SILENT Night?
Sermon by Dwyn M. Mounger, M.Div., Ph.D.
Interim Pastor, Community Presbyterian Church
Deerfield Beach, Florida, Dec. 24, 2009
CHRISTMAS EVE - Candle & Carol Service.
Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96 (responsorial); Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-20 (King James Version, read in the middle of the Nave, with the Gospel illuminated by the torch-bearers).
No two
families in this sanctuary this evening celebrate Christmas
in exactly the same way. Think about it. Some of
you will give each other presents tonight, when you return home
from church. Some of you will wait until tomorrow morning.
Some of you will journey to the homes of relatives, before giving
and receiving presents there. Some of you hang stockings
for everyone; some of you, just for the children.
Yet whatever particular rituals, or traditions, you’ve worked out for your family, you continue to observe them, year after year, don’t you? That’s an important part of what affirms your IDENTITY as a family, isn’t it? And in years to come, when older folks are gone, you will, I know, continue to observe these same traditions--and they’ll become even more precious to you.
The same is true with the family of the church! The particular customs and ceremonies of this Christmas Eve service become more precious each year. And, you know, perhaps our very best-loved tradition of this most holy night comes at the conclusion, when you and I, like the faithful (and not so faithful) of hundreds of thousands of parishes and congregations throughout our world, light candles in the darkened Sanctuary, and sing the carol, “Silent Night.” Joseph Mohr, priest of the snow-covered village church at Oberndorf, Austria, near Salzburg, had his flock sing this—perhaps the MOST beloved of all Christmas hymns--on Christmas Eve, 1818 (some say he wrote the words two years earlier, but did not have it sung for two years). With Franz Gruber playing the guitar, for the organ of the church wouldn’t work that Christmas Eve, the parishioners lifted their voices and sang Stille Nacht, “Silent Night.” (I can’t help but mention that your own glorious organ here at Community Church, that Jeffrey Donahue plays so wonderfully and regularly, soon will break down, too, if we don’t meet the goal of money that we need for its REPAIR in 2010)!
Let me, this evening, however, raise the question, just HOW silent was the first Christmas Eve? NOT that Christmas Eve in snowy Oberndorf 191 years ago, but the VERY first evening of Jesus’ birth? Was Joseph Mohr right? --In Bethlehem, was it really “all. . .calm, all . . .bright”? At the risk of incurring the wrath of the Christmas card makers, including the HALLMARK Company, I’m going to have to answer, “NO!” Outwardly there was probably VERY LITTLE silence, VERY LITTLE calm, that first Christmas Eve!
THINK about it: a poor little town in the hills of Judea, CROWDED with people from all over Palestine, come to register in the census. -- ALL KINDS of folks: many grumbling, complaining about the decree of the hated Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus (who thought himself a god!)--Caesar Augustus, whose command made them travel for long distances, to get back to this city of their ancestor David, to be enrolled. The village streets and inns are JAMMED not only with human beings but with braying donkeys, perhaps with camels, sheep, goats! In the taverns rough men and shameless women are drinking and carousing, as they’ve done from time immemorial!
And look at Mary—NOT the crowned VIRGIN QUEEN in splendid robes of the Italian Renaissance painters--but Mary as she REALLY was—as the Bible scholars tell us, a very young teenager, far away from her own mother, when her time for delivery comes. And DESPITE her faith in the angel’s message and God’s promise, SCARED, APPREHENSIVE.
And consider frightened, worried Joseph!
No, friends, there was nothing very silent about THAT Christmas Eve, was it? And yet, in a far deeper sense, there was calm that night: an INWARD peace in the hearts of Joseph and Mary. It’s TRUE, that, like YOU AND ME the expectant couple didn’t know all the ANSWERS. It’s true that the noisy throngs in Bethlehem bothered them. It’s true, they were concerned for the health and safety of their tiny Baby—and for Mary’s. But inwardly, Joseph and Mary knew the peace, the silence of CONSCIENCE, the “peace that passes understanding,” that only our God can give!
The Christmas Gospel that I read in our very midst tonight declares, “Mary KEPT all these things, and PONDERED them in her heart.” Yes, deep down inside, Mary KNEW that God, despite all the noise, despite the confusion all around her, despite the unknown FUTURE, somehow was WORKING OUT THE DIVINE PURPOSE through the tiny One she held in her arms. And THAT gave her a calm that not even the mobs of Bethlehem could take away!
What about YOU on this holy and what is supposed to be the most beautiful of alls nights? Is it a CALM night for you? A SILENT night in your heart? Or are you troubled, with the noise and confusion of the WORLD ringing in your ears?
