As part of our preparations for Advent at Mount Olivet, we’ve put together a series of devotionals for the community. These devotionals can stand on their own or be read in conjunction with our weekly worship services. I hope you are blessed by them. The following is my offering for Christmas Eve, December 24, 2020.

Read Luke 2:1-20

“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger.” (Luke 2:7, NRSV). 

At Christmas God did something unexpected in a time when the darkness of fear ruled the day. The Gospel writer ends with the Good News found in the manger. The darkness of fear had consumed the world but now, it is being consumed by the light of the in-breaking of God’s grace and justice. This holy moment is pregnant with the joyous lift of Christ and is signaling a new time has come. A proclamation for the world - those maintaining power through fear and violence have limited time before them. 

God has been on the move throughout the history of creation, present with creation through God’s Spirit, and speaking to creation through the prophets. But in Jesus Christ, God was on the move in a “one-donkey town” through the birth of a child born to parents with meager means. There were no royal decrees delivered or celebratory shouts from the empire. This time of divine action is inaugurated by a “quiet” birth. Quiet, not in the sense that birthing a child is a silent act, rather quiet in the lack of celebratory fanfare. 

The proclamation made signaled the arrival of a new order for the world. A liberator was about to arrive, taking up residence in a manger and trading the fabrics reserved for royalty for bands of cloth, promising to bring peace and joy to all of the world. This infant liberator’s arrival was announced by an angelic chorus, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you - wonderful, joyous news for all people.

Don’t be afraid! Peace is here!

Until this moment, peace in first-century Palestine, and going back through the history of the region was ensured by the sword and rulers utilizing fear to maintain their power. Fear of the other kept the people in line. 

“Follow me, only I can protect you from them.”

If fear of the other did not work, there was always fear of the one wielding power. 

“I have armies and loyal generals. Follow me or you will be struck down.”

The angels proclaimed a new ordering for the world. An order which promised to be different from the ordering of the world by fear. Peace in the Light of God, not peace at the tip of a sword. Fear-based peace is anything but Good News. Fear-based peace is just that, fear. 

The wonderful and joyous news announced by the angels was/is for all people. An announcement that the Light of the World, Jesus Christ is here. Here for all people regardless of forgotten covenants, regardless of how dark the curse of sin has become. The Light that brings peace is here. Let us all of creation shout for joy. 

Prayer – Your Light is here, Lord God. The inbreaking of your divine peace in the Light of Jesus Christ has transformed all o creation. You have transformed me. I give you thanks for the presence of your Son in my life. Thank you for the witness of Mary and Joseph, the Shepherds, and all who proclaimed the arrival of your Son. May the Light of your Son shine in and through me. Amen.