The Christmas message is so simple and yet so complex. The complexity is in its simplicity. We can say things about Christmas and what it means but we may or may not understand what we are saying.
For example, we would be apt to say, "Love came down at Christmas". What does that mean in a tangible or pragmatic way? What do we mean by saying that? Love came down from where? How do we see love coming down? How do we deal with the fact that love has come down?
We might say, "The greatest gift of Christmas is God's gift to us?" The implication is that God, somehow, gave us Jesus. In what way does that speak to us? How are we to understand that gift from God? How do we receive the gift of God?
We might find a text like the one in John's gospel that says, "Christmas means the word became flesh". Theologians call this "the incarnation". How does the word become flesh? How do we experience the word becoming flesh?
The sermon will explore the meaning and apprehension of the "incarnation". I intend to do this with some stories. The stories will share the depth and meaning of the ideas.
How do you explain the "meaning of Christmas"? What do you think it means to say, "Love Came Down at Christmas"? or "love came down at Christmas"?
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of the blog click on the 'comments' box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
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2 comments:
"Love Came Down at Christmas" -- an interesting phrase. A child's view of "up and down" might include the blue sky as being "up" and the green earth as being "down". Using this physical orientation alone, two people, each on opposite sides of this spherical planet, might well disagree as to which way is Up, since theblue sky where they are is oriented in an opposite direction from that of the other.
So, which way is Up and Down, when it comes to the Spirit of Love? Those versed in metaphysics might discuss a "vibrational" world, where Up might describe faster rates of energy, with Down describing slower rates of energy. At a certain point, energy slows down to the point where we perceive and define it as "matter".
Could this indicate that Love comes down from a higher, undimensional state into the lower, slower, dimensional world of earth and human physicality? Could this higher, undimensional state accurately be called "heaven"? Could the incarnation of the Lord of Love signify "Love coming down at Christmas"?
On that first Christmas night, Love did, very specifically, come down to earth, the earth of a physical body, and began a process that would change the world.
Certainly, Christmas is not the only time Love comes down. Love, I opine, comes down fully in every moment of every day -- so limitless is the eternal flow of God's Love. But, just as solar energy is not transformed into brilliant sunlight without the responsive atmosphere of the earth, Love cannot appear in, through and for human beings, without the responsive, grateful, rejoicing hearts of praise in people, turned faithfully toward that Source of Love.
Just as a battery's electric energy flows, in fact, from negative to positive poles, our allowance of response to God, shown through our acts of service to our fellow man, allows Love to come down to earth, where it is so needed, and be known by people. Love comes down, if we permit it, not just on Christmas Day, but every day.
Pendell's comments are right on target as far as I'm concerned. When we think of how we say what we mean we often use awkward language to do it. The implication that "Love" comes "down" is poetic language and not particularly percise.
It is important for us to gain clarity on what we believe and why and especially this time of year.
Actually, this sermon will strive to say what we believe about Christmas in a way we can better understand what we mean.
Charles Schuster
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