A SPELLING LESSON

Christmas Eve 2009

 

            Tonight the waiting is almost over.  As we sit beneath these stars, dancing over our heads, we listen for the angels’ song and a baby’s cry.  Tonight we join the crowd that has gathered in Bethlehem.  It is the night when even the most skeptical choose to believe that in this moment, God is born among us and the world is changed.  Tonight is a night of great joy! 

 

            It may seem a bit odd to you but tonight I am thinking of other now long-ago nights, when my mother would help me study for a spelling test.  I would stand at the kitchen sink, washing the dinner dishes as she moved around the kitchen, putting things away and making our lunches for the next day.  With my spelling list in hand, she would quiz me on each word until I knew them by heart. 

 

            So why, on Christmas Eve, would I be thinking about spelling lessons with so many far more exciting and meaningful things to capture my attention?  I have to tell you, it is because of the Christmas story.  You see, it is because of those spelling lessons that I learned the difference between the spelling of those two simple words – “those” and “this” – but it is in the Christmas story that I learned that the real difference between “those” and “this” is far more important than just a few letters.

 

            We know the story of Christmas by heart – at least we think we do.  Luke’s Gospel begins…“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled” and we take it from there. Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem because that was Joseph’s hometown – that’s where they would be counted.  The whole town was clogged with travelers so Joseph and Mary got a stall in a barn instead of a room in an inn, which was not as bad as we sometimes make it out to be, but still, not an ideal situation when you are about to give birth.  At least it was out of the elements.  There in the wee hours of morning, a baby was born and his lungs filled with air and he cried his first cry and the angels heard it and they alerted the shepherds and from there the message went out to all the world.  The words from Luke’s Gospel shout out “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 Christ the Lord.”

 

            “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus… to you is born this day… a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  Do you hear the difference?  It is so much more than a spelling lesson. 

 

The Christmas story starts “in those days” – in an old time… an old world… an old age. “In those days” the emperor reigned and the world accepted the corrupt power structures of the empire.  “In those days” the only people who counted were those with wealth and status.  “In those days” fear was commonplace and life for the common people was just plain hard. 

 

We know something about “those days.”  We know what it feels like to be lonely or afraid.  We know what it feels like to feel undervalued at work or even at home.  We even know about corrupt power structures of the empire and people being counted for their wealth and status.  So often we find ourselves living in those days.  We stand on the edge of life, afraid to believe, afraid to act, afraid that this Christmas story is too good to be true. 

 

Oh, the Christmas story may begin in those days but it doesn’t end in those days.”  And we who believe the story, know why.  While Mary and Joseph were there in Bethlehem, in the quiet of the night, the time came and Mary “gave birth to her firstborn son and laid him in a manger.”  We who believe the story surely know that the Christmas story doesn’t end in those days.  Along with the shepherds we have heard the angel’s announcement: “Do not be afraid…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 Christ the Lord.” 

 

Christmas comes to life in “this day.” The Christmas story speaks of a new time… a new world… a new age. The difference is more than a few letters.  The difference is the mystery that keeps this night forever holy.  This day God comes.  Emmanuel – God with us – comes.  “Not the God-Up-There somewhere” who lifts us out of our lives, but the God who comes to us in the midst of our lives.  This is the day when God claims us as beloved children.  This is the day we can believe that life is good and all of our days are in God’s strong and tender hands.  This is the day when we can trust in God’s promised future.  This is the day when we know and trust and believe that God is with us.

 

“In those days”… “ to you is born this day” – it is so much more that just a slight difference in spelling.  But just like those spelling lessons when I was a child, sometimes it takes practice to really understand and live the difference.  Sometimes it takes a mentor standing with us and helping us learn the difference by heart.  And sometimes we won’t get it right but this day is a day when grace is born and second chances bring hope for every tomorrow.

 

This night the waiting is almost over.  This night, we sit beneath these stars, dancing over our heads and we listen for the angels’ song and a baby’s cry.  This night we join the crowd that has gathered in Bethlehem.  This night even the most skeptical among us choose to believe that in this moment, God comes in the birth of a baby, born to change the world. This is a night of great joy!