December 24/25, 2016 is The Nativity of Our Lord

In each heart lies a Bethlehem an inn where we must ultimately answer whether there is room or not
—Ann Weems

Set I

Be not afraid! (Satterlee). Be filled with great joy. God indeed is with us, bringing God’s promised future. Turn from your fear. Like the shepherds, let’s go see.

Isaiah 9:2-7
*The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For all the boots of the tramping warriors
and all the garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
There will be vast authority and endless peace
for David’s throne and for his kingdom,
establishing and sustaining it with justice and righteousness now and forever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Psalm 96
O sing to the LORD a new song!
sing to the LORD, all the earth…
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
let the field exult, and everything in it.
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the LORD; for God is coming,
for God is coming to judge the earth.
God will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with his truth.

Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all,* training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Saviour,* Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.

Luke 2:1-14, (15-20)
Be not afraid. Mary treasured these things in her heart.
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah,* the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host,* praising God and saying,

‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’*

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Set II

Isaiah 62:6-12
Upon your walls, O Jerusalem, I have posted sentinels; all day and all night they shall never be silent. You who remind the LORD, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it renowned throughout the earth. The LORD has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm: I will not again give your grain to be food for your enemies, and foreigners shall not drink the wine for which you have labored; but those who garner it shall eat it and praise the LORD, and those who gather it shall drink it in my holy courts. Go through, go through the gates, prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway, clear it of stones, lift up an ensign over the peoples. The LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to daughter Zion, “See, your salvation comes; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.” They shall be called, “The Holy People, The Redeemed of the LORD”; and you shall be called, “Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.”

Psalm 97
The LORD rules! Let the earth rejoice;
let the many coastlands be glad!
Clouds and thick darkness surround God;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of the throne.
Fire goes before God,
and consumes adversaries on every side.
God lightnings light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim God’s righteousness;
and all the peoples behold his glory.
All worshippers of images are put to shame,
those who make their boast in worthless idols;
all gods bow down before him.
Zion hears and is glad,
and the towns* of Judah rejoice,
because of your judgements, O God.
For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.
The LORD loves those who hate* evil;
God guards the lives of the faithful;
God rescues them from the hand of the wicked.
Light dawns* for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,
and give thanks to God’s holy name!

Titus 3:4-7
But when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Saviour appeared, saving us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to God’s mercy, through the water* of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Luke 2:(1-7), 8-20
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom God favors!’

Set III

Isaiah 52:7-10
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger
who announces peace, who brings good news,
who announces salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’
Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices,
together they sing for joy;
for in plain sight they see
the return of the LORD to Zion.
Break forth together into singing,
you ruins of Jerusalem;
for the LORD has comforted the people,
God has redeemed Jerusalem.
The LORD has bared the holy arm
before the eyes of all the nations;
and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God.

Psalm 98
O sing to the LORD a new song,
for God has done marvellous things.
God’s right hand and holy arm
have gained victory.
The LORD has made known the victory;
God has revealed vindication in the sight of the nations.
God has remembered steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the victory of our God.
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD.
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who live in it.
Let the floods clap their hands;
let the hills sing together for joy
at the presence of the LORD, for he is coming
to judge the earth.
God will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.

Hebrews 1:1-4, (5-12)
Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days God has spoken to us by a Son,* appointed heir of all things, through whom God also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains* all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

For to which of the angels did God ever say,
‘You are my Son;
today I have begotten you’?
Or again,
‘I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son’?
And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,
‘Let all God’s angels worship him.’

Of the angels he says,
‘He makes his angels winds,
and his servants flames of fire.’
But of the Son he says,
‘Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever,
and the righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.’

And,
‘In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands;
they will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like clothing;
like a cloak you will roll them up,
and like clothing* they will be changed.
But you are the same,
and your years will never end.’

John 1:1-14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life,* and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.* 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. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son,* full of grace and truth.

Room in the Inn. Room in Your Heart.

