Marilu Thomas, “Christmas Day 2024”
Good morning and a very Merry Christmas! So glad you are here- no matter who or what brought you here this morning, you are welcome and you belong here in this gathering.
In his Nashville Christmas special, comedian Nate Bargatze did a Nativity skit. Dressed as the Angel of the Lord, he announces to Mary and Joseph, “Rejoice- for God’s son Jesus is born in Bethlehem. Let this day be called Christmas, and let it be celebrated each year by gathering with family, by doing good works in His name, and… by putting a big pine tree in your house.” Joseph asks, “Why a pine tree, Angel?” Nate replies, “No one knows. It’s just the way it is. And there will be lots of songs.” Mary asks, “About Jesus?” “[No]-most of the songs will not be about what’s happening here. They will be about snow and snow-related activities. And the almighty on top of the world is in charge of the day.” “God and his disciples, you mean?” “No, Santa, and his elves.” Mary asks a key question, “Angel, how much of Christmas will be about Santa, and how much will be about Jesus?” “90-10 Santa,” he answers. Sleighing songs, pine trees with glass balls, and egg nog make for a cozy winter day, but if you’re here this morning, you need more than that.
A little confession. Growing up, Christmas meant sitting through Christmas Eve services so that we could open a present before we went to bed. I liked the story—it was somewhat romantic. Joseph and Mary have a baby by starlight with drummer boys, angels, and Wise Guys with gold. Don’t forget the presents and food. As an adult, though, it started to feel more like a performance than a romance. Decorations, wrapping, mailing, cooking, baking, corporate parties, angel costumes. I thought God expected it all as a gift back to Him. And perfectly. I believed in God—of course I did. Who else made the sun, moon, and stars, put the planets in their orbits, created us from dust, and will catch our last breath? But the Jesus part—especially coming as a baby. What did that have to do with God? The Son part confused me—Joseph was a stand-in for the Holy Spirit. If you had asked me on Christmas morning what the birth of Jesus meant, I would have answered, “Being a good person like He was.” I was 90 God- 10 Jesus.
If you’re in the same boat, wondering what Jesus has to do with anything, I’m glad you came today. I had lots of questions about the Jesus part of this equation, but it felt like when I asked, “Why would God come as a baby?” or “What does a Messiah save you from?” I was told, “You just have to believe.” Well, I wanted to use the brain God gave me, so I went to Seminary. To save you from the expense and all those books, I’ll tell you what I learned. Ricky Bobby in Talladega Nights was right—baby Jesus is a favorite. Here’s why:
The story of Christmas is a love story. Out of love, God squeezed Godself into a human body to be here with us. You already have evidence of great love like this. Haven’t you had the inclination to want to be with someone or be beamed to where someone you love is suffering? Just to be with them? I know when one of my daughters or grandchildren are struggling, I want to be right there with them. I may not be able to fix anything, but I can hug them and listen. That impulse in you is the same mercy that God has towards you. It is why God is no longer an ‘it’ but came in the person of Jesus. You can’t have a relationship with an it—but you can with a person.
Throughout the Old Testament, the people are afraid of God because God has never been seen. They didn’t know how to act relationally with an unseen God. So, God became human to say, “You are not alone. I love you so much that I came to be with you in your humanness.” God is complete in the baby and yet not terrifying or judgy. It’s a perfect plan. Jesus is God—the very heart of God beating in love for you. When you look into the cradle, you are looking at God’s heart made human for your sake.
What I had a hard time getting was why God would do this for me—without strings attached. I grew up Catholic—I knew about guilt and heavenly scorecards. I went to confession every Friday with my list of venial sins. I thought guilt was my part and judging was God’s part. I had it wrong. My experience is now that Jesus is what God did for me without me doing one thing to deserve it. The heavy feelings of not getting it right, not being enough to keep it going, or disappointing the world were what Jesus came to absorb, to take away so I could breathe again. A life lived under the dead weight of self-sufficiency is no life at all. This is what God came to save us from. Jesus is God’s grace, making its way under our radar as an innocuous baby. The message is that you don’t have to try so hard to be here. That you exist at all is a miracle. Jesus came to save you from yourself—the self-recrimination, the self-hate, the self-engineering, and the self-sufficiency.
In our gospel today, the words ‘good news’ and ‘glad tidings’ indicate that this is not a fable or a myth but an event that changed history. News is a happening that affects people’s lives. “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” It’s true. Not a myth, not a fable. Jesus, God with us, God came as a human in the usual human way to be with us. Love came to us at Christmas.
As you leave this sanctuary today, carry this thought with you. Jesus is the undiluted grace of God, come to save you from yourself. Joy to the World, the savior has come. Let Earth—and you- receive the King of your heart. Trust this Good News, and do notbe afraid.
Amen.
