Beware of Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing: A Sermon for our Youth/Young Adult Service

 

Grace, peace, and mercy are yours from the Triune God. Amen.

 

The reading for tonight is a set of verses that brings to a close Matthew’s version of Jesus’s sermon on the mount. After spending all this time listening to Jesus’ teachings, the people hear some final lessons on false prophets, bad fruit, and self-deception.

 

Scot McKnight, a New Testament scholar, urges us to turn the beginning of this text back to ourselves like a mirror and ask, “Am I the false prophet of this text?” I will admit that sometimes I’m guilty of this – being patient, kind, compassionate, and all the other qualities that make me a good priest while I’m at the office, the church, or in collar…but then at other times, I can be impatient or easily angered. In these times I pray to understand why this is happening and what I can do to rectify it.

 

False prophets are found everywhere in our world; they are all over the place. Have you ever watched a baseball player hit a homerun and when he gets to home plate, he points to the sky in thanksgiving? Or how about when a natural disaster occurs and someone goes onto social media and declares that God sent the disaster to wipe out *insert any marginalized group here*? During a natural disaster a few years ago, there were claims that God created the disaster to “wipe out the gays”.

 

False prophets are often sincere, truly believing themselves to be messengers of God. However, these are people who put on two different faces – one they know or think their friends, family, or society wants to see, and the other as their true selves. These are teachers or pastors who are “in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves” who are leading believers astray. These are people who will tell you that nothing needs to be done during a crisis because God will take care of it. Pray it away! (Whatever “it” may be.) These false prophets think that every problem has a simple solution. A quick quote from the bible, some thoughts and prayers, and all will be well again.

 

But life isn’t that simple. Life is messy. Life is complicated. So, beware of false prophets who tell you that prayer alone will help. Jesus tells us that bearing good fruit, having action behind your prayers, is what will get you through this messy and complicated life.

 

This brings us to the second half of tonight’s lesson. In these verses, Matthew is telling us that simply calling out the Lord’s name won’t get you anywhere. There is no foundation to your life if you simply put God’s name in your mouth only when it benefits you. Where is your foundation if you claim disbelief in God in one breath and then call for God in times of trouble? With a solid faith foundation, you will be “like a wise man who built his house on rock.”

 

“If you think of nothing but Christ, and do not set yourselves to do his words, you but build your houses on the sand,” says George MacDonald, a Scottish Congregational minister from the 19^th century. To have God as your foundation, you must do more than just live in God’s name; you must also work in God’s name, doing the things that God wants you to do. Superficiality will get you no where with God. Using God’s name in vain will get you no where with God. It is easy to say your works are in God’s name, but it is hard to be sincere about it. If you are insincere in your work, then your foundation will be like sand, and you will sink or collapse.

 

Ask yourself this question posed by Mr. MacDonald, “What have you done this day because it was the will of Christ?” Have you fed the hungry or clothed the naked? Have you forgiven those who can’t forgive you? Have you turned back to save your enemy even though they might not have done the same for you? Simply stating that you are Christian, that you follow Jesus, that you believe in God is not enough. Yes, we have salvation by faith alone, but faith without works is dead. “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.” (James 2:26) Jesus calls for us to not only have faith, but to act on the faith, to work on being in right relationship with each other in order to have right relationship with God. Saying, “Lord, Lord” either as a cry for help or a liturgical acclamation is not enough. We must engage in doing deeds that matches the work of Jesus, or else risk hearing from him, “I never knew you.” And I’m sure none of us here want to take that risk.

 

Amen.

Orange Shirt Day

The following is a teaching I put together for our Orange Shirt Day service. Within the text, I have indicated my sources.

May only truth be spoken and truth received. Amen.

 

(Quoted from https://orangeshirtday.org/ )

 

In the summer of 2021, the government of Canada declared September 30^th to be a federal statutory holiday called the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It is also known as Orange Shirt Day. It is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission Residential School Commemoration Project and Reunion events that took place in Williams Lake, BC, in May 2013.

 

This project was the vision of Esketemc (Alkali Lake) Chief Fred Robbins, who is a former student himself. It brought together former students and their families from the Secwepemc, Tsilhqot’in, Southern Dakelh and St’at’imc Nations along with the Cariboo Regional District, the Mayors and municipalities, School Districts and civic organizations in the Cariboo Region.

 

The events were designed to commemorate the residential school experience, to witness and honour the healing journey of the survivors and their families, and to commit to the ongoing process of reconciliation. Chief Justice Murray Sinclair challenged all of the participants to keep the reconciliation process alive, as a result of the realization that every former student had similar stories.