How much room is there in your heart? And for whom?

The human heart is about 5 inches tall, 3 ½ inches wide, and 2 ½ inches deep. It weighs 9 to 10 ounces. So that may lead you to believe that there is only a limited amount of space in your heart for anything. The more you give here, the less you have to give there.

But what if your heart is elastic? What if it can grow?

grinch Like The Grinch that Stole Christmas?

Perhaps God is able to take our zero-sum, hard hearts and do something miraculous. Jeremiah and Ezekiel promise that God will replace our hearts of stone with a new heart of flesh.

Jesus said: Whoever is thirsty, come to me and drink, and out of your heart will flow rivers of living water.

In literature, your heart is the center of your being, your consciousness, your awareness, your priorities.

I have known many people in my life who have been transformed by the birth of a child. Surprised by the power this new person had on their lives, they discovered a love within them that they never knew they had. When they later prepared to have a second child they wondered if it was possible to love the second child with as much love as the first. “ Is there enough room in my heart?”

You tell me. How many of you have had more than one child? Answer out loud: was there enough love in your heart for two or more? Answer out loud: did having a second child cause you to love the first child less?

This is the economy of God. Love multiplies. Miraculously, the heart grows. The more love you give, the more love you have. And it doesn’t just apply to children.

How much room is in your heart? For the world?

Tonight we retell the well-known story of Christmas. A pregnant, teenage, unwed woman and her fiancée desperately looking for a shelter. And an inn that was so full, there was no more room, or so they thought. And so Jesus was born where they kept the animals and laid in a feeding trough.

The King of kings and Lord of lords, the most famous person in history, was born in a barn. The next time they ask you, “Were you born in a barn?” You can answer, “No, but let me tell you about someone who was…”

[Preachers: Yes, I know there are no first century Palestinian barns or stables. I’m aware that Luke never uses the word stable, and that there probably isn’t any equivalent word in Greek. I know that the word for “inn” is kataluma, which is more like an upper guest room. But the fact that Luke says Jesus was laid in a manger, means they were stuck with the animals. People in our culture understand the barn/stable to be the animal’s place. So unless you want to spend Christmas Eve giving people a lecture about first century Palestinian houses, and the fact that people kept animals at the entryway of their home, it’s easier to run with the popular image of the crèche and save the lecture for a Bible study group.]

We all like to think we would have taken Jesus in, but would we? Do we? Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are still at the door. Is there room in our country for the Christ-child? Is there room in your life? In your home? In your heart?

The world is in a refugee crisis. There are now more people displaced in our world than at any time in history. At 65.3 million, there are more people displaced than even in WWII. There are thousands of homeless seeking shelter in Texas. There are 6,000 children in need of adoption right now. The Christ-child is at the door. Is there room in the inn?

Like most of the children born in the world even today, Jesus was born in the most meager of conditions. Jesus’ birth is a statement about divinity and reality. The universe is aligned with the simple, humble people of the world. God has a bone to pick with those who use and abuse power and wealth. Roman imperial theology stated that God was always on the side of the victor. If I defeat you and completely humiliate you, then clearly God wanted me to win. I am the divine choice. The Christian gospel showed the God on the side of the poor and marginalized, the orphan, the widow, and the alien. God takes the form of the powerless crucified one, who was born in a manger.

Someone made room for Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Even though every bed was already filled, someone squeezed them in, trusting that their lives and their hearts were elastic enough to accommodate this itinerant family. And in so doing, they harbored the divine.

Here is the gospel. Here is the miracle of Christmas, Christ himself. Love multiplies infinitely. When we love, when we open our hearts, our hearts grow, and we discover a love we did not know could exist, a love that will not let us go. When we open our homes and our lives, when we welcome the stranger, we find that there is indeed room in the inn, and that it is the Christ-child himself who is present with us.

So how about you? Is there room in the inn? How much room is there in your heart, in your life?

Infinitely more than you could possibly know.

Bishop Michael Rinehart