Sermon: In the Midst of Darkness

Christmas Eve, 2006

Luke 2

"In the Midst of Darkness"

It had bee the longest three days of their lives. This had not been the easiest of pregnancies. The surprise conception would have been enough, Joseph had nearly ended the relationship, they both had relied on their faith to get to this point. But traveling the rough terrain from Nazareth to Bethlehem had not been easy.

When they started the journey they had their spirits up, were ready for the trip to Bethlehem. Singing songs, playing word games with the scenery they passed along the road. But the journey hadn't been easy. They couldn't imagine three days feeling any longer. Mary couldn't imagine that she'd ever be so worried about her child, as she was during these three days for the baby still within her. Until now it always seemed something to be proud of, Joseph being in King David's family line that is, now it seemed like a burden. And when they finally arrived in Bethlehem, the end of that third day, the long shadows of the rough road had given way to a dark, starless night.

In the midst of that darkness. Of the shame Mary felt every time an inn refused. Of the exhaustion the young couple felt, even before labor pangs began, in the midst of this darkness, (pause) the baby kicks, and Mary's cheeks flush, and she remembers the light.

When the angel had come to tell her of God's favor upon her, a bright light had shone all around.

And when Joseph's impulsive anger turned to understanding because the spirit had visited upon him, there was a light, a brightness in Joseph's eyes and smile.

And when they had entered Elizabeth's home, singing out in joy, it seemed the whole house was illuminated with happyness. And Mary remembered what the angel had said, she was carrying the Light.

Chris Gardner's father walked out on him when he was three. He vowed he would never walk out on his son. In the new release "The Pursuit of Happyness" Will Smith takes on a role, playing the life of a real person, which is more meaningful than chasing aliens and playing a person whose real life takes more strength than the Greatest, Mohammed Ali.

Chris Gardner is a man who slowly, loses everything, his wife, his car, his home. Chris' son, Christopher, is his life, and when he was born, he made a vow that he would never leave him.

-In his pursuit of Happyness Chris Gardner meets a stock broker on the street, upon seeing his fire red ferrari asks, "what do you do, and what did you have to do to get to where you are." Upon this man's advice Chris applies for an internship, and gets it. But the six month internship doesn't pay, part of what contributes to Chris and his son losing first their apartment, and then a hotel room.

On the darkest of nights, Chris locks himself in a subway bathroom. With his son, asleep, held tightly against his chest, Chris blocks other patrons from coming in the door with his foot, and can't sleep through the fear and the tears. In this darkest of nights, He holds onto his son. The light for Chris is essential to life. It is by moon lights some nights that he studies for his internship. Without the light in scanner he sells, he would have no money at all. But most of all, his son is his light. Their light for each other, will carry them through the darkest of days. Wherever they go, they go hand in hand, and Chris would make it through his internship, and today, the light shines from him brightly.

Have you come in from the darkness? Do you come tonight out of obligation or tradition, but have grown cold to it's effects? Do you come tonight searching for this holy one to make a difference, to inspire, to fill needs or fulfill your dreams? Do you come tonight lonely or lost, in search of significance? Do you come mourning and grieving the loss of a loved one? Or do you come personally satisfied with those around you and your comfortable Christmas scene, but broken hearted by the violence of our world? Have you come in from the darkness?

For the Shepherds keeping watch over their flock by night, darkness was all around them on that hillside that night.

It wasn't just the darkness of the starless sky, it was living life as a lonely, insignificant shepherd.

Often reserved for young men and women – shepherds could have been 12-15 years old.

Because of the nature of this dirty job, and the way a shepherd tends to take on the smell of a wet sheep that sleeps outside, the shepherds were outcast, separated from family, friends, community.

No one was inviting the shepherds over for a holiday party, or taking them out for a cup of coffee or a beer.

No one was inviting them to worship either, they weren't welcome in the temple.

Their darkness was not just the barren sky, it was their search for significance, their desire to be wanted.

Until the darkness was broken with a light from on high. The brightness and glory of the angel startled the shepherds with fear. Some, taken their shifts to sleep awoke with a fright.

But the words for those in the darkness is Fear Not, I bring you good news. To you a Savior is Born, to you the light of the world is given, to you, God comes,

And to the shepherds, and to us, as the angel confirmed the good news, we are given a light, and so we join Chris in the pursuit of Happyness, we join Mary and Joseph in carrying the light. With them we follow that star to Bethlehem

The Shepherds couldn't wait to get there…

And falling on their knees, the manger before them. Here, they were satisfied, here they felt so significant, here they experienced peace, here they received a gift of life, a gift of light! Here was the light, come into the world. Come to live in us. Come to be the bread for the world that gives life, even when we die. Here was the light that gives hope and joy passing all human understanding. And this light began to glow. And that light, the light of the World, the light of Christ, is a gift to each of us, and when released, gives light to the whole world.

Bob Paeglow and his wife had just moved into their new home with their two children. Bob was an x-ray technician, Leanne, Bob's wife a nursing student when Bob felt a call to go to Medical school and serve "many people." It was a pipe dream, they didn't have the money, Bob didn't have the grades. But he got in to Albany Medical College, the only school that would take him.

He graduated at the top of his class, and the hospital hired him, he could have been set. But this hadn't been why he was called.

So he decided to use his gifts to go to Africa for Mission trips, spending personal money and personal time, but wasn't enough, and when he came home, he couldn't help but to think about the poor in his own West Albany neighborhood where Bob grew up, and the mission trips weren't enough.

So Bob gave up his job, sold his house, and open a full service grace station for people in need in Albany.

Koinonia provides primary care and mental health care to the poor in the West Hill neighborhood and beyond. Dr. Bob has worked for 5 years without a salary to make this care possible. Leane has labored beside him as the office nurse and now as a Nurse for the Neighborhood Health Advocate Program, as well as the Neighborhood Association President. This is how Dr. Paeglow, hear the glow in his name, this is how he carries the light, in receiving the Association of American Medical College's 2006 Humanism Award winner, Dr. Paeglow says that, "I've come to the realization that life is not designed for our comfort, or pleasure, but for us to discover our gifts and contribute what we can to make life better for others." Bob's way to carry the light, was to give away what he had. This is how we carry the light too – we give that light to each other

This evening, in from the darkness, we too are witnesses to the light. We can not go home the same, for whatever reasons we came, we go home with light. This is God's gift for us, This is God's gift for the world, this is the gift we have to share with the world. This light of the World, came that we too might be the light, you are the light of the world.

Mary fell asleep that night, pondering all of this in her heart, the brightness of the light was all around.

The Shepherds went back to their fields that night, never to forget what they had experienced, seeing all which God had told them through the angel, and proclaiming praises to God.

Here this Day, in the City of Philadelphia, A Savior is born, Jesus is the light of the World, Carry the Light!

Amen.