 

As spokesperson for the Reunion group leading up to the events, former student Phyllis Webstad told her story of her first day at residential school when her shiny new orange shirt, bought by her grandmother, was taken from her as a six-year old girl. Here is her story…

 

READ THE STORY

 

The annual Orange Shirt Day on September 30^th opens the door to global conversation on all aspects of Residential Schools. It is an opportunity to create meaningful discussion about the effects of Residential Schools and the legacy they have left behind. A discussion all Canadians can tune into and create bridges with each other for reconciliation. A day for survivors to be reaffirmed that they matter.

 

(Quoted from “Phyllis’ Orange Shirt”)

 

So, each year, on September 30^th, many people, including Phyllis, wear bright orange shirts to honour residential school survivors and their families. Phyllis’ story is only one among many. We must listen to these stories, and we must learn from our past. By doing so, we can walk into the future without making the same mistakes again. When we wear our orange shirts, we reaffirm that every child matters – the children from every nation around the world, the residential school survivors, and the Indigenous children who didn’t come home.

 

Now some people might be wondering why we still talk about this topic, why we still wear orange shirts on (or near) September 30, and maybe even why we continue to give land acknowledgements before every worship service and every council meeting. Let’s talk a bit about why we still need to talk about truth and reconciliation.

 

(Quoted from https://www.cbc.ca/newsinteractives/beyond-94?&cta=1)

 

In March 2018, CBC News launched Beyond 94, a website that monitors progress on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action. Beyond 94 was the result of a year’s worth of research and interviews with survivors, stakeholders and all levels of government. (According to the CBC website, Beyond 94 was updated as recently as April 2025.)

 

The site provides up-to-date status reports on each call to action, as well as extensive summaries explaining those status reports. It includes in-depth features and short video documentaries that tell some of the community stories behind the calls to action. It also features residential school survivors sharing their experiences. (I strongly recommend you go and explore the website.)

 

In researching the progress of each Call to Action, CBC reached out to relevant governments, faith groups, professional and community organisations for comment. [They] fact-checked each response with invested stakeholders. [They] also cross-referenced federal funding announcements with actual and past financial expenditures. [They] also drew information from past and current CBC stories.

 

Beyond 94 measures the progress of the Calls to Action based on the following;

 

“Not started” refers to Calls to Action in which no action plan has been developed and/or no funds have been committed, to implement the Call to Action.

 

“In Progress – Projects proposed” refers to Calls to Action in which the relevant parties involved have either committed to an action plan or funding, but not yet followed through with it.

 

“In Progress – Projects underway” refers to Calls to Action in which the relevant parties involved are actively working towards implementing that call, with both a timeline and (where needed) the funding to make it happen.

 

“Complete” refers to Calls to Action which have been fully implemented.

 

Now I’m not going to list them all, but I will give you a summary. Of the 94 Calls to Action, 17 aren’t even started, 29 have proposed projects, and 33 have projects underway. Have you done the math? That leaves 15 that are completed. 15 out of 94, since the Calls to Action were created in 2015.

 

And that folks, is why we still talk about residential schools, why we wear orange on September30th, and why truth and reconciliation should continue be at the forefront of everything we do.

Amen.

Sharing My Story on the Transgender Day of Remembrance

On November 19, I was given the opportunity to speak in front of students in grades 6 through 12 at a local, religious school. They were holding their weekly chapel service and wanted to honour the Transgender Day of Remembrance, which occurs on November 20, therefore, I was asked to come and tell my story.  It was truly an amazing experience. It was hard to read a room full of teenagers, however I'm told that many were leaned forward in their chairs, eyes widened as I spoke, and there were plenty of heads nodding.

I offered to stay for conversation following the chapel service. Not expecting much of a response, I was extremely surprised that over 20 students had gathered into the classroom to have a discussion with me. Hand after hand went up wanting to ask questions. There was everything from "how did you know you were transgender" to "how do you talk to people who don't understand". I was impressed that questions arose directly from the speech that I delivered, which told me that, in fact, people were listening and paying attention to what was being said. It was all quite humbling.

Ultimately, we ran out of time to cover all of the questions. I was asked if I'd be willing to come back for a second question and answer period. Of course, I said yes and I hope that it really does happen. It felt so good that I could provide a safe place for these students to ask their questions.

