Rev. Linda B. Hirst

December 30, 2001

Luke 2:21-40

 Today is what is known as Low Sunday in the church.  Actually there are two Low Sundays, the Sunday after Christmas and the Sunday after Easter.  Today is a low Sunday, partly because attendance will be much lower than it was on say, Christmas Eve.    But it’s also known as low Sunday because the mood, the feeling in the church is a bit lower, a bit calmer than  it was a few days ago.  Gone is the energy, the excitement, the expectation of Advent and especially Christmas Eve.  Some people miss that - and feel a little letdown as a result. Myself, I’m kind of glad for the break, for the rest from the craziness, the festivity, from the chocolate.

 Personally, I love this time of year in the church - these 12 days between Christmas and Epiphany which is next Sunday.  I love the peacefulness of these days, the quietness of the season - I’m not talking necessarily about what’s happening in my home, mind you.  With two slightly out of control dogs and two slightly out of control boys home for the week it’s been anything but peaceful.  But in the church things are quiet.

 The rushing is over.  All the many services, the concert, the pageant - all these things are behind us.  The franticness of the season is behind us.  Jesus Christ is born. Joy to the world!  In just a few weeks we will begin rushing again.  We will meet Jesus as a 12 year old boy in the temple sitting at the feet of his teachers, Jesus being baptized as a young man by John the Baptist, Jesus being tempted in the wilderness by Satan, then calling his first disciples as he begins his ministry. But that’s then. That’s for later. Right now, we get to behold the infant before us.  For a brief moment, we get to stop and look and be in awe of this child called Jesus.

 We get to ponder this extraordinary thing God has done.

 I imagine that in the ordinary days following Jesus’ birth,  Mary and Joseph did a fair amount of pondering themselves.  After the angels returned to heaven, after the shepherds returned to their flocks.  After the wise men returned by another road to avoid King Herod.  In the quietness of the days that followed I’m guessing that they spent a good bit of time looking in awe at their son called Jesus and pondering this extraordinary thing God had done.

 What was it the angels had told the shepherds?  Be not afraid.  Behold, I bring   you good news of great joy that is for all people.  Unto you is born this day in   the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

 And what had the prophet - the great prophet Isaiah - said about their son?

 "A shoot shall come from the stump of Jesse, from Davidís house and the spirit   of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit   of counsel and might.
  Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist .
  The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid.
  The calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them."

 I can see Joseph holding his infant son in his arms, remembering all these things, looking at him with his eyes wide in wonder and saying, "Here Mary.  You hold him."   How could all the hopes, dreams, expectations of the world be wrapped up in one child - their child?

 And those other things God said through Isaiah:  Behold I am doing a new thing.  I am creating a new heaven and a new earth.  When would this happen?  Was it happening now?  Through Jesus?

 And as they journeyed back home to have their son circumcised and then to the temple to be purified, what did they think when they met Simeon, the man who God had said would not see death until he had seen the Messiah?  What did the think when he said their son was God’s salvation, a light to the gentiles and to all people?  We know they were amazed but were they a little frightened too?   And what did Mary think when Simeon said many will be opposed to your son and a sword will pierce your soul, too?

 As she pondered these words in her heart, did she wish she could change the outcome, whatever it was?  Did she think about running away with her husband and infant son?  Or did she say those words she said the first time the angel came to her: "Here am I, your servant.  Let it be with me according to your Word."

 When they returned to Gailiee to Nazareth with their child did they wonder how to parent such a boy - a holy child.  If he ran into the road should they spank him? Would you?  How would they know if they were doing the right thing?  Could they trust themselves?  Could they trust God?

 And as the child grew  strong and filled with wisdom and the favor of God, did they ponder all that God had done for them, was doing for them, and did they give thanks.

 I spent a good bit of time pondering this week,  as I paused to look in wonder at the child before us, and these are some things I thought of:

 Would Joseph and Mary be surprised to know that their child is still leading us.  That the wolf isn’t yet living with the lamb and the leopard isn’t yet lying down with the kid.  There isn’t world peace yet but we haven’t given up hope yet.  We’re still working on it.  Would they be surprised to know that God is still creating a new heaven and a new earth.  God is still doing a new thing.  It wasn’t over in one fell swoop - it didn’t happen right away like early church leaders thought it would - a new heaven and a new earth as it turns out take time.  It’s being worked out through us - sometimes in great, powerful moments - but mostly it’s happening in and among and around us in very ordinary ways.

