Living in the Light! (Transcript of 'Address')

St Peter’s Alton Nine Lessons and Carols 

December 2015

Christmas is for Children

Christmas is really
for the children.
Especially for children
who like animals, stables,
stars and babies wrapped
in swaddling clothes.
Then there are wise men,
kings in fine robes,
humble shepherds and a
hint of rich perfume.

Easter is not really
for the children
unless accompanied by
a cream filled egg.
It has whips, blood, nails,
a spear and allegations
of body snatching.
It involves politics, God
and the sins of the world.
It is not good for people
of a nervous disposition.
They would do better to
think on rabbits, chickens
and the first snowdrop
of spring.

Or they'd do better to
wait for a re-run of
Christmas without asking
too many questions about
what Jesus did when he grew up
or whether there's any connection.

© Steve Turner

Have you been to see Star Wars yet?

I went last night and if you have not seen it yet, you are in for a real treat.

The big motif of course is a very familiar one that has echoed throughout all the ages.

We heard the very same motif in our reading from John’s Gospel.

The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. (1.9)

Many homes are festooned with lights both inside and out at this time of year. Towns, cities and some villages are lit up with all kinds of light.

There is something deep within our human make-up in the depth of winter, which wants to banish the darkness even if for a moment, for a few days, to bring us hope of brighter days to come.

However, our current darkness is caused by much more than the weather.

We have the darkness of the deformed ideology of IS or whatever name you care to give them. Whose bloody tyranny has embroiled most of Europe as we have seen countless thousands fleeing their ancient homelands in fear for their lives and violence and carnage brought to the streets of Paris.

In our own country, we continue to have the dark scourge of Food Banks and the scandal of them becoming normalized. Moreover, we are seeing the return of some previously eradicated diseases such as cholera, scarlet fever, rickets and malnutrition.

Although Christmass is celebrated as a time of light, it does have its own dark undertone that is very contemporary. 

We have the refugee family fleeing into Egypt to get away from a brutal, tyrannical leader.  

We have the same leader ordering the slaughter of innocent children. 

Arising from this story, we have that incredibly poignant phrase, originally from the book of the prophet Jeremiah…

"A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."

Rachel still weeps, weeps over every child slaughtered whether knifed to death in a gang fight in London or Bristol, or killed in one of the many war zones around the world or by a terrorist attack.

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." 

However, for that to happen we need to consider that this child in the crib will become the Christ on the cross; it is only a matter of time!

Let me read to you another short poem called Ex-Mass.

EX-MASS

Christmass parties,

 Mince pies,

 Carols,

X number of shopping days to Christmass,

School Nativity play,

And out of a dark and dusty corner of the church

   the crib is found.

Baby Jesus (blond hair, white face and blue eyes)

Is placed once more with dignity

In a place of honour surrounded by tinsel

Fairy lights and Father Christmass

The babe of God slips into the world,

And into the hearts of all who love babies.

(Even Herod’s are kept quiet today)

Then back goes the representation of Jesus,

Along with all the other trimmings,

Back to a dusty corner in people’s lives.

Jesus Christ, Son of God, Perpetual Babe

 Save us from our madness.

© Gordon Banks 8/12/83

Is that what you will do – finish with Jesus on the twelfth night?

You will enjoy all the fun and festivities, all the lights and the joy and there is nothing wrong in any of that at all.

For at this time of year we often get a tiny glimpse of how things should be, how God intended things to be.

We saw a glimpse of this on the cold winter battlefields of Belgium and France on Christmass 1914. When the men emerged from their trenches and played football.

We know that it is stupid and ridiculous to kill, maim or injure another human being.

We know that adultery is wrong and child molestation is wrong, that robbery is wrong. We know instinctively that families ought to be happy, loving and caring for each other.

We know this and get such a tiny glimpse and glimmer of hope as we focus, for all to brief a moment, on the Light of the World squeezed into human form and coming to live as one of us.

But what if you took a longer view?

What if you did not put the baby Jesus away along with all the other trimmings on the twelfth night?

What if you tried to make the connection between the child in the crib and the Christ on the cross -made the connection between Christmass and Calvary.

What might happen in your life and in the life of those around you?

The winter darkness will eventually slip away, however the darkness in our world and across our towns, cities and villages will continue.

People will continue to sleep on our streets because they have no home of their own. People will continue to be killed, bombed, blown up and maimed, continue to be trafficked and stabbed and shot.  

All of this will continue to happen.

However, however, however – Jesus came to save us from our warring madness by showing a different way. He demonstrated that until the very breath was beaten out of his body on the cross.

But death was not the end and death was defeated as in glorious triumph we celebrate God raising Jesus from death.

And just in case you are struggling to follow this I am still talking about baby Jesus – only now grown to manhood.

In our reading from John, we hear of John the Baptist of whom it was said…

He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

Jesus followers continue to bear witness to the light.  The dark side will not prevail. 

Again, from John’s Gospel ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.’

Therefore, here is a challenge.

Will you take one of these cards and write on there your contact details. Email is best.

(You will not be contacted by C of E PLC and bombarded with numerous offers!)

The challenge is that you pledge to walk alongside God’s people for one year so that you can hear the full story, to help you make the connections.

You will be contacted a few times throughout the year and invited to come and be alongside God’s people as they remember some of the key points of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.

Or, you can simply wait for a re-run of Christmass without asking too many questions about what Jesus did when he grew up or whether there is any connection.

Jesus said, "The Light is with you for only a little while. Walk while you have the Light so that darkness does not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness do not know where they are going.  As long as you have the Light, believe in the Light so that you might become people whose lives are determined by the Light."

Walking in the Light or stumbling around in the dark - it's your choice!

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From the Crib to the Cross - it is only a matter of time...

Listen to this fabulous modern Christmass worship song that makes the connection...



https://youtu.be/YksTeR61O1I