The whole day was an entirely new experience for me. While I've had one-on-one conversations with people, this was the first time I'd been asked to speak in front of a large group, let alone teenagers, and then provide a time for questions. I was ridiculously nervous leading up to and throughout the whole event, but by the end of the day, I was reminded of why I've decided to be so open and transparent about who I am. One of the most important things we can do for young people who are questioning, who identify as transgender, or who want to be allies for their friends is to be present for them and to allow them the space to ask their questions.

I'm not going to share all of the questions and answers, but by divine circumstance, the question that closed the day out was biblical and I thought it deserved a reflection here. The question was, "how do you respond to the argument that God created male and female?" The answer to that question can be found in the creation story. God created land and sea, day and night, and male and female. But God also created everything in between like marshes, swamps, dusk, and dawn. There is nothing on the earth that God did not create. I closed by reminding the room that, ultimately, the one thing that God cares about is love - love for God, love for our neighbour, and love for ourselves. In the end, love is all that matters.

Here is the speech that I gave at the chapel service. For their privacy, I've removed all identifiers of the school.

Good morning,

My name is Reverend Theo Robinson. Thank you for giving me space today to speak to you ahead tomorrow’s Transgender Day of Remembrance.

I am an Anglican priest working in a Lutheran shared ministry that serves 7 parishes in 5 towns throughout the Interlake region of rural Manitoba. Which is really just a long-winded way of saying I spend a lot of time in my car.

I’m a family man, raising two teenage children alongside my partner, and we have a handful of pets – 3 cats and 2 dogs.

While working full-time in my previous career, unrelated entirely to the church, I studied part-time at the University of Winnipeg, earning my bachelor’s degree in theology. I’m a now student at the College of Emmanuel and St Chad in Saskatoon, having just started this year working towards a master’s degree in theological studies. I keep going back to school because I believe that it’s important to never stop learning.

I am also a transgender male.

Considering the reason I’m here today, you might wonder why I listed that descriptor last. Well, simply put, despite how public I am about being a transgender priest, it’s not the only thing I want to be known for. There is so much more to who I am than being transgender.

In fact, it took me 40 years to figure out that I am transgender, and many things happened to me during that time. I was raised in the Roman Catholic Church but had an on-again, off-again relationship with my faith and my belief in God. As a young child, I went to church mostly because it allowed me to spend time with my grandma.

I came out as a lesbian in my early 20s and eventually met the woman who would become my wife. We decided that we wanted a child and that I would carry the baby. The first pregnancy was unsuccessful, and the event became, for me, an emotional first step back towards the church.

Shortly thereafter, I met a woman who happened to be in the last steps of becoming an Anglican priest. Having grown up in the Roman Catholic church, meeting a female priest was outstanding and I was drawn to attend her parish. Throughout 2009, I found myself joining the Anglican church, having found a renewed faith in God and love for Jesus.

Eventually, my wife and I separated, and I met my partner and her child, who I am still with today. Throughout this time, I heard my call to the priesthood, which meant going back to university, at which I didn’t do so well the first time around. I had attended the University of Manitoba for three years, trying three different degrees, and eventually dropped out. I was terrified to start over again in my 30s on top of working full-time.

So, you see, I am so much more than a transgender man. Discovering who I truly am felt like just one more step in this crazy thing we call life. In fact, until 7 years ago, I didn’t even know the word transgender. So, I never imagined that I would be standing here in front of you, today, talking about the Transgender Day of Remembrance.

For those who don’t know, the words “trans” and “transgender” are interchangeable. The prefix “trans” means to change, so “transgender” means to change genders. Someone assigned one gender at birth but now identifies as another gender is considered to be transgender. And this is not a bad thing. The doctor didn’t make a mistake. God didn’t make a mistake. It’s just something that might happen to a person as they discover who they are. Would you fault a caterpillar for turning into a butterfly?

The Transgender Day of Remembrance was started in 1999 by trans advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998. The vigil commemorated all the transgender people lost to violence since Rita’s death and began an important tradition that has become the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Now, I want to take a moment to highlight that this vigil was arranged by an advocate. It is exhausting for an oppressed community to do all the fighting for social justice. Sometimes, the allies and the advocates need to take over, to shoulder the burden of battling for simple human rights like being able to live without fear of being harassed, bullied, or murdered.

According to Miss Smith, “Transgender Day of Remembrance seeks to highlight the losses we face due to anti-transgender bigotry and violence. With so many seeking to erase transgender people — sometimes in the most brutal ways possible — it is vitally important that those we lose are remembered, and that we continue to fight for justice.”

