
 
Announced by angels: but not to royal messengers, kings, or even priests…to shepherds—homeless shepherds near Bethlehem.
 
Born in Joseph’s hometown with all the onlookers: animals in a stable—not family and friends.
 
This is a savior who has come defying expectations, in every way.
 
Jesus, the anointed one of God, comes—as prophesied—to bring good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim release to the captives.  And he did so: not by rule or law, or any show of power through violence—but with his very presence.
 
The son of God, brought a message of salvation, good news which shall be for all the people—and that message was given: to the poor, the hungry, the sick—to anyone who wasn’t anyone.
 
In Christ, good news for all the world starts with the littlest.  It starts with the overlooked and forgotten.  It starts with the most vulnerable.
 
Just as God’s presence: God incarnate—came to a young mother, unmarried and pregnant—finding no place to stay in her fiancée’s hometown—announced by a messenger from God along with heaven’s army which…sang.  To shepherds, homeless, just out watching over their small livelihood.
 
Just as God’s presence comes to the unexpected, the undeserving, the least obvious—God’s grace is for all.
 
What has come in this event we call Christmas, is the love of God.  The love of God has come to us, and has come to stay.  Jesus Christ came, died, and rose again—death cannot keep the love of God from staying with us.
 
“Love has come and never will leave us.”
Love has come to show us that hope, peace, and joy starts with how the homeless shepherds receive good news, it starts with how the unwed mothers are welcomed to town.  Hope, and joy, and peace, starts with how the hungry are fed, the naked are clothed, and the sick are provided for.  It starts with how the foreigner is welcomed, and the imprisoned retain their humanity.
 
“Love is Jesus, within and among us.  Love is the peace our world, our hearts, are seeking.” 
Jesus is good tidings of great joy for all the people.  Jesus is love—God’s love for us, incarnate, and found in the most unexpected places.  Jesus is the one for whom we wait, the savior we most need to follow, and the very God who loves us, forgives us, and frees us from all things that would prevent his love to be shared through our lives.
 
Merry Christmas, Christ has come, let all the world hear the good news!
 
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    Rev. Christopher Sesvold is the Pastor at Partners in Faith Lutheran Parish.  In this blog, Pastor Chris offers snippets from his sermon for your reflection and discussion.

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