Sunday, 25 December 2011

Occupy the Earth - Grace and Truth in the flesh

Christmas Day year B Sermon John 1:1-14
God speaks… and the universe is created…
galaxies and giant nebula come into being
black holes…cosmic gases…suns and stars…
all the elements that make for life

God speaks and… an un touched…. Hebrew girl
conceives a child

and this child… will become a light for all nations
the light that shines in the darkness promised by the prophets.  

God has spoken…………..and God’s very Word…

Words fade on
become grace and truth in the flesh …Jesus is born. [pause]

In our gospel reading set down for Christmas day
John the theologian…helps us… to understand…
that the anointed one…the holy one… who enters our humanity in Jesus … is the very same Word …with a
capital W… the word…through whom
the whole universe… was spoken into being.  

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and because of this incarnation… this enfleshment
of God’s Word in a child born in Bethlehem
…a relationship of intimacy  is made possible…
between God and all humanity.
slide words
to all who received him…who believed in his name,
he gave the ability to become… the children of God.

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God’s purposes…are to be made clear
in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Where people have walked in darkness and misunderstandingnow
there’s a walking… talking…human expression…
of God’s Word for humanity

this child… born in a manger…
would show us by his life… and by his death
just how God’s purpose of Shalom
of peace with justice for all people…would be achieved

Slide words
Love your enemies…do good to those who hate you…
pray for those who persecute you…make peace
show mercy…be humble…

Slide words
travel light…share what you have to feed the hungry
care for the sick…let the oppressed go free… [pause]

Earth slide
men and women… living in the deadly darkness of fear and exploitation…abuse and slavery…can now see by the light of Jesus’ life and teaching…
that their wellbeing  is what God desires

Men and women… who live in the toxic gloom of pride … and greed and envy …who live in the wasteland of cynicism or the exile of perpetual resentment…

can now see by Jesus’ light…
there’s another way to the fullness of life…

And those who believed in his name…would do what he did
they’d become children of God…as he was a child of God.

Jesus would announce…not the occupation of Wall Street or Aotea Square or Wanaka…but love’s occupation…
of the earth

Word slide occupy the earth
Jesus would demonstrate…
and call his followers to demonstrate
that the purposes of God will not be defeated
by the worst humankind can do. [pause]

Over the season of Advent… our congregation’s been reflecting on some key life questions
for those who follow Jesus

Like ‘How well do we wait for God?’…how well do we prepare for the coming of God’s future?…how well do we make room… for Jesus in our lives?… and how well do we carry… his saving message into the world.

Dare we ask this Christmas Day…
how well… we occupy the earth…in Jesus name…

how well we shine the light of God’s love
into the dark places of our families and our community
and the world…    [Pause]

Baby slide
The revelation of God… arrived in a human baby… tiny… vulnerable… without protection… food or shelter …
except what his parents could provide.

An infant citizen… of a nation…
occupied by force and by fear…

This child would grow to understand his calling
to do what Israel failed to do
to shine the light of God’s justice and peace …….
God’s mercy and forgiveness………………
even to their enemies and oppressors…

This child would die speaking forgiveness
rather than retaliate… [pause]

but that was not the end
by the power of God’s Spirit…the Word made flesh would be raised… and he would call his followers to take the light of God’s love… to the ends of the earth… [pause]

God’s Word became flesh…. and dwelt among us…
full of grace and truth…and to everyone
who believed in his name… he gave the power to be called …the children of God

May the Christ child be born in you today
and may your life be full of grace and truth.

And as we journey together in to God’s promised future … let us pray that grace and truth…
will one day
occupy the earth…