Seermon - Sunday, December 26

1st Sunday after Christmas - Year A
Matthew 2:13-23

Fragile Savior

How quickly the scene changes. The lovely calm of Christmas is swept away, and the activity level picks up. The "they," referred to in the opening line of this morning's gospel reading, are the wise men from the East. They come, bearing gifts for the young child. Their visit increases Mary and Joseph's anxiety for their visit makes Joseph and Mary aware of the star which has given testimony to Jesus' birth; a star which others would have seen, too. In short order, upon the departure of these visitors from the East, Jesus is pulled from his bed and carried off into Egypt. How quickly the scene has changed.

But then, scenes do change quickly. How long will it be before the discarded Christmas trees start to pile up on the street corner? Will tomorrow’s mail bring a flood of cards or merely a stack of “everything you wanted but didn’t get for Christmas is on sale now at Sears” advertisements? No one is saying "Merry Christmas," the socially acceptable greeting has shifted to "Happy New Year." Scenes do change quickly.

We should acknowledge that the "change" in our Christmas story is more than a movement from one chapter to another. Most of the images and stories we associate with the birth of Jesus are found in Luke's gospel. It is in Luke alone that we have the stories of Mary and her encounter with the angel, her visit with Elizabeth, and the story of Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem in order to be enrolled. Luke alone mentions the birth in a stable and only he has any mention of angel choirs and shepherds. Matthew's gospel, from which we read this morning, begins with a listing of genealogy. He starts with Abraham works his way through David and finally gets to Joseph. A simple announcement tells us that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. The first event associated with his birth is this visit of wise men from the East. Only in Matthew do we find their story.

Matthew tells us that they come to Jerusalem and, expecting the child to have been born in lofty places, they go to King Herod, asking him where the infant king is to be found. It is this visit with Herod that causes the trouble.

Herod, you will recall, is mentioned several times in the gospel story. It is Herod whom John the Baptist criticized for having taken his brother's wife as his own. It is Herod who has John beheaded. At the time of Jesus' trial, Herod has an audience with him. He has heard of Jesus' miracles and wants to see just how powerful Jesus really is. He asks that a few miracles be preformed for him. Non-biblical sources have informed us that Herod had three of his own sons murdered. He left instructions that upon his own death, one member of every family was to be slain, so the nation would indeed mourn the day of his passing. Herod was a sick man. He was man unwilling to allow anyone or anything to stand between him and his ambitions.

Upon hearing that a new "king" has been born, he tries to find the child himself. When he is unsuccessful, he orders that all children in Bethlehem two and younger are to be killed.

This is the danger of which the angel warns Joseph. This is the reason that Jesus is not allowed to enjoy a quiet and peace¬ful childhood. The scene has changed and it has become necessary for Jesus to be protected.

The flight of Mary, Joseph and Jesus into Egypt is undertaken because the blind ambition of Herod threatened Jesus' life, threatened God's gift of salvation. Blind ambition, possessed by a man with considerable political clout, made it necessary for Joseph and Mary to take their young son and flee.

Striking, is the reality of that threat. It really was possible that Jesus could have been killed. What would have happened to the rest of the story if Joseph had not obeyed; had not packed his belongings and left behind the city which was his home? What would have become of the Promised Messiah? When he grew to adulthood, no one could touch Jesus. Remember the time the crowds were prepared to throw him over the cliff and could not. He was accused of various blasphemies, but with the Word of God he defended himself and walked through the crowds, unharmed. As an adult, Jesus even seems to have selected the time of his own death. When he knew the time to be right, he sets his face to Jerusalem.

Striking is the reality of the threat which faced the infant Jesus. In this situation, he was unable to protect himself. He is dependent upon another to shield him from harm. What would have happened, had Joseph and Mary failed to obey?

Matthew records that Herod did indeed slay all the children in Bethlehem who were two and younger. It fulfilled another of those ancient prophesies, this one spoken by Jeremiah in which he spoke of the wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children.

Scenes do change quickly. Rather than bringing occasions for singing choirs and shepherd's jubilee, the arrival of this child and his star leads directing to the slaughtering of innocent children.

Why is Matthew so different? Why doesn't he tell the story the way that Luke does. Luke's story is so peaceful and lovely.

Both stories are good. Both stories are helpful. But they do lead us to different understandings of the events which have taken place. Luke gives us a vision of peace and tranquility. It is a much needed vision for a world that is torn and shattered. On Christmas Eve, as this church fills with people who only occasionally come to hear God's word, Luke's story is the only one to tell. It is a story of acceptance and love and hope and promise. On Christmas Eve, we read Luke's story and fall in love once more with the images of God's baby child.

Matthew leads us to a different point. And at least for today that point has to do with the vulnerability of the cute little child. Mary and Joseph, those who realize that a special gift has been given the world, must act in order to protect the arrival of God's salvation. Matthew helps us to understand that unless we act – that Word remains threatened. Matthew makes it clear, unless those to whom the message of salvation has been entrusted do their part – that message won’t make it out of stable.

God can do incredible things. There is nothing which God cannot do. But for some strange reason our God has chosen to be bound to human flesh. In that choice, God becomes one of us and shares our realities. In that choice, God binds God’s future to the actions of those with skin and bones rather than on those with wings and harps.

God willingly entrusts us with the responsibility of protecting that word of salvation.

The story of Christmas is more than a story about a cute little baby. It is God's word that salvation comes to us in a form that will not frighten or overpower us. Christmas is the story of a God who changes the scene and gives to us the opportunity to nurture and sustain the Hope of the world. We are the Mary and Joseph's who realize the miracle that has happened in our midst. We are the believers being visited by the angel. It is up to us to obey, to carry forth the word of God's salvation, so that it is not lost or destroyed.

There are still “Heords” in our world. Their ambitions continue to try and silence the voice of God. It is up to us to ensure that they do not succeed. It is our task to speak the Word of God so that the world will not remain forever torn and shattered.

Amen.