Now, remember, this was said back in 1999. It sure would be nice if, 25 years later, we wouldn’t need talk about anti-transgender bigotry and violence anymore, but the list of transgender lives lost continues to grow every day. Bigotry and violence are on the rise worldwide, and even here in Canada there isn’t anywhere that you could say is 100% safe. According to Forbes Magazine, 320 trans and gender-diverse people were murdered in 2023, most of them transwomen. 4,600 murders happened over the last 15 years.

It can be hard to picture what these numbers mean but imagine the entire student body of this school being murdered over the span of a year. It would be catastrophic to this community. And it’s been catastrophic for the transgender community. In fact, the actual number of deaths could be far higher because so many hates crimes and murders go unreported or are misrepresented in the media. Not to mention that number doesn’t include deaths by suicide, usually caused by bullying, or harassment, or being rejected by friends and family.

It all seems very bleak, and it makes you wonder why anyone would want to live this way. But we must have faith. For the boy who might not feel right in his body so he makes a small change like wearing different clothes or growing his hair out…for him, we must have faith.

For the young woman, who even after making small changes, doesn’t feel right so she starts hormone therapy to change her body…for her, we must have faith.

For anyone who makes the courageous decision to have surgery to medically transition, taking the risk that there might be complications, so that maybe, just maybe, when they look in the mirror, they finally see the person they know themselves to be…for them, we must have faith.

For all the people who are just trying to live authentically, we must have faith that the world can be made into a safer, more inclusive space. And it doesn’t take much to do so. Something as simple as churches, schools, and any other public buildings having single stall washrooms. There are those who protest this type of change, but just think of your bathrooms at home…

Trans people have always existed, and we will continue to exist. And we need all the allies we can get. Once you’ve decided to be an affirming and inclusive space, it’s important to be public about that decision. In a world where the risk of living as a transgender person is increasing daily, trans folk need to know where the safe spaces are, to know who the safe people are, to know that they are loved and supported no matter what, to know that there’s a place they can go when they need an escape. Because they also need faith that there are good people in the world, and that there will come a day when all trans people will be safe to live as their authentic selves.

Perhaps you’re wondering how someone can be transgender and still keep their Christian faith. Perhaps you’re wondering where I find my faith. It’s pretty simple actually. I find my faith in the teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus teaches us about love, compassion, and sympathy. He teaches us that we are all God’s unique creation, and we all deserve to live, to be seen, to be loved. Jesus teaches us that we are all loved, now and forever, and that we are called to share that love with others and with each other.

Perhaps you’re wondering how someone can be transgender and still want to be a priest. It was during the discernment period of my call to the priesthood that my eyes were opened to my authentic self. Of all the people I needed to tell, there were three conversations I was scared to have.

First, was telling my mom. I never felt she was too happy about my being gay, nor did I think she was anything but disappointed in me for getting a divorce. So, telling her I am a man and would be starting hormone treatment was not something I looked forward to. Turns out my fears were unfounded, and she has been very supportive of me.

Next was telling my then-90-year-old Roman Catholic grandmother. Having some ideas about the Roman Catholic beliefs regarding the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, I was very scared to tell her, assuming that she’d want nothing more to do with me. It took everything I had to come out as transgender to her, but once again, my fears were unfounded. Mostly I think she’s just happy I’m a religious man, and she’s definitely excited that I’m a priest.

And then there was my bishop. Remember earlier I said that I was in the discernment period of my call to the priesthood. I didn’t really know where the Anglican Church stood on 2SLGBTQIA+ issues. As far as I could tell, my diocese had never dealt with a transgender person, living openly, and also wanting to be a priest. And here I was, sitting in front of a man who could take away my dream to be a priest in an instant. Bracing for the words “get out” as I told him my news, all I got was, “ok, now what?”

To be clear, despite my fears along the way, I had it pretty easy. Almost everyone I came out to accepted me, asked me what they could do to support me, and have stood by me through thick and thin. Not everyone has it that easy. Children get kicked out of their homes for being transgender. People lose their jobs, get harassed, or are killed for being transgender. Even allies aren’t immune to harassment for supporting the community. I am aware of allies who have received death threats for being publicly supportive of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus says “I am the light of the world”, calling on those around him to follow his light out of the darkness. It was through the fact that my mom, my grandma, and especially my bishop didn’t turn me away that made me realize my call to the priesthood held a second calling – to be a beacon of light to others. I realized that my call to follow Jesus is one of transparency, of being completely open and honest about myself as a way to make the unknown familiar and to create a stepping stone to reconciliation.

