Homily “An
Unforgettable Story” Linda Jo Peters, Pastor
By all rights it's a story
that should not even have been noticed, let alone told again and again across the
millennium. After all, countless young girls gave birth that night and we
remember none of them. Interestingly, the "smallness" of Mary's story
is set off by Luke's narrative setting: "In those days a decree went out
from Emperor Augustus... while Quirinius was governor." Emperors and
governors are apt subjects for dramatic narratives; unwed teenage mothers and
their vulnerable babes are not. Yet Luke locates this simple story amid the
powers and principalities of the age to make a claim: The child born to this
young mother will change the course of history, and the fates of leaders and
common folk alike hang in the balance of his destiny.[1] Now that is an unforgettable story.
How do you tell that
story? Simply read it to the children in
your life. Or follow Roberta and Michael
Conotly’s example and plan to include Jesus’ story in your Christmas
greetings. Post his story on Facebook or
Twitter. Tomorrow morning make a new
tradition of telling the story in a round with your family and friends or sing
carols like we have tonight. Or if you’re
really creative write a poem or compose a song about Jesus. "Cantique de Noël" is a well-known
French Christmas carol composed by Adolphe Charles Adam. It was written in 1847 to the French poem
"Minuit, chrétiens" (Midnight, Christians) by Placide Cappeau, who
was a wine merchant and poet. Cappeau had
been asked by his parish priest to write a Christmas poem. A few years later
Unitarian minister John Sullivan Dwight created a much loved song based on his
translation of Cappeau's text. In both the French and in the English versions
of the carol, the text reflects on the birth of Jesus and of mankind's
redemption. In English it is called "O Holy Night."
I know we may seem
incongruent to the importance of this great message. Yet it is our story. The one we have been given to tell. It is the story of God choosing unremarkable
people to carry the most important message to the whole of creation. The message that God does love us
unconditionally and that Jesus came among us to provide hope, forgiveness and
reconciliation with God and all of creation through his birth, life, death and
resurrection. Like Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds,
we have been given a vital role in God’s saving activity. We are all bearers of the
good news that was born that Holy Night.
Duet sung by Amie and Paul Ellison of “O Holy Night” followed this message.
