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SERMONS

Christmas Eve
December 24, 2002

By David Christian

A certain monk once came to a community of hermits. Seeing all the members of the community working, he asked the abbot, "Why do you work for the bread that perishes? It is better to sit at the feet of the Lord and worship him."

The abbot said to his disciple, "Give this brother a book and let him read, and put him into an empty cell."

In the early evening, about the time for dinner, the brother who was reading began to look out to see if the abbot was going to call him to the meal. Some time later he went himself to the abbot and asked, "Have the brethren not eaten today, Father?"

"Oh, yes, certainly," the abbot replied. "They have just finished their dinner."

"Well," said the brother, "why did you not call me?"

"Oh, you are a spiritual man," said the elder, "and you have no need for this food that perishes. We have to work, but you have chosen the best part. You read all day and can get along without food."

Hearing this, the brother realized his error and begged the abbot for forgiveness.

The abbot said, "Worship without work is empty, and produces no fruit."

We have gathered here tonight to celebrate the feast of the Incarnation. We have gathered to gaze upon the baby Jesus. We have gathered with the shepherds and wise men and animals and with the hosts of heaven and with countless fellow Christians from around the world and through the ages to worship at the feet of our Lord.

And it is right that we do this. This is the pivotal moment in the history of creation. In this single act, in the birth of an infant in a small town in first century Palestine, the entire universe turned and began to move in a new direction. In this one act God began the process of undoing all of the damage done by sin since the beginning.

So it is right that we stop to mark such an event. With silence. And with awe. And with wonder. And with joy. And with music. And with laughter. And with celebration.

But it is important that we do not let the moment become too sentimental. That we do not let the moment become too romantic. We cannot remain here forever.

The baby Jesus will not stay a baby. He will grow into a man. A man who preached the good news of the kingdom of God. A man who searched out the lost and the sick and the hungry and the poor and the oppressed. And a man who called those who heard his voice to follow him.

For the last month everyone has been talking about love, and about brotherhood. About peace on earth, and about good will among all people.

Tomorrow morning we will wake up to open presents and to visit with family and to eat wonderful meals and to take long naps.

And on Thursday Christmas trees will be piled up by the curbs and decorations will be put back into the attic and the world will return to business as usual.

But for those of us who have stopped to worship at the feet of the infant Jesus, it cannot be business as usual. We who have heard his voice must respond to that call. Jesus calls us to bear fruit. We must be about his work.

When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with the flocks,
The work of Christmas begins:

To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers,
To make music with the heart.

David Christian
The Chapel of the Cross
Madison, Mississippi