For too long, the church, society, and the world, has asked those of us who are transgender to put our lights under a bowl, to keep ourselves hidden away as if we were a dirty secret. My hope is that if I put my light on its stand and let it shine, then others will gain the courage to put their light on its stand as well.

And so, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for welcoming me here to your school, for giving me the occasion to share just a small piece of my story, for the opportunity to bring to light the importance of the Transgender Day of Remembrance, and for the chance to put my light on its stand. May the love and light of Jesus Christ shine through you today and always.

Thank you.

A Manger Full of Hope

Photo by Jeswin Thomas

Christmas Eve

**Please note this service is based on the format of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada. Unless otherwise indicated, all prayers come from Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW). Hymns and other prayers have been sourced to give appropriate credit.

**NRSV translation used for the readings, unless otherwise stated.

Opening Hymn – Glad Tidings

            Listen Here

Carol – O Come, All Ye Faithful (ELW #283)

            Listen Here

Christmas Dialogue

Fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people.

The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all.

For unto you is born this day in the City of David, a Saviour, Christ the Lord.

Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given.

All authority is given to Him in heaven and on earth.

And these are His names: Wonderful Counselor and Mighty God, Eternal Father and Prince of Peace.

Let all the heavenly angels sing His praises:

“Glory to God in the highest!”

Let the whole world join to swell the angels’ song:

And peace to God’s people on earth!

Carol – I Am So Glad Each Christmas Eve (ELW #271)

            Listen Here

Prayer of the Day

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray.

Almighty God, you made this holy night shine with the brightness of the true Light.

Grant that here on earth we may walk in the light of Jesus’ presence and in the last

day wake to the brightness of his glory; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

Carol – O Little Town of Bethlehem (ELW #279)

            Listen Here

The Lesson

This poem promises deliverance from Assyrian oppression, a hope based on the

birth of a royal child with a name full of promise. While Judah’s king will practice

justice and righteousness, the real basis for faith lies in God’s passion for the people:

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this!

A reading from the book of Isaiah (9:2-7)

The people who walked in darkness

    have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness—

    on them light has shined.

You have multiplied the nation,

    you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you

    as with joy at the harvest,

    as people exult when dividing plunder.

For the yoke of their burden,

    and the bar across their shoulders,

    the rod of their oppressor,

    you have broken as on the day of Midian.

For all the boots of the tramping warriors

    and all the garments rolled in blood

    shall be burned as fuel for the fire.

For a child has been born for us,

    a son given to us;

authority rests upon his shoulders;

    and he is named

Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,

    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

His authority shall grow continually,

    and there shall be endless peace

for the throne of David and his kingdom.

    He will establish and uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

    from this time onwards and for evermore.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

The Christmas Gospel and Carols

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

Glory to you, O Lord.

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a

manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Carol – Away in a Manger (ELW #277)

            Listen Here

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “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 the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”

Carol – The First Noel

            Listen Here

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us."

Carol – Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (ELW #270)

            Listen Here

So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

The gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Carol – What Child is This?

            Listen Here

Sermon

May only truth be spoken and truth heard. Amen.

 

The four Gospels present four unique and yet complimentary pictures of Jesus in the way they record the birth of Jesus: Matthew presents Jesus as the King of the Jews worthy of obedience and worship; Luke shows a humane Savior that brings good tidings and liberation to the poor, neglected and marginalized; Mark presents Jesus as Lord that serves in secret and thus shows a new way, free from the fight for supremacy and status; and finally, John presents Jesus as God, who comes as the Word become flesh and shines in the darkness to bring a new beginning in this world.

 

The most well-known and the most recited account of the birth of Jesus (especially if you’re a fan of Charlie Brown!) belongs to the Gospel of Luke, of which we heard today. Luke’s Gospel is an attempt to put in place an orderly account of the birth, ministry, life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Luke wrote his Gospel primarily for a Gentile audience and focuses on the traditionally marginalized and neglected groups in First Century Mediterranean societies. Thus, Luke’s Gospel is full of references to women, children, the sick, the poor and rejected people groups like the Samaritans.

 

This special and caring focus on the neglected and rejected also features in Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus. Luke’s birth narrative is the longest out of all of the four Gospels and gives special attention to the role of the Holy Spirit and to the women in the story. Here the angel appears to Mary (not to Joseph as in Matthew’s Gospel) and it is Elizabeth, and then later again Mary, that each has words of praise and blessings recorded. Luke, in his human focus, records the “homeless” status of Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem, the special care given to the baby Jesus as he is born, and how a lowly feeding troth becomes a crib.

