This Christmas is a very special Christmas, because it comes on the heels of a very unique year. The year 2020 has been one to remember. Wildfires have ripped through much of the western United States ravaging property and threatening life. There has been loss of human life due to violence. Some of the deepest political division folks can remember have tested our social groupings often near the breaking point. Many relationships have suffered. But the biggest challenge of all has been the worldwide pandemic known as Covid19.
The pandemic has challenged us in so many ways. Countless jobs and businesses have simply just vanished. Meaningful social interaction and support has been ripped apart by the need to distance and stay home. Millions of people are sick. Hundreds of thousands of people have died. And even though we are thankful for the development of vaccines; we are not out of the woods at all. Our lives have been disrupted. That is why we are worshipping outside and online.
There are a lot of parallels to the Christmas story, actually. There was social unrest at the time of Jesus’ birth too. Jewish people were divided about how to faithfully follow their religion and live under Roman rule. There were extremist movements, and religious and political leaders divided about how to live. There was violence. We read that there was a mandate by the Roman Caesar for a census. We also had a census this year. But this mandated action of the government totally disrupted the lives of Mary and Joseph.
Mary and Joseph were literally forced out into the cold in Joseph’s ancestral home of Bethlehem because there was no room in the inn. Too many people were travelling. So when the time came for Mary to have the baby, they simply had to make do. They had to improvise. They had to think creatively about what they could do with what they had at their disposal. They had a manger, that is a kind of trough for feeding animals. That is where they placed the Christ child, the baby Jesus. Mary and Joseph had to make do.
Right after the baby is born a delegation of angels goes and announces the birth to shepherds keeping watch of their flocks by night. The angels tell the shepherds that a savior has been born. A savior! A savior is born! Christmas is so special because yes it is Jesus’ birthday, but it is also more than just a birthday. The saving work of Jesus begins as soon as he is born. He is the savior! So what is it that a newborn child does to save? He gives Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the animals, and everyone a purpose and a reason to keep going when times are tough. He gives them a reason to make do. Mary and Joseph didn’t have time to wallow in the misery of being out in the cold, they had to take action, they had to make do! Now here we are two thousand and twenty years later and Jesus our savior is still giving us a reason to make do!
Our good friend Jeremy who is also godfather to our children was born early. Very early. He came premature. When his mother Jaimee went into labor the story goes, she was upset because they didn’t yet have a crib for the baby. Greg, Jeremy’s father, was a sheriff’s deputy. As a part of his training he took a course on childbirth in emergency situations. So when Jaimee expressed her worry about not having a crib, Greg simply said, we’ll make do. We have a laundry basket. We can just use that and put a towel in the bottom! Can you imagine the look on Jaimee’s face!? But they made do! Why? Because when you have something as precious as a baby to take care of, it puts things into perspective, and you make do. The baby child saves you from despair and the “paralysis of analysis” and inspires you to take action and make do!
So here we are in the Christmas of 2020. And what are we doing? We are making do! We are meeting outside with masks on. We are working and learning from each other. Our lives are totally disrupted, we don’t like all of the changes, but we are making do. Why? Because that’s what you do as a responsible caring person. You make do, to reduce harm, and preserve life, especially the life of the most vulnerable. Why do we care for the most vulnerable? Because of Christmas! That’s what Jesus was on this night 2020 years ago: a tiny vulnerable child that was also God with us, incarnated, the savior of the whole world.
I remember when our third child was born. I was finishing up pastoral internship in Sierra Vista, Arizona. To be honest I was feeling kind of depressed those days. We would be moving back to Sheri’s family home and just waiting for a call to come so I could pastor and provide for my family. I felt so anxious and worried for my family. It was during that time that my heart felt heavy and burdened. Has your heart felt heavy or crumpled up during the pandemic? I remember holding my newborn child during that time against my chest as I lay on a recliner. As I held the baby child to my chest I would feel the pain and anxiety in my heart get pulled out. I called him my, “poultice.” My heart would warm and I would be filled with happiness and joy. For a moment I started panicking and thinking, is the child absorbing this from me like a sponge? And if so, is the baby ok? I took the baby off my chest and examined him. He had a happy little contented face. He seemed alright, so back he went on my chest vacuuming away my anxiety. Christ the savior does this for us. He takes away the pain and uncertainty during this time of disruption.
Christ gives us the strength to make do so that as we struggle through these days we look forward to better days. We look forward to a world after the Covid pandemic that is better than the world we lived in before the pandemic started. It’s not enough to just go back to the way things were, because things weren’t good enough! Christ doesn’t want normal. Christ wants a world better than normal. Christ wants a better world, and exceptional world, a more peaceful and prosperous world. We know that God is totally 100% committed to caring for and saving this world. Why do we know this, because of Christmas!
Right now millions are suffering from Covid, but millions more were suffering before Covid ever happened. God doesn’t just want to heal us from this disease but to heal us from the diseases of injustice, and hate, and fear, and lies, and sin. God will heal us and lead us into a better world. Why? Because of Christmas!
Right now people are suffering from Covid and do you know what their symptoms are? Of course you do!
People with Covid often can’t smell or taste. That’s bad. But how many people can’t smell or taste because there isn’t any food? God is going to give the ability to smell and taste, but also God is going to lead us to place where none suffer from hunger or thirst! Where every child in the whole world can enjoy the delicious smells and flavors of rich food. Why? Because of Christmas!
People with Covid may struggle to breath. That’s bad. God is going to heal the lungs not just of those who have Covid but the millions of living creatures who breath in toxic fumes of our own making! God wants there to be clear beautiful air over the entire earth. God will heal the earth and make a world where all children can run and climb and play in safety. Why do we know this? Because of Christmas!
People with Covid burn with a fever and shiver with chills. That’s bad. God is going to heal that. But millions more people burn with hatred and or shiver with fear. Oftentimes both! God is not only going to heal the Covid, God is going to heal the hearts of those who suffer from fear and hate. So that all people know the peace of God that passes all understanding. Why? Because of Christmas!
People with Covid suffer from fatigue, which is bad. But how many millions of people all over the world were already fatigued by working not one, not two, but three and four jobs just to make ends meet. God is going to help us beat Covid, but also beet grinding poverty. God is fashioning a world where all parents and adults can have time to rest and celebrate with loved ones, not in isolation but in togetherness. It will happen in God’s time! Why? Because of Christmas!
This Christ child born 2020 years ago is still saving, still healing, still calling us to make do with what we have, and by God’s grace lead us into something better. Something more closely fashioned to the will of God, to the kingdom of God, whose reign has begun, and whose reign will have no end. How do we know this? Because of Christmas! Amen.
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