LAKE JAMES

NORTH CAROLINA

Christmas Day, 2006 + Saint Paul’s Church, Lake James

+ In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Well, it’s here. It has finally come: Christmas Day. All the preparations, all the last-minute shopping, the “what did I forget this year?” are past and the pressures of the secular holiday fade, at least for the moment. (Who would even think of putting ads in tomorrow’s newspapers saying how many shopping days there are left until next Christmas?) In many places, people who put up Christmas trees right after Halloween will now take them down and discard them. A local radio station which, for some time had promised to play only Christmas music now resumes the usual fare because, as they explain, “Christmas is over!”

In a way, it’s a relief - the secular world has finished its secular holiday of Christmas, leaving the 12 holy days of Christmas to the Church, perhaps an opportunity for Christians to give some quiet, serious thought to what it’s really about: The Incarnation - The Son of God taking our human nature and living among us. It’s a Christian teaching which has fascinated, and puzzled, thinking people for 21 centuries - it’s at the very heart of our faith.

A wonderful old story, which you may have heard, but which is worth hearing again, tells of a man sitting in reflective silence one Christmas eve, the fire in his fireplace providing both light and warmth as he pondered the question of whether there was any real meaning to Christmas. He thought to himself “There’s no point to a God becoming human. Why would an all-powerful God want to share even one of his precious moments with the likes of the human race? And, even if God did, why would he choose to be born in a stable?” The more he thought about it, the more the man decided the whole idea was simply absurd - superstitious folklore at best and most probably just utter nonsense. If God had really wanted to come to earth, He would have chosen some other way, a more dignified, impressive way, one in keeping with God’s divinity. As the man sat there, his thoughts were interrupted by a strange sound outside. He went to the window and saw a small gaggle of blue geese frantically honking and flopping about in the deep snow. They seemed dazed and confused. He guessed that exhausted, they had dropped out of the flight formation of a larger flock on its way to the warmer climate of the Gulf of Mexico. Moved with compassion, the man donned his warm coat and, approaching the geese, tried to shoo them into his warm garage, but the more he “shooed” the more they panicked. After fruitless attempts to help the birds, the man paused to catch his breath and thought to himself, “If only they could realize I’m just trying to help them. How can I get them to understand my concern for their well-being?” Then, he had a thought. “If, even for a minute I could become one of them, if I could communicate with them in their own language, they’d understand what I’m trying to do and would come into the warmth and safety of my heated garage.” And almost as soon as he had had that thought, he remembered Christmas and a smile came over his face. The Incarnation no longer seemed so absurd. He thought of the ordinary-looking Infant lying in the Bethlehem manger and knew with every fiber of his being that God had done just that - God had become one of us to tell us, in terms we humans could understand, where and how we might be safe, and all because of God’s love.

This morning we have gathered to receive the perfect gift - the gift of Himself which the Lord Jesus presents to us on Christmas Day and every day the Eucharist is celebrated. And although we are unworthy to come to His table, Christ asks for nothing more (or less) in return than that we give ourselves to Him, especially as shown in our love for and service to one another.

This is a very blessed time for us in Saint Paul’s Parish. At the wonderful Christmas Eve liturgy last night the Gospel was proclaimed to parishioners, relatives, family, friends, visitors, the curious, the nostalgic, and the seekers. The Word of God was preached, the heavenly food of the Most Holy Sacrament was given to all who wished to receive it. This morning, we continue that happy celebration, thanking God for the great joy of being one in Christ - the Christ who came to be among us. Let me just add that I count it a wonderful privilege to be your parish priest, sharing with you in the ministry of Jesus Christ in this beautiful part of God’s creation. May you have a truly blessed 12 days of Christmas, and may the coming year be filled with God’s grace in our lives.

+ In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

The Reverend Alfred T. K. Zadig, Sr.

This page last modified on Friday, April 11, 2008 09:39 PM