Sermons for the Month
Filling in the Gaps
DATE: December 10, 2000
SERVICE: Advent II
TEXT: Luke 1:68-79“To all of you Saints here this morning, grace and peace to you from God our Father, from His Son, Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit. AMEN
Three older men were discussing the travails of getting older. One said, "Sometimes I catch myself with a jar of mayonnaise in my hand in front of the refrigerator and can't remember whether I need to put it away or start making a sandwich." The second man chimed in, "Yes, sometimes I find myself on the landing of the stairs and can't remember whether I was on my way up or on my way down." The third one responded, "Well, I'm glad I don't have that problem; knock on wood," as he rapped his knuckles on the table, then told them, "That must be the door, I'll get it!" An Australian travel writer touring Canada was checking out of the Vancouver Hilton, and as he paid his bill he said to the manager, "By the way, what's with the Indian chief sitting in the lobby? He's been there ever since I arrived." "Oh that's 'Big Chief Forget-Me Not,'" said the manager. "The hotel is built on an Indian reservation, and part of the agreement is to allow the chief free use of the premises for the rest of his life. He is known as Big Chief Forget-Me Not because of his phenomenal memory. He is 92 and can remember the slightest details of his life." The travel writer took this in, and as he was waiting for his cab decided to put the chief's memory to the test. "G'dye, myte!" said the Aussie, receiving only a slight nod in return. "What did you have for breakfast on your 21st birthday?" "Eggs," was the chief's instant reply, without even looking up, and indeed the Aussie was impressed. He went off on his travel writing itinerary, right across to the East coast and back, telling others of Big Chief Forget-Me-Not's great memory. (One local noted to him that "How" was a more appropriate greeting for an Indian chief than "G'dye myte.") On his return to the Vancouver Hilton six months later, he was surprised to see 'Big Chief Forget-me-Not' still sitting in the lobby, fully occupied with whittling away on a stick. "How," said the Aussie. "Scrambled," said the Chief. Think you're forgetful? Can't find the keys? Can't remember your neighbor's dog's name? Consider those who suffer from Korsakoff's Psychosis. They have no recollection of ever having keys or of meeting a neighbor, much less a neighbor's dog. And so they produce giant fantasies to make historical ends meet. A Russian psychiatrist identified this disorder a hundred years ago as one of the more hideous results of long-term alcohol abuse. Although KP can also result from an accident or a genetic factor, most sufferers are chronic alcohol abusers with an extended history of nutritional deficiency. Many sufferers bring this disease upon themselves. We are now well into that season of the year when it becomes easy to become somewhat disoriented. Most of us, however, generally have learned how to stay focused amid all the shopping, party-going, eggnog mixing, card addressing, tree trimming, house decorating, neighborhood caroling, gift wrapping, travel planning, fruitcake ordering. We've heard - and listened - to all those sermons of the past -- like mine last Sunday -- that have warned us against getting caught up in the fable rather than the truth. We've learned to manage Christmas, just like we've learned to multi-task everything else in our fragmented world. In fact, we've learned to choreograph Christmas so well, that meaning has given way to management, and spiritual amnesia has set in once again. Here's the point: The confabulations of Christmas, rather than the true meaning, have become our country's reality. A jolly guy in a red suit who looks a lot like Tim Allen squeezes himself down the chimney. He brings toys, and because he gives gifts, we all exchange gifts. And we hang stockings from the mantle with more gifts. There are reindeer pulling a big sled. Oh, and one reindeer has a shiny red nose that doubles as a searchlight in the event of a nor'easter. Frosty the Snowman comes alive and sounds just like Burl Ives. And this year there is a Grinch that's trying to steal everything. Everybody wears red and green. Now I have absolutely nothing against these secular trends and popular customs. They are harmless in moderation, but long-term abuse of this addictive diet brings utter disorientation and ultimately - death. Like Korsakoff's Psychosis, these stories bring comfort by creating a colorful tale to make sense out of the world. However, for Christians it can be the death of us spiritually if not literally. The major television networks are now afraid to air the Charlie Brown Christmas because it contains the nativity story of Jesus. I only know of one or two Christmas specials that even mention Bethlehem and Wise Men and the Son of God being born in a manger. This is the time of the year when most of America suffers from a form of universal secular amnesia. They have forgotten not only the essence of Christmas--the giving to those less fortunate, the concern for justice, the welcoming of the stranger--they have forgotten why we celebrate it in the first place. Now, please don't misunderstand. I am not talking about God-fearing Moslems or Jews who don't believe in Jesus as the Son of God. I'm talking about the average shopper in the mall who doesn't believe in much of anything saving get it all done by December 25. The reason that we are here this morning is that Christmas is a time to remember, not only the relatively recent past: the family trips to Grandma's house, the taste of Mom's spice cake, the way Dad dressed up like an elf, the fabulous joke gifts shared last year at the office but primarily the ancient past, the coming of a Child that would redeem the world. Christmas is a time to remember our history as God's people. Zechariah remembered. Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and amazing things came out of his mouth. Zechariah here remembers Israel's glorious past and the God who made it possible. He connects what is happening with what has already happened with what will happen - in order to maintain the ancient covenant with Abraham, this newborn son, John, will go before the Lord to prepare his way thus fulfilling God's ancient plan. Zechariah remembered. He remembered that God promised redemption - rescue from all the enemies, all the fears, all the dark and deadly realities of life. Zechariah remembered that God promised a fresh beginning, a new dawn. Zechariah remembered that God promised to show his people the path to perfect peace. What do we remember about Christmas? Childhood memories, to be sure. There are the funny stories, the moving stories, the tragic stories of the Christmases of our past. Some of us have created fantastic mental tableaus in order to make sense of it all. Some of us have blocked out the disappointing reality. Some of us cannot remember much of anything.
Here's what we need to remember about this season: * At Bethlehem, God was in Christ Jesus. * That the child came to save us from our sins. * That his name is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, the Everlasting Father. * That he will reign on David's throne forever and ever. * That this child was born to die. * That the Spirit of the Lord rested upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, counsel and power, of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. * That his name Jesus means Savior. * That although born in an obscure village and to humble circumstances, and that although he would write no books and live publicly in the company of men for a brief 36 months, no person has left such an indelible mark on human history as this man. * That the Bethlehem child makes the difference between a life of quiet desperation and a life of meaning, memory and purpose. If we've forgotten any of this, we're likely to fill in the gaps and explain all this seasonal revelry with some other wild and woolly story--maybe something like the savior of the world is fella in a red suit who drives a miniature sleigh with eight tiny reindeer, whose main adversary is a green hairy thief who wants to kill off everyone's joy of the season. It's a spiritual form of Karsakoff's Psychosis. What I am asking my friends is that you remember. Remember, the church/state division not withstanding. Remember, the secularism of the federal law notwithstanding. Remember, the retail ads notwithstanding. Remember that what we waiting for, we who are here is morning, what we are looking for this season, we who have put Jesus Christ first in our lives, is the Bethlehem blessing, the same blessing that came to rest upon us when were baptized, the blessing that will come when we wake out others of their seasonal amnesia and tell them that Christmas is really about Jesus Christ and the life that He brings. Now lets go on the mountain and tell that to the world this year! AMEN