 I saw it just this past week when the our sanctuary was packed for our children’s first christmas pageant; and a little girl sang like a dove, and a bunch of angels were incredibly angelic, animals swayed, shepherds gathered and Mary and Joseph looked both sweet and puzzled at all the attention.  And it happened the week before when 10 of us went to Dorchester to minister to those in need - to spread peace and joy and love - and we found ourselves being ministered to as well.  It happened on Christmas Eve when 1000 people came to worship here and the music swelled and voices lifted high in praise sang "O Come all ye Faithful."  And it continues to happen whenever two or three gather to tell the story and celebrate our Savior’s birth.  What would Mary and Joseph think?  Would they be amazed?

 And I wondered about the courage that Mary and Joseph must have had to say Yes to  God, and to raise the Son of God.  They were young, Mary was probably a teenager.  The child wasn’t his.  From the outside looking in, it didn’t look good.  Yet, they stepped out on God’s and found it was enough.  God carried them, journeyed with them, stayed with them through it all.  And I wondered:  would I be that brave?

 When I was in Seminary one of our professors talked about stepping out on the word of God.  How stepping out on God’s word takes faith and courage.  At the time I was interviewing for a position at a church in Connecticut.  I was waffling about it, I thought I felt called by God but I wasn’t so sure.  When the conference minister called me he said, "Oh it’s a great job, you’ll love it, by the way, the senior minister is due to retire next month. You should probably know that."

  "Oh," I said. "Well, in that case, I’m not sure I could do the job...I was really hoping to work with another pastor..."

  "Don’t worry", he said, "there’s going to be an interim but he won’t start until a month or two after you so you’ll be on your own for a while..".

 "Oh", I said again. "In that case, I really don’t think this is the job for me..."

 "One more thing," he continued.  "The interim?  He’s an episcopal deacon - never worked in a church before - but don’t worry you’ll be fine."

 "Oh", I said yet again.  "I really, really don’t think this is the job for me." To which he replied.  "Oh yes it is.  God is calling you here.  Have faith."

 So I stepped out on the word of God and though the ride was a bit bumpy, I did land eventually and God was with me the whole time.  And yet, for every time I have stepped out on God’s word, there have been two or three times I have not.  Stepping out on God’s word - stepping out on God’s word alone - takes faith and courage.  Mary and Joseph had both.  I wonder, if I would have been as brave.

 And, then I pondered was this: would I have been able to go through what Mary and Joseph went though: the humiliation and death of their son.   Would I have been able to go through that darkness and come out the other side?
 As I was thinking about this I came across a devotion by Henri Nouwen called, "Enough light for the Next Step."  In it he says there is so much out there we can’t know or predict.  We can’t answer questions like, "How will next year be for me? What will happen to me five years from now,  ten years from now."

 Mostly, he writes, we have just enough light to see the next step.   The art of living then is to enjoy what we can see and not worry too much about the darkness.  When we are able to take the next step with trust that we will have enough light for the step that follows, we can walk through life with joy and be surprised at how far we go.

 That light is from God and it is God and the light will overcome the darkness.  Mary and Joseph had enough light for the next step.  And we have enough light for the next step, too.

 There is more to ponder of course, some very profound things and some not so very profound things.  I’m still working on the incarnation - the Word made flesh - and when I figure it out I’ll let you know.  And I can’t remember the three wise men’s names, but I know someone knows and will tell me.  But I’m rushing things and the time for rushing comes later.  Right now, we get to behold the infant before us.  For a brief moment, we get to stop and look and be in awe of this child called Jesus.

   God has done an extraordinary thing.  Let us rejoice and give thanks.

 Let us pray:  O God,  we give you our thanks and humble praise for what you have done for us; descending to earth to save us, to give us new life.  We are in awe of your goodness and love and mercy.  In this New Year ahead,  help us to ponder you in our hearts and follow you with our lives for you are all that is good and just and righteous.
Amen.