Sun. Jan. 1 Sermon Notes “Refreshing Our Hope”

How was your Christmas? Has anyone asked you that question this week? I want to ask you a different question: If Netflix was going to make a new reality show based on your Christmas this year, what would it be called?

Would it be called, “The Manger Scene?” A manger scene at Christmas is so beautiful and peaceful. Everyone has a serene look on their faces – everything is in its place. Glowing haloes are over the babies and parents. It’s quiet, except for the angelic choir singing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth, peace and goodwill to all.” I really hope your Christmas was like that!

But maybe instead of “The Manger Scene,” your reality show would be called, “The Scary Dream.” Maybe this was the first Christmas since your divorce. Maybe you lost a loved one this year, and all you could see was the empty chair at the table. Maybe you spent this Christmas without a job – without means to buy gifts for those you love. You might have gotten a scary diagnosis from your doctor. This Christmas might have felt like a nightmare for you – one from which you couldn’t wake up.

Our hope in the new year can be refreshed regardless of the “reality” of our current circumstances because of Jesus – Emmanuel, God with us; Son of Man, God identifying with us. With us? Identifying with us? Yes! The first Christmas family – Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus – knew what it was like to have a beautiful “manger scene” Christmas, filled with wonder and awe. But they also knew something about the “scary dreams” as well. We read about it in our gospel lesson for this Sunday.

13 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”

16 When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:

18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,

wailing and loud lamentation,

Rachel weeping for her children;

she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.”

19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 20 “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.” 21 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. 23 There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He will be called a Nazorean.” (Matt. 2: 13-23 NRSV)

Our hope is refreshed in the New Year because whatever life brings our way in 2023 – manger scenes or scary dreams – God is with us.

See you Sunday,

Pastor Sam