Christmas Eve Homily

 

Christmas Eve, 2022

In the Name of Christ Jesus, our Newborn King +

For unto you is born this day... Imagine if you will, just for a moment, the Holy Family there on the eve of the first Christmas. There they are, off in the stable, surrounded by animals and fodder, Mary tired from the ordeal of child birth, Joseph hovering nervously, Jesus lain in the manger. The hallmark, the, dare I say, bulletin cover image of what Christmas should be. Almost the image of our nativity sets at home, and yet – well, those nativity sets need shepherds there, right? Really? We're so used to the shepherds being there, we are so used to how the story goes – do you ever pause and think how strange it would have been for poor Mary and Joseph that a bunch of shepherds just show up, fresh from the field, checking this new born Jesus? I'm trying to think what the reaction would be today if a bunch of random workers just showed up on the maternity ward to check out a new born kid.

But of course, there is a major difference. The shepherds do belong there in that stable, in our nativity sets. And yes, they would have quickly explained the Joseph and Mary about the angel's message – Joseph and Mary would have understood the strangeness of hearing messages from angels. But note what the angel said to the Shepherds – “For unto YOU is born this day.” O Shepherds in the fields, o random strangers who probably don't know Joseph and Mary from Adam and Eve – this child, this Jesus – He is here, He has come, for you. For your good. Jesus is your Savior. And you have as much right, as much access to Him as Mary and Joseph. He will die and rise for your sin, He will hear you when you pray. He is Christ the LORD, and He is for you.

So the Shepherds showing up reminds Joseph and Mary that their family isn't going to be just a personal, private thing. No, this Jesus who is born is God become man to be the Savior of the world. And I would also assert, my dear friends, that the Shepherds remind you of your place in this story, in the nativity scene. This Christ Child who was born, He was indeed born unto you as well, for you, for your good. This Jesus who was born on Christmas Day is the same Jesus you call upon in prayer, the same Jesus with Whom you pray “Our Father”. It's same Jesus who brings you His Word for which you say, “Thanks be to God.” The same Jesus who brings the forgiveness and life He wins upon the Cross to you. The same Jesus who gives Himself to you under Bread and Wine in His Supper. All of this – unto you.

Our Nativities at home often get even more crowded – the Wise Men will be coming, after all. But it would be right, my friends, to not only include them, but it would be meet, right, and salutary to consider yourselves as belonging in that nativity. Christ Jesus was born in the City of Bethlehem for you, after all. And in many ways, that's the depiction of heaven given in Revelation – Jesus in the center, and all the believers of every day and age, from every tribe and tongue gathered around the throne – the never-ending and ever-living victory of this Child who was born to redeem you. Jesus has come, and He has come for your good. In the Name of Christ Jesus, our Newborn King +