josephholubsermons


 

December 25, 2009  Christmas Eve
Luke 2:1-20

Vulnerable

Luke writes, "And she gave birth to her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn." 

This is a special Christmas for Marcia and me. Our first grandchild, Jace, was born October 30th to our son and daughter-in-law.   We had the opportunity to be with them at Thanksgiving at their home in Kansas City. 

I was so looking forward to holding little Jace for the first time.  As we drove across the seemingly endless prairie of Kansas, I was filled with anticipation, thinking ahead to the precious moment and new life waiting for us.  The time arrived, and we pulled in their driveway.  I could  feel my heart pounding in my chest as we approached the front door.  I think it was the sense of awe I felt at that moment.  Within moments after our arrival, I cradled little Jace in my arms - and I wept!   My heart and soul melted like butter.  I tried to find appropriate words, but the experience was far beyond words - my tears of joy said it all. 

I discovered quickly that things are not like they used to be with babies when we were young parents.  There are so many cool accessories you can get these days to take care of babies. I had no idea.     

For example, the high tech stroller that converts into a car seat is stupendous!  It has a sun shade and mosquito netting.  The seat part is like a protective space capsule that snaps into the stroller and also into the special unit anchored in the backseat of the car.  When it snaps in place, green lights come on to assure you that it is fastened.  I mean "holy cow!"  All we had was a flimsy little umbrella stroller. 

They have a computerized swing and another rocking seat contraption that vibrates and plays music. I could use one of those!  Even the baby bottles are high tech, designed to reduce the amount of air baby swallows.  Swaddling blankets have been outfitted with Velcro so the blanket will stay snugly wrapped around the baby.  

But the thing that really hit me while holding little Jace is that babies are so vulnerable - so totally and comprehensively vulnerable.   The one thing that has not changed about babies and never will   is that babies so need what we have to give them - and we so need to give what they call forth from us - the answer to both being LOVE.   That will never change.  And it’s in that exchange of love - from out of their vulnerability calling forth our love that we realize our most beautiful humanity; that we become most fully and completely human. 

"And she gave birth to her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn."  (Luke 2:7)

The baby Jesus grew up and became a man, but the man Jesus never shed his vulnerability.  He was different from us in that regard.  We grow up and clothe ourselves with the armor of stubborn self-sufficiency that often prevents a great deal of love from getting in or out - or it makes our love very conditional.  Jesus' entire life was characterized by being vulnerable to the vulnerable; by loving the vulnerable: the last and least, those that political and religious powers had marginalized,  dismissed, exploited and oppressed. The inclusive love of God that filled his being and burned in his soul gave him the courage and resolve to cross the oppressive boundaries of his day to love, lift up and affirm those living on the other side.  He clashed with religion when it elevated law over love and social justice.  He removed the dehumanizing labels that were put on people by power.  

You see, by celebrating Jesus as a baby we are declaring that God’s identification with the most vulnerable in this world is total.  The Christmas story proclaims that God is present in the most vulnerable among us, and from their vulnerable station God calls forth from us the best that can be given - LOVE.   The vulnerable of this world so need what we have to give them - and we so need to give what they call forth form us - LOVE in all of its manifestations.  Luke’s Christmas message is an invitation to wrap the swaddling cloth of God's love, as revealed in Jesus, around the most vulnerable among us; to not leave them homeless, powerless, hungry, lost and forgotten, but to bring them home in God's LOVE.    

Christianity at its best and most beautiful always remembers this and never forgets it.  This is the resolute and gracious Christianity that takes the shape of compassionate action, passion for social justice, inclusive love, and the dogged pursuit of peace-making and reconciliation.   This is the Christianity that sees the dignity of each face and each life no matter how different from ours. 

Christianity at its worst and most grotesque always forgets this. This is the dogmatic and self-righteous Christianity that uses the name of God to religiously legitimate fear, prejudice, exclusion, and violence.  This is the Christianity that turns God and Jesus into judgmental monsters and portrays God as always on our side, advancing our agenda.  This is the Christianity that sacrifices grace and inclusive love on the altar of dogma and doctrine.   

"And she gave birth to her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn."

The vulnerable baby Jesus grew up, but he never shed his vulnerability telling his own disciples that whatever they did to the least and last was no different than doing it to him. 

As I held little Jace in my arms and became acutely aware of how much he needs the love I have to give, and how much I need to give the love he is calling forth from me, it caused me to wonder how different the world might be if we loved each other more in that way, in that Christ-like way, and included it in the attitudes we form about others; and the decisions we make about others; and the actions we take toward others. 

If Christmas means anything at all, it means that God takes up residence in the vulnerable of the world, and even in the vulnerable places of our own lives, and from there calls forth from us and others the love that was manifest in the life of Jesus - and with his help, and his strength, and his courage living in us, through faith, perhaps we can love, and allow ourselves to be loved by others in that Christ-like way, bringing the world together in peace like never before.   Amen.