This sermon was preached at Glenwood and Canoe Ridge Lutheran Churches, Decorah, Iowa on December 24, 2018. It’s based on Isaiah 9:2-7; Titus 2:11-14 and Luke 2:1-20. If you’d prefer to listen to it, find it at https://soundcloud.com/stacey-nalean-carlson.
Isaiah 9:2-7
2The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
3You 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.
4For 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.
5For all the boots of the tramping warriors
and all the garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
6For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7His 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 onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Titus 2:11-14
11The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, 12training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, 13while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
Luke 2:1-20
The grace of God has appeared. Do you see it?
A great light is shining. Do you see it?
To you is born this day a Savior. Don’t be afraid. See.
The shepherds were watching their flocks. They were on the lookout for danger—approaching storms, deep ravines, wild animals, treacherous thieves. The angel invites them to look for something else, to see not reason to fear, but cause for joy. To you is born this day a Savior.
And the shepherds respond to the invitation. They say to one another, Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that the Lord has made known to us. So they went…and saw the promised child. They went…and saw the grace of God, a great light shining for all this weary world. They went…and saw their Savior.
It makes me wonder. Am I on the lookout for threats—real and perceived—or on the lookout for grace? When I look at the world, am I more apt to see reasons to fear, or causes for joy? Do I see the landscape around me through the lens of angel song (Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace) or through the lens of a 24-hour news cycle?
Throughout the season of Advent, I participated in a photo-a-day challenge that compelled me to seek God’s word in the world around me…every single day. And it was there…in the sunrise, in the quarry, on the trail to Pulpit Rock, and on the Bolson Bridge. It was there…where it had always been.
Today’s word is peace, and it is here. Take a look through the lens of the angels’ song: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom God favors. You, favored ones…you, beloved ones…here is God’s peace.
It surrounds you here, in the gathering of God’s people. It feeds you here, through the bread and the wine, Christ’s body and blood given for you. It comes to you here, in candles lit and lifted high, the light of Christ no darkness can overcome.
And when we leave this sanctuary, we go in peace—God’s peace propelling us to share the good news, to be the good news, to look for the good news everywhere we go.
I held a newborn baby in my arms yesterday, and time stood still. Everything I’d been fretting about fell away. There was nowhere else to be, nothing else to do. There was only her. The grace of God. A shining light.
This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.
Go. Go to the manger. Go to the communion table. Go to the baptismal font.
Go to the hospital, the nursing home, the shelter, the daycare.
Go to the ones you know. Go to the ones you’ve yet to meet.
Go to the classroom, the office, the kitchen.
Go to the field, the river, the bluff.
Go farther than you ever thought you’d go, farther than you dare.
Go to a new place. Go to the familiar places. Go home.
And see your Savior. See the power of vulnerability. See the persistence of grace. See the possibility of a world set free.
See the promise of God.
There’s nowhere else to be, nothing else to do. There’s only Jesus. There’s only peace. Amen.
This is such an important and grace-filled message, Stacey, thank you.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting, Caroline. God’s peace be with you.