Christmas Eve homily given by Rev. Frank Clarkson, December 24, 2022.

I’m so glad to be here this night; so grateful that we are here together. After the last couple of years, I don’t take it for granted. That we can gather to hear the story, and sing together, and light our candles. It’s good for us, this ritual of opening up to the wonder and mystery of this night, and this season.

There are those who aren’t with us tonight; we have loved ones and friends who are sick right now, and others separated by distance, and by weather. And especially on this night, we remember those we have loved and lost. If there are those you are missing right now, will you invite them into your heart, and trust that they are with you in spirit? That you can feel their presence, and their love.

The holidays can be complicated, with things to do and expectations to meet. With our memories of Christmas past, and our awareness of what in our lives is broken or unresolved, these things can feel heavy at this time of year. 

But Christmas is actually pretty simple. It’s this beautiful and fantastic story of God breaking into our world, God here with us. Emmanuel is the Hebrew word that means “God with us.” Here in the midst and the mess of our lives.

One of the striking things about this story is how simple and humble it is. The messengers of God appear to a lowly maiden named Mary, and to humble shepherds out working the night shift. The baby is born in a stable, of all places, and laid in the place the animals eat from! The message is clear—if the Holy meets us anywhere, it is in  humble and out of the way places. That God has a soft spot for simple folks and ordinary settings. 

If you’re ever held a newborn baby, you know how tiny and helpless they are. Some of us grew up with images of God as an old man in the sky. But the nativity story says God comes to us as a baby—helpless, vulnerable, wanting and needing love.

On this night, and in this season, we are invited to take this story in, and wonder about these things. Like Mary, to ponder these things in our hearts. 

When I do this, I realize that what I really want for Christmas is just to be here, with you all, on this holy night. And in these days, to be with those I love, as much as possible, and feel these connections we share. To enjoy these simple blessings, and not take any of it for granted. 

Here’s what I hope you will take to heart this Christmas: that God loves you; that the power of the universe knows your name (from “I Remember, I Believe,” by Bernice Johnson Reagon). That you don’t have to do anything to earn this love. It is in you, and among us. All we need to do is accept this gift, and live deeper and deeper into this holy mystery. Trusting that we already have what we need, for the living of these days. 

This is where Jesus got his power—from knowing that he was God’s beloved. That’s why people followed him—they wanted to be near that energy and presence and love. Jesus is a beautiful example, but he’s not that only one, At Christmas we are invited, each of us, to see ourselves as dwelling places for the Holy too. To let that Spirit be born in us. To be bearers of God’s love and grace. 

What if we embrace Frederich Buechner’s invitation? To see “that the world itself is a manger where God is continually being born into our lives, into the things that happen to us.” What if we look for, and expect, the holy to show up in the ordinary places of our lives?

This is my prayer for us, on this night:  

O holy child of Bethlehem, be known to us, we pray,
Cast out our fear and find us here, be born in us today.

Be born in us today.

Amen.