Christmas Day, Year C
December 25, 2024
Isaiah 52:7-10, Psalm 98, Hebrews 1:1-12, John 1:1-14
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“The Light That Breaks Through”
The Very Rev. Kathleen Murray, Rector
Historic Beckford Parish, Mt. Jackson & Woodstock
In last night’s service, the Gospel reading included the manger, the shepherds, and the angels—all from the second chapter of Luke. Thanks to Luke, we all know the answer to the trivia question, “Who was Quirinius?”
This morning, however, we hear the beginning of the Gospel of John, which includes other words we all know: “And the Word became flesh and lived among us…full of grace and truth.”
These profound words from John’s Gospel capture the mystery and majesty of Christmas. Today, we gather in the glow of that mystery to celebrate the Incarnation: John brings us the astonishing truth that God lived among us as a person. God entered our world in human form, not in power or grandeur, but in humility and vulnerability.
The prophet Isaiah exclaims, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news.” These ancient words of hope find their ultimate fulfillment for Christians in the birth of our Messiah, Jesus Christ. Isaiah’s words remind us that Christmas is a message of peace and good news for those who heard it long ago and for us here today. The Word made flesh enters a world that yearns for peace, healing, and restoration of all that is broken.
Especially this year, our hurting and divided world is desperate for the Incarnation. We live, as many generations before us, in a time of fear, division, and instability. Too often, we have hardened our hearts against the strangers among us. And all too often, we hear voices that claim the mantle of Christianity calling most loudly for exclusion and conquest.
The baby born in Bethlehem is not merely a teacher or a prophet but the One through whom all things were created and are sustained. This child is Emmanuel, God with us, and through him, God speaks to us in ways more profound and personal than ever before.
John’s Gospel draws us not to the manger but to the mystery that existed before creation itself: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
As I said last night, Christmas is a lived experience. It is not just about a historical event; it is about the eternal God stepping into time, into our world, to bring us light and life. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not overcome it. Here’s one of those lived Christmas experiences.
In 1914, the lived light of Christmas shone brightly in the most unexpected of circumstances. During the First World War, an extraordinary event unfolded on Christmas Eve. Along the Western Front, soldiers from opposing sides—British and German—emerged from their trenches into the bitter cold of no man’s land. What began as the faint sound of carols drifting across the battlefield grew into a moment of shared humanity. Soldiers exchanged greetings, sang together, and even shared small tokens—chocolates, cigarettes, and whatever little they had. In some places, they played soccer, their laughter and shouts of joy replacing the deafening sounds of gunfire. The war paused for a brief and miraculous moment, and enemies saw one another not as enemy combatants but as fellow human beings. This unofficial truce, however fleeting, was a stunning reminder of the light of Christ breaking through the darkest of circumstances, offering hope, peace, and the possibility of reconciliation in a fractured world.
This light that transformed a battlefield over a century ago still shines today. So, how do we, here and now, live out this cosmic, transformative joy?
Christmas invites us to embody the truth of the Incarnation. Just as God took on human flesh to dwell among us, we are called to take on the posture of Christ in the world. We are invited to be bearers of light in the darkness, proclaim peace where conflict exists, and offer grace and truth in a world hungry for both.
Here in our congregation, we see glimpses of this light through our ministries. Our food pantries ensure that no one in our community goes hungry, offering sustenance and dignity to families in need. Through our partnership with GAP and other initiatives, we provide clothing, school supplies, and support to neighbors who might otherwise feel forgotten. Community events and outreach programs create spaces where strangers can become friends, building connections that reflect God’s reconciling love. These ministries, born of humble acts of service, remind us that the Word continues to become flesh in and through us.
We do this in small, often unnoticed ways: by showing kindness to a neighbor, by extending forgiveness where it is needed, by advocating for justice, and by tending to the brokenness around us. Just as those soldiers on Christmas Eve chose to step out of their trenches into the uncertainty of peace, we are invited to step out of our comfort zones and be vessels of God’s light.
The wonder of Christmas is that God did not remain distant or detached. In Jesus, God entered fully into the human experience, sharing our joys, sorrows, struggles, and hopes. The heart of our faith is that the Creator of the universe loves us so profoundly that God chose to dwell among us, share our humanity, and redeem it from within.
As we celebrate this day, let us carry the light of Christ with us. Let it shape how we see and engage with the world. May we, like the angels, proclaim good news of great joy. May we, like Mary, ponder these things in our hearts. And may we, like the shepherds, go out into the world, glorifying and praising God for all we have heard and seen.
The Word made flesh has come to bring peace, healing, and restoration to all that is broken. This is the good news of Christmas, the news that changes everything. May we give thanks for this gift of grace, and may it inspire us to shine Christ’s light in all we do. Thanks be to God. Amen.