Christmas midnight Mass 2004

Christmas midnight Mass 2008

Christmas Day= II

Rev. Ken Wratten

Isaiah 62:6-12

Titus 3:4-7

Luke 2:1-20

I loved Ruthie’= ;s mom very much. One of the strongest and dearest memories I have of her is the w= ay she transformed her home every Christmas season. This was NOT just a case of decorating a nice tree and having a wreath on the door. There were sleigh b= ells on all the door knobs; icicles and snow painted on every window; little Nor= th Poles and reindeer on the end tables; a white dove at the top of the tree; = homemade cookies shaped like little Christmas trees; and mounds and mounds of wrapped presents under the tree. It was magical: and it was exciting. And all of her family getting older has had no effect at all of damping the excitement of Christmas. The key to the blessing was to be open to the wonder of the seas= on.

Mom made sure we all= knew that Christmas is a very, very special time. I know that some of the excite= ment I felt was from knowing I would get some gifts; but more importantly, that I had no idea what the gifts would be. There was and always is an air of expectation, of wonder, about what new treasure we will discover on Christm= as morning, right? It might even be a treasure we had no idea we cared about. = But the love of the giver guides them to terrific gifts that we remember for the rest of our life.

Hearing the Bible st= ory in Luke of Jesus birth, no matter how many times I hear it, brings back my exc= itement of Christmas Day. You and I hear the familiar Bible stories of an angel announcing to Zechariah that his wife would bear a son who would become John the Baptist. The angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will bear a son, = who will be Jesus. Angels announce to the shepherds that Jesus has been born. T= he vision of these heavenly beings playing such a visible and active role in God’s plan fills my head with excited energy, like a child (or an adu= lt) waiting to open that secretly chosen gift by someone who loves them.

Angels surrounded Je= sus at ever major event of his life. So who are they? As we explore the OT, we actually know a lot about angels. They are described as members of God̵= 7;s Divine Council, serving as counselors and warriors; they are described as a heavenly army; as agents for God, and as messengers.

They announced the b= irths of Ishmael, Isaac, and Samson: gave reassurances to Jacob; commissioned people= to tasks God wanted done; communicated God’s word to prophets; intervene= d at crucial times to change or guide a person’s actions (Abraham in Gen <= /span>22:11-12); and served as agents of protection for individuals or for Israel as a whole.&n= bsp; Angels are closely engaged in the unfolding of God’s plan in history, and in its outcome. There are angels with charge over the natural workings of the cosmos, and other angelic leaders over the nations.

They are not the sam= e beings as cherubim (Ezekiel 1 and 10), which are winged creatures combining human = and animal features. They are not seraphim (Isaiah 6) which are winged serpenti= ne figures.

Only certain angels = are identified by name; Michael (a messenger), Gabriel (a warrior), Raphael, and Uriel. Their appearances are described in terms of light, fire, shining met= als, or precious stones. Their garments are white linen or white with golden sas= hes. They radiate great light. They shine with the glory of God, and they praise God. They are not male or female. They transcend time. They are strong, have their own language, and are intently concerned with the salvation of humank= ind.

They are created bei= ngs, and were created at the beginning of creation of the world. They have free will= . They serve as guardians of individuals and churches. (So we have an angel!)=

Thomas Aquinas concl= uded that angels are organized in three hierarchies, with three choirs each;

First: seraphim, che= rubim and thrones

Second: dominations,= virtues and powers

Third: principalitie= s, archangels, and angels

Only the last two ch= oirs; archangels and angels have an immediate mission with humanity.

Shelly’s angel story. http://today.msnbc.msn.com= /id/28364813/

Our ability to see a= ngels or even be aware of them seems to depend on whether we are willing to consider= as real the unexplainable: To make ‘wonder’ a spiritual exercise.<= o:p>

Tonight offers many opportunities for wonder. Angels announcing a holy birth; a star moving the wrong direction in the heavens; heavenly hosts singing at the top of their lungs with delight and with praises to God. The vision of these events brin= gs excitement to all. Regardless of stores being on a crusade to use the gener= ic term “The Holidays”, we know that Christmas, this night, consum= es the imagination of most of the people on this planet.

The angels, all the = heavenly hosts, God Himself, burst with the excitement of finally launching the plan that would teach every human being a new understanding of the personality a= nd values of the one true God. Love, compassion, service; beyond all limits. <= o:p>

We are here tonight = because we feel the same excitement welling in our chest that the angels felt; excitement over what tomorrow will bring. We have the advantage of 2,000 ye= ars of study to realize more fully than the people in Jesus’ time, what this= all really means. Only a few shepherds and three wise men from a foreign land seemed to even take notice. You and I know how the pieces fit together; ang= els bearing messages; a virgin birth from the line of David; OT prophecies fulfilled. All showing God’s determination to be with us; to love us;= to guide us.

The excitement of Ch= ristmas Day is an excitement you and I are offered every waking day. As followers of Jesus Christ, every day brings a new offer to revel in what God will be doi= ng around us, and what God will accomplish through us, if we just make ourselv= es available.

Every day is another= day to be grateful to God for the genuine love and compassion and service we see people give to each other, as they try to model Jesus. Every day is another day for you a= nd me to look for chances to be that model of Jesus.

Let’s join the= angels, and rejoice in the plan that God has launched. Let’s join the angels,= and make known to those we write cards to, and make calls to, and talk with over coffee, the new life that Christmas offers every believer in Jesus Christ. =

Let’s join the= angels, and let ourselves be filled with the wonder of it all.

Merry Christmas!