God’s promise this Christmas is that YOU AND I TONIGHT can know that same kind of calm that MARY and JOSEPH enjoyed DESPITE everything! Oh, it’s true: our world, TOO, like Bethlehem, two thousand and fourteen years ago, is a place of NOISE and CONFUSION. Why early this morning on this most holy day ITSELF, our United States Senators lingered in their chamber in snowy Washington, and continued to hurl loud INSULTS and personal CHARGES at one another—clear EVIDENCE of how DEEPLY DIVIDED our country is and CAN BE!
And in our WORLD AT LARGE, there’s NO REAL SILENCE this evening, but the sounds of exploding BOMBS of hatred and warfare and terror in the Middle East and other areas. Not even synagogues and mosques and temples and churches are except from desecration and destruction! And amid earth’s melting GLACIERS and consequent, rising WATERS, although we’ve heard much, loud TALK, especially in Copenhagen, the progress in the struggle against GLOBAL WARMING itself seems glacial!
And YET, friends, the wonderful promise of CHRISTMAS is that the LIGHT, started on that night in Bethlehem, will one day BANISH all hatred and death and darkness. Yes, the promise of Christmas is that, DESPITE the gloom and turmoil and posturing, you and I can know this very night calm and JOY! You see, the Babe of Bethlehem COMES AGAIN to us, through WORD and SACRAMENT, to assure us of God’s presence, to pardon our sin and imperfection, and to give us TRUE PEACE in the midst of the noise and confusion and violence!
And, friends, that’s why tonight it is MOST fitting that you and I, once more, joyfully together hold candles-- and sing with all our hearts, “SILENT Night!”
Prayers:
Blessed Lord Jesus, receive us this holy night at your manger cradle. Inspire our lives with that love that brought you to dwell among us in low estate. Help us ever to live in accordance with your mind and will, that your kingdom upon earth may be revealed in all its glory.
Ruler of the universe, bring swift peace to this whole world; let your light illumine the darkness of persecution and injustice and end them, in deliverance and reconciliation. God of the Church, keep us aware of our brothers and sisters around the earth who, on this night, commune with Christ through Word and Sacrament, giving particular blessing and guidance to this congregation, and those congregations and parishes represented here by visitors come from many lands, now and in the coming new year.
God of healing, lift the burdens of any present here who may hurt in body, mind, or spirit; heal the sick; comfort those who mourn; and grant to them the light and love of your presence and peace.
Finally, accept our thanks for those who have gone before us in faith—especially those dear to us with whom we once rejoiced this night, but who now sing your carols in heaven. Keep us united with them in spirit, until, in your mercy, we join them in your blessed presence; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.
Yet whatever particular rituals, or traditions, you’ve worked out for your family, you continue to observe them, year after year, don’t you? That’s an important part of what affirms your IDENTITY as a family, isn’t it? And in years to come, when older folks are gone, you will, I know, continue to observe these same traditions--and they’ll become even more precious to you.
The same is true with the family of the church! The particular customs and ceremonies of this Christmas Eve service become more precious each year. And, you know, perhaps our very best-loved tradition of this most holy night comes at the conclusion, when you and I, like the faithful (and not so faithful) of hundreds of thousands of parishes and congregations throughout our world, light candles in the darkened Sanctuary, and sing the carol, “Silent Night.” Joseph Mohr, priest of the snow-covered village church at Oberndorf, Austria, near Salzburg, had his flock sing this—perhaps the MOST beloved of all Christmas hymns--on Christmas Eve, 1818 (some say he wrote the words two years earlier, but did not have it sung for two years). With Franz Gruber playing the guitar, for the organ of the church wouldn’t work that Christmas Eve, the parishioners lifted their voices and sang Stille Nacht, “Silent Night.” (I can’t help but mention that your own glorious organ here at Community Church, that Jeffrey Donahue plays so wonderfully and regularly, soon will break down, too, if we don’t meet the goal of money that we need for its REPAIR in 2010)!
Let me, this evening, however, raise the question, just HOW silent was the first Christmas Eve? NOT that Christmas Eve in snowy Oberndorf 191 years ago, but the VERY first evening of Jesus’ birth? Was Joseph Mohr right? --In Bethlehem, was it really “all. . .calm, all . . .bright”? At the risk of incurring the wrath of the Christmas card makers, including the HALLMARK Company, I’m going to have to answer, “NO!” Outwardly there was probably VERY LITTLE silence, VERY LITTLE calm, that first Christmas Eve!
