Sermon for Christmas Day
A Savior for You
By The Rev. Eric Christopher Shafer -
Several years ago, a pastor friend of mine wrote a wonderful Christmas message that I would like to share with you today.
Pastor Tim Wengert imagined writing a letter to God about Christmas and how we celebrate it today. In his imaginary letter to God, Pastor Tim noted how Christmas has become for so many, not a celebration of Christ’s birth, but more about buying and getting and partying, over-eating and over-drinking. He bemoaned all of this in his letter to God, especially the loss of the true meaning of Christmas for so many and asked if Christmas had also become as meaningless for God.
Then Pastor Tim imagined what God’s response might be. Here is God’s letter to him:
Dear Tim,
A long, long time ago, a man by the name of Luke was wondering the same thing as you are, what is the true meaning of Christmas. And I reminded him of what happened that very first Christmas.
In order to tell the world what Christmas, the birth of my Son Jesus, meant to me, I sent a messenger to earth. That messenger, you call him an angel, explained to shepherds exactly what Christmas means to me. I haven’t changed my mind.
In Luke’s Gospel you will read: “And a Lord’s messenger stood before them, and the Lord’s glory shown around them, and they were frightfully frightened. And the messenger said to them: ‘Don’t be frightened. For look here! I happily announce to you a great joy (which will be for all the people) that today in David’s town a Savior is born for you, who is Christ, who is Lord. And this is the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped tight in a receiving blanket and lying in a manger.’”
God continued, You see, Tim, what Christmas really means doesn’t depend upon how well you celebrate, or upon how distressed you get at how other people don’t celebrate; what Christmas really means depends upon me.
If you listen to what my messenger says, then you’ll hear what Christmas means to me.
First, it means you don’t have to be frightened. So much of your over-doing stems from fear—fear of the opinions of others, fear of death, fear of me. But my messenger has good news for you. He says, “Do not be afraid.” Don’t be frightened. God is in the business of spreading joy and happiness.
Second, Christmas means that we are all in this together. My messenger did not say—a savior is born for the Russians only, or for the Martians only. Or a savior is born for some people, good people, or religious people. No, a thousand times no! “A savior is born for you.” For you, Tim! And for each and every person who hears the angel’s message: A savior from your over-eating and over-drinking, a savior from your over-buying and over-consuming, a savior FOR YOU.
Finally, as your advertisement for greeting cards used to say, Christmas means that I cared to send the very best. The baby lying in a manger, crying for his mother’s milk, sleeping in his mother’s arms is Christ, the Lord. The best that I, God the Father, have to offer is God the Son. He will show you that my heart is one of love and forgiveness, of grace and truth.
So, there you have it. My angel-messenger tells you what Christmas really means. It means that you don’t have to be frightened in life or death. It means that we, you and I, are in this world together. That is, that this savior was sent, not just for others, but for you. And finally, it means that I have cared to send the very best, my own Son, to save you and the whole world from sin and death.
That is what Christmas means to me.
Yours truly in Christ,
God the Father
That’s what Pastor Tim imagined God would write to him at Christmas.
We no longer need to fear life or death. God sent a savior for everyone, including you and me. God cared enough to send God’s very best, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Thanks be to God!
Merry Christmas.
Amen.
(From a Christmas meditation written by the Rev. Dr. Timothy J. Wengert).
The Rev. Eric Christopher Shafer
Senior Pastor - Mt. Olive Lutheran Church
Santa Monica, California
December 25, 2019