 

As if to further emphasize this consistent focus of the poor and the rejected of society, the angels appear to shepherds in Luke’s account, not to the rich, privileged and powerful wise men in Matthew’s account. It is the ordinary shepherds that witness this glorious event and became the first messengers of God’s peace and goodwill towards people on earth.

The beautiful birth narrative of Jesus in Luke’s Gospel illustrates God’s relinquishing of the divine in Jesus, born amongst the poor and rejected, bringing good tidings of peace and goodwill to all.

 

So instead of singing “happy birthday to you” as we would any other baby, to celebrate the moment we happily join with millions of Christians around the world in remembering the birth of our Savior by singing “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!” We celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace with joy, and praise, and song!

 

And yet, despite being in a season of joy, sometimes we see and hear only the worst of what is around us, neglecting the simplest joys, and thinking that our times are so much worse than those faced by people in the past. Or perhaps we have reached the point of assuming that it's all up to us to bring the peace our hearts long for, with God not bothering to participate at all. Can we even begin to make everything right, without any help at all? Where are God’s caring hands in all of this desperate search for hope?

 

But isn't Christmas about God intervening in human history? Isn't Christmas about God telling us not to give up hope after all, telling us not to believe that we are all on our own? While we can't do it all, we can do something, and if we do this something together, just think of the great wonders God will work.

 

Christmas is a tough time for many, and we are tasked as God’s children to take the message of hope found in Jesus and to spread our love and joy to others, now and all year round. And there is no denying that we can’t forget the suffering of God's children this Christmas season. This may be our biggest challenge: how do we sing, and feel, joy when, for example, people are freezing to death in the streets?

 

The world just seems so dark and hostile. So, I wonder what this Christmas will feel like when so much of the world seems to be in turmoil and the angel’s cry of “peace on earth” seems like more of a wish than a blessing and we who gather to sing carols, light our candles, and hear the Christmas story seem so very small against the backdrop of this troubled world.

Now more than ever, it is important that we become instruments of God's compassion and justice, and sing with our whole hearts, as we strive to put ourselves in God's service, to participate in what God is doing.

 

Think about the angels singing that night, even though Rome had its boot heel on the throat of the Jewish people. Those angels sang anyway because they brought tidings of hope and of great joy. That is where we turn for help in dealing with the news on TV and on social media, and I hope that in some small way we might become tidings of great joy, and a word of hope, to those whom we meet each day. That work is the kind of music, the kind of singing together, that will change the world, and it is the melody God is calling us to join in and sing.

 

So, when you leave tonight, I pray that you will take the birth of Jesus into your hearts, and the joy and love and hope that his birth carries. In Jesus, God has brought us the light we need to shine in the dark places, to bring hope to the discouraged, insight to the lost, and the promise of peace for all those who long for it. It is this vision of the world that is indeed good news of great joy for all people.

 

And as a final thought before we head off to parties or family gatherings, I want to leave you with this thought: Through the craziness and busy-ness that has become the new normal of the Christmas season, remember that the true meaning of Christmas is not the presents…it is family. As you breathe in the story of the birth of Jesus, remember that it doesn’t matter if you don’t like the present you opened or didn’t get everything you want, it doesn’t matter that you didn’t find that perfect gift for the special people in your life. What matters is that you are with your family, whatever shape that might take.

 

Jesus was with his family and that tiny little manger was full of hope and love. We are with our church family tonight, and this building is full of hope and love. Now go to your families and fill your home and theirs with hope and love.

 

May the hope, love, joy, and peace of the Christmas season be forever in your hearts.

In the name of the Creator, redeemer, and sanctifier. Amen.

Carol – Angels We Have Heard on High (ELW #289)

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Carol – Quiet Night, Wondrous Sight

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Carol – It Came upon the Midnight Clear (ELW #282)

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Litany Of Light

The Light Shines in the Darkness

and the Darkness has not overcome it

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us

and we have beheld Christ’s glory

To us a child is born, to us a Son is given

In the Word was life, and the life as the light of the people.

Lord’s Prayer

Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come,

thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those

who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

and the power, and the glory,

forever and ever. Amen.

 Carol – Silent Night, Holy Night! (ELW #281)

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Blessing

God bless you and keep you,

☩ Jesus grant you grace and truth,

and the Spirit send peace upon your hearts,

now and forever.

Amen.

Carol – Joy to the World (ELW #267)

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Dismissal

Christ the Savior is born!

Go in peace. Proclaim this good news.

Thanks be to God.