THINK about it: a poor little town in the hills of Judea, CROWDED with people from all over Palestine, come to register in the census. -- ALL KINDS of folks: many grumbling, complaining about the decree of the hated Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus (who thought himself a god!)--Caesar Augustus, whose command made them travel for long distances, to get back to this city of their ancestor David, to be enrolled. The village streets and inns are JAMMED not only with human beings but with braying donkeys, perhaps with camels, sheep, goats! In the taverns rough men and shameless women are drinking and carousing, as they’ve done from time immemorial!
And look at Mary—NOT the crowned VIRGIN QUEEN in splendid robes of the Italian Renaissance painters--but Mary as she REALLY was—as the Bible scholars tell us, a very young teenager, far away from her own mother, when her time for delivery comes. And DESPITE her faith in the angel’s message and God’s promise, SCARED, APPREHENSIVE.
And consider frightened, worried Joseph!
No, friends, there was nothing very silent about THAT Christmas Eve, was it? And yet, in a far deeper sense, there was calm that night: an INWARD peace in the hearts of Joseph and Mary. It’s TRUE, that, like YOU AND ME the expectant couple didn’t know all the ANSWERS. It’s true that the noisy throngs in Bethlehem bothered them. It’s true, they were concerned for the health and safety of their tiny Baby—and for Mary’s. But inwardly, Joseph and Mary knew the peace, the silence of CONSCIENCE, the “peace that passes understanding,” that only our God can give!
The Christmas Gospel that I read in our very midst tonight declares, “Mary KEPT all these things, and PONDERED them in her heart.” Yes, deep down inside, Mary KNEW that God, despite all the noise, despite the confusion all around her, despite the unknown FUTURE, somehow was WORKING OUT THE DIVINE PURPOSE through the tiny One she held in her arms. And THAT gave her a calm that not even the mobs of Bethlehem could take away!
What about YOU on this holy and what is supposed to be the most beautiful of alls nights? Is it a CALM night for you? A SILENT night in your heart? Or are you troubled, with the noise and confusion of the WORLD ringing in your ears?
God’s promise this Christmas is that YOU AND I TONIGHT can know that same kind of calm that MARY and JOSEPH enjoyed DESPITE everything! Oh, it’s true: our world, TOO, like Bethlehem, two thousand and fourteen years ago, is a place of NOISE and CONFUSION. Why early this morning on this most holy day ITSELF, our United States Senators lingered in their chamber in snowy Washington, and continued to hurl loud INSULTS and personal CHARGES at one another—clear EVIDENCE of how DEEPLY DIVIDED our country is and CAN BE!
And in our WORLD AT LARGE, there’s NO REAL SILENCE this evening, but the sounds of exploding BOMBS of hatred and warfare and terror in the Middle East and other areas. Not even synagogues and mosques and temples and churches are except from desecration and destruction! And amid earth’s melting GLACIERS and consequent, rising WATERS, although we’ve heard much, loud TALK, especially in Copenhagen, the progress in the struggle against GLOBAL WARMING itself seems glacial!
And YET, friends, the wonderful promise of CHRISTMAS is that the LIGHT, started on that night in Bethlehem, will one day BANISH all hatred and death and darkness. Yes, the promise of Christmas is that, DESPITE the gloom and turmoil and posturing, you and I can know this very night calm and JOY! You see, the Babe of Bethlehem COMES AGAIN to us, through WORD and SACRAMENT, to assure us of God’s presence, to pardon our sin and imperfection, and to give us TRUE PEACE in the midst of the noise and confusion and violence!
And, friends, that’s why tonight it is MOST fitting that you and I, once more, joyfully together hold candles-- and sing with all our hearts, “SILENT Night!”
Prayers:
Blessed Lord Jesus, receive us this holy night at your manger cradle. Inspire our lives with that love that brought you to dwell among us in low estate. Help us ever to live in accordance with your mind and will, that your kingdom upon earth may be revealed in all its glory.
Ruler of the universe, bring swift peace to this whole world; let your light illumine the darkness of persecution and injustice and end them, in deliverance and reconciliation. God of the Church, keep us aware of our brothers and sisters around the earth who, on this night, commune with Christ through Word and Sacrament, giving particular blessing and guidance to this congregation, and those congregations and parishes represented here by visitors come from many lands, now and in the coming new year.
God of healing, lift the burdens of any present here who may hurt in body, mind, or spirit; heal the sick; comfort those who mourn; and grant to them the light and love of your presence and peace.
Finally, accept our thanks for those who have gone before us in faith—especially those dear to us with whom we once rejoiced this night, but who now sing your carols in heaven. Keep us united with them in spirit, until, in your mercy, we join them in your blessed presence; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.