Pastor Ray’s Corner
When we think of the birth of Jesus, long ago in Bethlehem, we focus on the family, the shepherds, the angels. We think of the glory on high, the angels’ songs and a brilliant glow surrounding them in the skies above Bethlehem. In short, we think of the “holy night.”
But for the vast majority of people living in Bethlehem at the time, that “holy night” was really a “silent night.” Bethlehem was a village, so maybe as few as 300 people lived there. But some point out that it was a nearby suburb of Jerusalem, so perhaps there were as many as 3000 folks living there. Either way, almost all of them slept right through that sacred and wonderful night, when God became a human being.
Who WAS awake when Jesus was born? Mary and Joseph, of course. And the shepherds – or maybe the angels had awakened them? Probably a small Roman guard somewhere in the village. Maybe even a guilt-ridden innkeeper who couldn’t sleep after turning away a pregnant woman and her desperate husband. But aside from that, everybody slept through the night. For them, all was “calm,” while only for a small handful could it be said that all was “bright.”
2000 years later, WE know the story. WE know that God’ plan of salvation took a major leap forward with the birth of a “child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12). Back then, even Mary and Joseph didn’t understand the full implications of the birth of Jesus. The angels gave the shepherds a very brief summary: “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” (Luke 2:10b-11). But it would take years before Jesus’ true purpose (the cross and resurrection), and his true identity (fully human, fully divine), would be revealed. And some of that would only make sense in hindsight to his followers.
So – if WE had been in Bethlehem that night, would WE have understood the significance of what was happening? For that matter, would we have even been RIGHT THERE, or more likely, would we have been one of the village inhabitants who slept right through it?
More importantly, where are we NOW, what are we aware of NOW? Are we still “sleeping through Advent and Christmas, or are we spiritually wide awake? Are we preparing to celebrate the birth of our Savior, with all appropriate gratitude and praise for God who enacted this awesome and costly plan to save us from sin? Or do we kinda forget all that, focusing instead on shopping, parties, and meals? Not that there’s anything wrong with any of those holiday preparations. But if our yearly holiday madness takes priority, and worship and gratitude come second (third?), then we need to rouse our souls from sleep, watch and listen for the angels, and be ready to greet the Christ child.
“Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning!”
Peace and Blessings,
and an early Happy and Blessed Christmas,
Pastor Ray
When we think of the birth of Jesus, long ago in Bethlehem, we focus on the family, the shepherds, the angels. We think of the glory on high, the angels’ songs and a brilliant glow surrounding them in the skies above Bethlehem. In short, we think of the “holy night.”
But for the vast majority of people living in Bethlehem at the time, that “holy night” was really a “silent night.” Bethlehem was a village, so maybe as few as 300 people lived there. But some point out that it was a nearby suburb of Jerusalem, so perhaps there were as many as 3000 folks living there. Either way, almost all of them slept right through that sacred and wonderful night, when God became a human being.
Who WAS awake when Jesus was born? Mary and Joseph, of course. And the shepherds – or maybe the angels had awakened them? Probably a small Roman guard somewhere in the village. Maybe even a guilt-ridden innkeeper who couldn’t sleep after turning away a pregnant woman and her desperate husband. But aside from that, everybody slept through the night. For them, all was “calm,” while only for a small handful could it be said that all was “bright.”
2000 years later, WE know the story. WE know that God’ plan of salvation took a major leap forward with the birth of a “child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12). Back then, even Mary and Joseph didn’t understand the full implications of the birth of Jesus. The angels gave the shepherds a very brief summary: “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” (Luke 2:10b-11). But it would take years before Jesus’ true purpose (the cross and resurrection), and his true identity (fully human, fully divine), would be revealed. And some of that would only make sense in hindsight to his followers.
So – if WE had been in Bethlehem that night, would WE have understood the significance of what was happening? For that matter, would we have even been RIGHT THERE, or more likely, would we have been one of the village inhabitants who slept right through it?
More importantly, where are we NOW, what are we aware of NOW? Are we still “sleeping through Advent and Christmas, or are we spiritually wide awake? Are we preparing to celebrate the birth of our Savior, with all appropriate gratitude and praise for God who enacted this awesome and costly plan to save us from sin? Or do we kinda forget all that, focusing instead on shopping, parties, and meals? Not that there’s anything wrong with any of those holiday preparations. But if our yearly holiday madness takes priority, and worship and gratitude come second (third?), then we need to rouse our souls from sleep, watch and listen for the angels, and be ready to greet the Christ child.
“Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning!”
Peace and Blessings,
and an early Happy and Blessed Christmas,
Pastor Ray
St. Paul's United Church of Christ
2300 East Main Street
Sacramento, PA 17968
570-682-9828
stpaulsucc.sacramento@gmail.com
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