A Sermon by the Rev. Peter De Franco
The Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist
Luke 2:1-14 [15-20]
2In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3All went to their own towns to be registered. 4Joseph 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. 5He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7And 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.
8In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”[ 15When 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.” 16So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.]
On that first Christmas night, God lifted the veil which separates heaven from earth and God came down to us. When the veil was opened, countless angels slipped through the opening and filled the earth with visions of amazement, with messages of good news, with songs of holy joy. The angels sought out the lowly and the least, the shepherdesses and shepherds watching over their flocks by night all seated on the ground. The angel of the Lord came down and glory shone around.
Angels always know where to go. Whenever God opens the heavens, angels are the first to pour through. When God first decided to take on our flesh, to become one of us, an angel appeared to Mary another to Joseph and started what nobody could image. God, the one whose powerful hand created the universe, would have the tiniest hand to grasp a father’s finger, would have the tiniest lips to drink from a mother’s breast, would become the most vulnerable baby to open a way for all of us vulnerable children of God. That tiniest heart would beat with the immensity of the love which brings each of us into this world, which offers us the hope beyond this world, which touches us in our vulnerability and strengthens us to continue on our journey.
The message of Christmas comes new every year. God continues to lift a veil at Christmas and angels flood the world with the message of peace on earth. God continues to lift the veil and come to us in the humility of bread and wine, consecrated into that very body and blood of the tiniest baby at Bethlehem.
We feel our vulnerability especially at this moment, when threats of Covid infections trouble our hearts, when separation from loved ones breaks our hearts, when the uncertainty of the future shakes our hearts. We are much like the shepherdesses and shepherds, alone, afraid, uncertain. To us, God speaks those same words spoken through an angel on the cold hills of Bethlehem: Do not be afraid.
If any of us would see an angel, we would behold not some lovely lady dressed as a bride’s maid with feathered wings. We might behold the glow of holy love, the radiance of an assuring presence, the surprise of knowing heaven has opened a door and invites us to enter. To enter into a place where we can finally let go of our fear, finally surrender our anxiety, finally know the presence of a God who comes to us with the vulnerability of a child to elicit from our fearful hearts the love every child awakens in us. That love we feel for a child, that love which gives without expectation of return, that unconditional love which strengthens, upholds, and assures us.
Yes, the angels continue to show up at Christmas. They are always there. Standing quietly in the shadows. In ordinary clothes. With simple speech. Open your hearts to the angels. They appear in the most unlikely of places. In the love of gifts given and received. In the feasts prepared and enjoyed by family and friends. In the kind word, the gentle look, the loving smile.
Angels surround us. They invite you to join them. They will startle you with unexpected joy. They will fill you with a happiness you could hardly imagine.
Open your hearts to the angels. Let them sing their songs once again. Let them comfort us weary travelers. Let them lead us to the Christ who comes to us, not as a child, but as the God who walks with us, who is food for our journey, who is comfort and joy.