Christmas Eve/Nativity of our Lord, December 24/25, 2018 - Isaiah 9:2-7 and Luke 2:1-20

Isaiah 9:2-7

The Zeal We Sing

Isaiah could have never known

How words like “wonderful,” and “counselor,”

Would wind up sung by countless choirs

Where Handel’s beauty’s n’er outgrown.

And yet, the force of octaves sung

Cannot compare to burning warriors’ boots

And garments rolled in battle’s blood,

To signal war and hate undone.

How strange this promise, and how bold!

Imagine, overpowered by some foe,

And sent away in exile, far,

Yet still, your God you can behold!

The child Isaiah had in mind

We know as Jesus, born this very night;

We sing to claim his peace is near,

Who bids his life, our lives define.

Scott L. Barton

The people who walked in darkness

          have seen a great light;

     those who lived in a land of deep darkness —

          on them light has shined.

You have multiplied the nation,

          you have increased its joy;

     they rejoice before you

          as with joy at the harvest,

          as people exult when dividing plunder.

For the yoke of their burden,

          and the bar across their shoulders,

          the rod of their oppressor,

          you have broken as on the day of Midian.

For all the boots of the tramping warriors

          and all the garments rolled in blood

          shall be burned as fuel for the fire.

For a child has been born for us,

          a son given to us;

     authority rests upon his shoulders;

          and he is named

     Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

          Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

His authority shall grow continually,

          and there shall be endless peace

     for the throne of David and his kingdom.

          He will establish and uphold it

     with justice and with righteousness

          from this time onward and forevermore.

     The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

+  +  +

Luke 2:1-20

Imogene Herdman, "Hey! Unto you a child is born!"  in Barbara Robinson's The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Solstice

"It's the big night!"

Is what my father used to say,

And then in June,

It was, "Tomorrow's the big day!"

- Thus, the solstice

Always arrives for me with mirth,

Which may be what

We need to hear about this birth

Announced each year.

The angel spoke with twinkling eyes,

To cast out fear,

Which turned to glee, and great surprise!

Despite the dark,

This same news called to us this night

Laughs its head off,

That Love might be our solstice light.

Scott L. Barton

(revised from 12/24-25/14)

Peter Busch: No Room at the Inn. Sand sculpture, Belen de arena de Las Canteras, Plaza Saulo Toron, Canary Islands, Spain.

 

When History Repeats Itself

It was a terrifying time

Which we, by faith, now think sublime;

But then, a madman on the throne,

Drove everyone away from home,

That everyone be taxed and counted;

But this, in point of fact, amounted

To terrorism by the high,

Who gave no choice but to comply.

Think, immigrants; think, refugees;

Think how all those of low degree

In every age are made to do

The bidding of a mighty few.

Think those who fear they'll be deported,

Their work, and fam'ly life now thwarted;

Think those from bombed out cities fleeing,

What kind of news would bring wellbeing?

Imagine they see in the flesh,

Perhaps in angels and a creche,

Or maybe, solidarity

From those who bear Christ's guarantee

That he'll be with us all our days!

Then they, as well, might be amazed -

Like shepherds hearing angel choirs -

What real love from God requires.

Thus into angst and grief and fears

The God of every soul appears,

Yes, then, but also here, today,

And bids us live just as we pray.

Scott L. Barton

2016

My pastor, Richard Manzelmann, used this on the "Christmas Sunday" bulletin cover in 1974 at New Hartford, New York  Presbyterian Church. I used it on occasion for the same purpose over the years but would  love to know its source. It seems like a  Rembrandt, but I can't confirm that.

To Make Our Love Braver

She did something different,

She treasured and pondered;

Not only amazed, but

She thought, and she wondered

Just what was their meaning -

That this diapered wee boy,

Would be to all people

The sign of a great joy?

And why even now does

He cause such a flutter

In hearts all around, while

These carols we utter?

Is this what they meant when

They said that a savior

Would come - a Messiah,

To make our love braver?

Scott L. Barton

2015

Rembrandt van Rijn: The Angel Appearing to the Shepherds

They Thought It Was the Feds

Perhaps they thought it was the Feds who'd come for them!

Somehow, the N.S.A. had tracked, and would condemn

Those dirty shepherds, since they had not registered,

And since, without green cards, Augustus' wrath incurred!

But soon they found the searchlight not to be the law,

Which, with relief, provoked a different kind of awe;

That is, more powerful than all the "powers that be,"

Was then announced - as now - the holy mystery:

Quite openly, the one who saves comes not by strength

Of arm, but will not fail to go to any length

For love!  Thus wrapped, so even shepherds might embrace

This child, we, too, now hold our breath, to see such grace.

Scott L. Barton

2013, also published in The Presbyterian Outlook 12/09/13

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph 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. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And 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.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” When 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.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child;and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.