For example, Cicero, a Roman statesman and author, wrote in 55 BC: “The…budget must be balanced.” Cicero would be shocked at our national debt, over $20 trillion. And that doesn't include state and local debt.
And Livy, a Roman historian in the 1st century AD, objected to the moral rot and slipping standards of conduct in society then. So the biblical maxim rings true: there's nothing new under the sun. So I'm going to enjoy family and friends.
The word of God carries us back in our imaginations three thousand years, to the days of King David in Jerusalem. David’s life in many ways was a soap opera. He was a man of virtue as well as vice. The Book of Kings substantiates that statement. David here wants to build a temple for the ark of the covenant: a symbol of God’s presence among his people. The prophet Nathan through an oracle reminds David that everything he has is a gift from God. After all, David once herded sheep; now he’s a king. Then the prophet proclaims that God will build a house for David: a dynasty that will endure forever, an heir, an allusion to the Messiah.
The author challenges us, as he challenged David, to thank God for all we have. Everything we have is a gift from God; and these gifts are meant for others.
Some of you may recognize the name of Albert Schweitzer. He was an early twentieth century theologian and musician making extraordinary contributions in both disciplines. But then he decided to become a medical doctor, to serve people in the wilderness of West Africa. With a medical degree in hand, Schweitzer established a hospital in Gabon, in 1913. He was later awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work. Asked for his motto, Schweitzer’s answer was: “SERVICE. Let this word accompany each of you throughout your life. Let it be before you as you seek your way... in the world. May it be recalled to your minds if ever you are tempted to forget it or set it aside. It will not always be a comfortable companion, but it will always be a faithful one. And it will lead you to happiness....”
Albert Schweitzer indeed lived a life of service: a God-centered, other-centered life. His philosophy of “reverence for life” extended to his fellow human beings and to all God’s creatures. Yes, our gifts from God are meant for others; and “service” is a wonderful companion to have throughout life.
Paul in his letter to the Christian community in Rome sings a hymn of praise to God. Paul, a devout Jew, says that God’s special favor--i.e. Jesus Christ--has come through ancient Israel to all people. And to God alone we owe worship. Paul challenges us to recognize who we are: fragile, mortal creatures in the presence of an awesome, all mighty God; accountable to God for how we live and what we do.
In the Gospel according to Luke, we have the annunciation scene. Somehow, the power of God broke into the life of Mary at Nazareth, asking Mary to believe that she would bear within herself a special child. And because Mary was so attuned to the presence of God, with such extraordinary faith, she replied simply: may it be it done to me as you say.
These words are easy to say when everything is going our way; but they are not so easy to say when what is happening is the opposite of what we want to happen. Perhaps it's something we wanted but now won’t have: such as a particular promotion. Perhaps a relationship broken or a life-threatening illness. Such turns in life can test our trust in God's unconditional love for us.
But Mary’s “Yes” gave us the Christmas story: the greatest love story. That story, as it has come down to us, tells of a baby in a trough. It tells of a mother holding her child in her arms as her husband Joseph stays near. It tells of angels singing in the sky; shepherds running over the hillside to tell the child how much they love him. Yes, it tells of a star guiding magi over the wilderness and onto their knees to worship the Christ-child.
Centuries ago, St. John summed up this greatest love story in a single line: “the Word became flesh.”
Yes, John wrote for us: In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. Thru him all things came to be and apart from him nothing came to be. He was the light that shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it. And the Word became flesh and made its dwelling among us.
Christmas means not simply God in Bethlehem centuries ago, but God within us. We bear within ourselves Emmanuel, God with us, by virtue of the waters of baptism. Wherever we gather together in his name, before the word of God and around the table of the Lord, the altar, God is there. Paul summed it up magnificently centuries ago: we are by grace what Jesus Christ is by nature: sons and daughters of God our Father. That is God’s gift to us.
I close with a thought from a little story by the American writer O. Henry titled “The Gift of the Magi.” It’s about a young married couple, almost penniless. To summarize:
Della sells her hair to buy a gift for Jim.
Jim’s present to her is a set of expensive combs for her hair.
And her gift to Jim? A chain for his grandfather’s watch, which he had sold to buy her combs.
But both are happy.
O. Henry concludes with this quote: “…two foolish children who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures they had. But of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.”
May we, like the Magi, bring to the Christ-child our greatest treasure: ourselves and our commitment to a life of deeper discipleship with Jesus.
We may not be able to give our money, but we certainly can give our time and talent to help others. I truly believe that service--generosity with our time and talent--refreshes the soul.
And until Jesus comes again in great power and glory at the end-time, our purpose in life is to continue doing all the good we can, for all the people we can, as long as ever we can:
helping those who doubt to find faith;
those who despair to find hope;
those who are weak to find courage;
those who are sick to find health;
those who are sad and depressed to find joy;
those who wander to find their way back to God;
those who are angry to find a way to let go and find calm;
and those who are dying to find mercy and peace in God forever.
