Friends,

Here is my Christmas eve sermon. I may not do the guided meditation at the
end unless the "hubbub" has quieted down a bit.

It may work better at the 11 pm service.

A blessed Christmas and Happy New Year to all! May all our computers work on
January 2! (Leave them off on January 1 rest and enjoy instead!)

Larry Warren
Intentional Interim at Greendale, WI
lwarren@unidial.com


The Silent Invasion
December 24, 1999 - Christmas Eve
"The Silent Invasion."

It was an invasion in every sense of the word, but what a strange invasion
it was. It didn't begin with the thunder of artillery or the roar of
planes and landing craft. It didn't involve tens of thousands of infantry
or marines. It didn't in it's first few hours leave the beaches soaked
with blood or littered with broken bodies. This invasion wasn't announced
in the headlines or news stories around the globe, yet it was an
invasion. In fact it was the invasion of all times — yet how different
from the invasions of humankind.
It began quietly, silently with the birth of a baby — a boy. The only
sound was the cry of the newborn as for the first time his lungs filled
with air. Some astrologers saw an unusually bright star, some shepherds
claimed they heard angels sing — but you can suspect the reliability of
shepherds. Probably less than fifty people were even aware that an
invasion had begun, and few of them had any indication of the significance.
The Silent Invasion, the birth of Jesus, was the breaking of God,
forcefully, purposefully, into His fallen world. Like the invasion of "D
Day", the purpose of this invasion was to liberate, to free, to
overthrow. Hebrews 10:9 puts it this way "He abolishes the first in order
to establish the second." God had come to free his people who were living
under the bondage to fear and death. Again from Hebrews 2:14-15 "Since,
therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he [Jesus] himself likewise
shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who
has the power of death, that is, the devil,
{15} and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of
death."
Jesus came to free his people who had left the garden and replaced it with
the numberless battlefields of history where death had been the only
victor. From the calm seas of eternity God landed on the beaches of
time. He did not come as God in awe and majesty, but as a human being in
his most helpless vulnerable state — a new born infant. A baby, not born
in the safety and security of a sterilized maternity ward staffed with
doctors and nurses, but rather in a stable or a dugout a place fit for and
occupied by animals. The strong of the world would laugh at the thought
that the birth of Jesus almost two centuries ago was the beginning of God's
invasion into this world. It was so silent, so ordinary, and seemed to
change nothing.
But we know, we believe differently. For through the Word of God we are
able to watch that baby grow into manhood. We read how his touch and his
words were able to heal, to make whole, to turn around, to transform, to
forgive. We see how Jesus' teaching and actions of unconditional
love troubled and upset those who were in authority in the religious,
political and cultural establishments. We see how they try to embarrass
and shame him. We see how they tried to out argue him and trap him with
clever questions. They failed time after time and finally quit
trying. The decided to stop him by having him put to death, by having him
mocked, beaten, humiliated and finally nailed to a cross. They then sealed
his tomb with a rock and placed guards outside the stone. We see his
followers, those he touched and loved captured by grief, despair and
hopelessness. But then comes Easter — the rolled away stone, the empty
tomb and the Risen Christ! This one of God could not be stopped. The
invasion of God could not be repulsed. God's power and force moved off the
beach and on to the mainland. It moved to the cities and villages where
people lived their lives. Death could not stop it's movement, nor has time
been able to outlast it. God is still liberating, healing, forgiving,
loving through the one's who bear the name and cross of the babe born in
Bethlehem.
Christmas is the celebration of God's successful invasion into his world —
into our world. An invasion that nothing could or can stop though it seems
so weak and easily buried. Even though the magnificently simple quiet
story of Jesus' birth doesn't seem to stand a chance against all the
demanding, blaring voices of our time, it will be heard. The other voices
will one day fall silent and we will hear the angels sing the good news of
birth to never-ending life.
But we are not there yet. The successful invasion means that ultimately —
finally the victory will be won by God and his love. The enemy, the forces
of evil, know this, but there will be no surrender. It will be a fight to
the end. If anything, the battle grows worse as the force of evil seeks to
hold some ground, to hold some lives. The weapons of fear and death are
still being used effectively. Racism, sexism, nationalism, and terrorism
are growing stronger and continue to enslave and destroy. It seems to be
getting worse hour by hour, day by day. But don't let that fool you. The
Silent Invasion could not be stopped then and it will not be stopped
now. Do not join the forces that would destroy and tear apart and hurt.
Look again to the manger. See the infant and parents. Know that this is
the beginning of an invitation to you to follow, to walk in the narrow way
that leads to life. It is the invitation stand on God's side in the
struggle against evil and death that is still going on. In this world
there are no innocent bystanders. We are either on God's side, spreading
his word, receiving his power, or we are used by the force of evil to
confuse, cover up and to betray. God's side will win with life, and the
evil will ultimately be consumed by the death it uses. Which side are you
on? Will you be filled with life or consumed by fear and death?
The silent invasion - Christmas was the beginning of the end, and the
beginning of the beginning simultaneously. The birth of Jesus was the
initial victory that brought resurrection the ultimate victory. Death
could not stop this one who invaded time from eternity, and it will not
stop those who live his way. If we are on God's side, victory - life -
peace, and joy are and will be ours.
I want to conclude by giving you an opportunity to see and hear the hope
and promise of the birth of Jesus. To see you have to close your eyes, to
shut out all the distractions even of this holy place. To hear you have to
silence the thoughts about your Christmas presents, meals, relatives,
parties, traveling and so on.

With your eyes closed imagine the nativity scene. See the baby, Mary and
Joseph and some animals. Now imagine yourself standing there in the scene
taking in the awe and wonder of it all. Notice that the baby is looking at
you and he seems to smile. Then imagine a voice that hear not with your
ears but with your heart saying to you all that this birth means, using
phrases like:

"Don't be afraid." "I am with you." "I won't let you be destroyed." "You
are forgiven and freed." "I will always be with you, even when you
die." "Follow me." "I have always loved you."

You may open your eyes. If you saw; and if you heard; if you felt, even
for an instant - then you know what the silent invasion was all about. It
is a never ending embrace from the creator of the universe who created each
of us with delight. He created us to relate to him, each other and all in
love and peace, even in a world that seems to be blowing appart. Don't let
anything keep you from experiencing this truth. Joy to the world the Lord
has come, the Lord has come, the Lord has come.
Amen

Pastor Larry Warren