In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. …
He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. John 1:1, 10-11
On Christmas Eve day, I was considering what exactly I should say in the late-night worship after reading Lanecia Rouse’s story of hosting a shelter for homeless men with “Ms. Ruby.” When I myself had first encountered Rouse’s story, it moved me greatly— so I wondered, “Does anything else need to be said ?”
But then I began to pay attention to the song on the CD that was playing, the words that Mahalia Jackson was singing. I had heard the song before, but this time it spoke to me with the same message as Rev. Rouse’s story… and the same message as those verses from the first chapter of John’s gospel. [ask me, if you want a copy of “Ms. Ruby”]
That’s when it occurred to me that I should include this song in the late Christmas Eve service.
Sweet Little Jesus Boy
by Robert MacGimsey (published in 1934)
Sweet little Jesus boy,
They made you be born in a manger.
Sweet little holy child.
We didn’t know who you were.
Didn’t know you’d come to save us Lord,
To take our sins away.
Our eyes were blind, we could not see:
We didn’t know who you were.
The world treats you mean Lord;
Treats me mean too.
But that’s how things are down here--
We don’t know who you are.
You have told us how: we are trying.
Master, you have shown us how,
Even when you were dying.
Just seems like we can’t do right--
Look how we treated you.
But please, Sir, forgive us, Lord--
We didn’t know it was you.
Sweet little Jesus boy,
Born a long time ago:
Sweet little holy child,
We didn’t know who you were.
This Sunday, we will continue to dwell on the birth of Christ by contemplating the meaning of the Incarnation— God becoming a flesh-and-blood human being. We will also get into the season of Epiphany with the story of the wondrous star and the magi who followed it to Jesus.
Christmas and Epiphany are stories chock-full of misunderstandings:
† Joseph could not understand how Mary could be pregnant without another man being involved.
† The town of Bethlehem could not understand that their most important guest ever was the poor pregnant lady from Nazareth, so they didn’t give her a decent place to have her baby.
† Caesar Augustus didn’t understand that his tax plan would result in Joseph and Mary having their baby in the hometown of old King David: ever afterward, the fact that Jesus was born there would be a symbol of his kingship.
† It took the magi awhile to understand that Jerusalem was the wrong place ask the question, “Where is he that is born king of the Jews ?” – and that old King Herod’s intentions toward the newborn king were not good.
† Herod misunderstood what kind of “king” had just been born: he thought that this was yet another rival for his throne, yet another rival to be bumped off— as he had killed so many rivals before.
When we read all these stories, the person who seems wisest is mother Mary: “She kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. John 1:1, 10-11
On Christmas Eve day, I was considering what exactly I should say in the late-night worship after reading Lanecia Rouse’s story of hosting a shelter for homeless men with “Ms. Ruby.” When I myself had first encountered Rouse’s story, it moved me greatly— so I wondered, “Does anything else need to be said ?”
But then I began to pay attention to the song on the CD that was playing, the words that Mahalia Jackson was singing. I had heard the song before, but this time it spoke to me with the same message as Rev. Rouse’s story… and the same message as those verses from the first chapter of John’s gospel. [ask me, if you want a copy of “Ms. Ruby”]
That’s when it occurred to me that I should include this song in the late Christmas Eve service.
Sweet Little Jesus Boy
by Robert MacGimsey (published in 1934)
Sweet little Jesus boy,
They made you be born in a manger.
Sweet little holy child.
We didn’t know who you were.
Didn’t know you’d come to save us Lord,
To take our sins away.
Our eyes were blind, we could not see:
We didn’t know who you were.
The world treats you mean Lord;
Treats me mean too.
But that’s how things are down here--
We don’t know who you are.
You have told us how: we are trying.
Master, you have shown us how,
Even when you were dying.
Just seems like we can’t do right--
Look how we treated you.
But please, Sir, forgive us, Lord--
We didn’t know it was you.
Sweet little Jesus boy,
Born a long time ago:
Sweet little holy child,
We didn’t know who you were.
This Sunday, we will continue to dwell on the birth of Christ by contemplating the meaning of the Incarnation— God becoming a flesh-and-blood human being. We will also get into the season of Epiphany with the story of the wondrous star and the magi who followed it to Jesus.
Christmas and Epiphany are stories chock-full of misunderstandings:
† Joseph could not understand how Mary could be pregnant without another man being involved.
† The town of Bethlehem could not understand that their most important guest ever was the poor pregnant lady from Nazareth, so they didn’t give her a decent place to have her baby.
† Caesar Augustus didn’t understand that his tax plan would result in Joseph and Mary having their baby in the hometown of old King David: ever afterward, the fact that Jesus was born there would be a symbol of his kingship.
† It took the magi awhile to understand that Jerusalem was the wrong place ask the question, “Where is he that is born king of the Jews ?” – and that old King Herod’s intentions toward the newborn king were not good.
† Herod misunderstood what kind of “king” had just been born: he thought that this was yet another rival for his throne, yet another rival to be bumped off— as he had killed so many rivals before.
When we read all these stories, the person who seems wisest is mother Mary: “She kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
Scriptures for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day:
Isaiah 9:2-7; 52:7-10
Psalms 96 and 98
Titus 2:11-14
Hebrews 1:1-12
Luke 2:1-20
John 1:1-14
Scriptures for Sunday, December 27th, 2015
Psalm 148
1 Samuel 2:18-26
Colossians 3:12-17
Luke 2:41-52
Isaiah 9:2-7; 52:7-10
Psalms 96 and 98
Titus 2:11-14
Hebrews 1:1-12
Luke 2:1-20
John 1:1-14
Scriptures for Sunday, December 27th, 2015
Psalm 148
1 Samuel 2:18-26
Colossians 3:12-17
Luke 2:41-52
| “Mini Nativity” by Kate Cosgrove This Christmas-time, as in past years, there is no shortage of good causes we may support. At Bethel, on Christmas Eve and for the next few Sundays, we will be asking you to give to the Christmas Fund for the Veterans of the Cross and the Emergency Fund. Your gifts will support retired and disabled clergy and other church workers, not only at Christmas but also at other times when they have unmet needs. |  |
Blessings of Grace and Peace, this Christmas.
Dan
Dan
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