The ornaments and images of Christmas

Welcome to OnMission. We hope each of you had a blessed and holy Christmas Day.

Our prayer as we move through what the Church traditionally calls the twelve days of Christmas and as we approach a new year is that we will be renewed, and refreshed in the Light of God’s Love and will be more intently focused on God and conscious of His purpose in our lives.

We pray that this new year will be marked by the proclamation of the Gospel. That nothing will stand in the way of Christians sharing God's Word and Loving God’s people.

As we turn now to reflect on God’s Word, let us pray:

Holy, Almighty God, as we now turn to reflect upon Your Word, open our eyes, we want to see Jesus.

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, always be acceptable in Your sight, my LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Amen.

Today's reflection is entitled, The images and ornaments of Christmas.

Scripture Readings:

Acts 7:53-8:3

“you who received the Law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”

Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

And Saul approved of his execution.

And there arose on that day a great persecution against the Church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.”

Acts 9:1-22

“But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened.

For some days Saul was with the disciples at Damascus. And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.”

Today's reflection is entitled, The images and ornaments of Christmas.

During the season of Christmas many people place ornaments around their homes – on mantles and cabinets - on window sills and hanging on evergreen boughs. In the Christian home, these ornaments direct our attention and focus our heart. They remind us of God’s work among us: they remind us of God’s Love for us. In Scripture God used angels, shepherds, magi, a star, a virgin and a manger to reveal His Christ - as we see these ornaments we remember Jesus - we remember that God so Loved the world. These ornaments we place in our homes at Christmas each carry a tangible image, yet at the same time they reflect something more. God works this way in His creation and He works this way among us.

Cathy read for us from the Book of Acts and it might disturb you that such a brutal story with images of hate and violence is traditionally told so close upon the heels of the Christmas story. It is shocking that violence so quickly breaks in upon the peaceful worship and contemplation of the Christ child.

Yet this too is an image of Christmas. Here is the image of the fallen world to which Christ came - the world He came to redeem and restore. We must never forget that Jesus so Loved us that He came to us - yet this too is true, most of us do not receive Him.

Today we are confronted by an image God placed within Scripture that reminds us of the sin that infects us; We are reminded that the sin that Jesus endured and carried to the Cross is never far from the image of His humble cradle.

So, today we read about Stephen. When we meet him, he is full of the Holy Spirit performing signs and wonders in Israel. We hear him confronting the sin into which Israel has fallen. We hear him declaring God’s Truth.

And, we witness the reaction of sin to God’s Truth.

God’s Truth threatens the status quo - it threatens commercial, economic and political power - it exposes the idolatry of health and wealth and self. This Truth confronts and offends sinful humanity.

So, as Stephen spoke Truth people became enraged. He was dragged out of the city and stoned.

Here is the image of Jesus’ call: follow me.

Here is the image of the Church’s commission - to speak Christ’s Truth.

Here is the image of the cross we take up as we follow Jesus.

Jesus calls each of us, each Christian to walk this path.

And, as we follow Jesus we carry His image into the world.

Stephen is like an ornament hung upon the words of Scripture – if we look closely, in Stephen we may find the image of a Christian – the reflection of our calling and commission – the portrait of a life in Christ.

As Stephen is murdered, he proclaims God’s Gospel to his last dying breath – and there in the shadow of this evil another man stands watching and approving of everything that was done.

This man is wealthy, respected and admired – he has social status and religious dignity - a Hebrew among Hebrews. Yet though he does not yet know it, he will lose it all and one day would call that loss his greatest gain.

This man breathing threats and murder against Christians, would seek permission to hunt them down. But then, one day, suddenly the Light from heaven shone around him. And knocked to the ground, he was confronted by Jesus. For the next three days that man was blind. God the Son would eventually restore His sight, but first this man must see Jesus.

God would send a Christian to speak to this man – and as God’s Word was heard, it would begin to transform the nature of this man:

•   this blinded man would begin to see God’s Truth,

•   this blinded man would begin to know Jesus,

•   this blinded man would begin to see his need of His Saviour

•   the eyes of his heart would begin to open so that when Jesus finally restored his physical sight this man would fix his restored eyes upon Jesus and he would be a new man - a new creation born from above.

This new man would then spend the rest of his life proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus and he would suffer and lose everything yet count that loss as gain, because through it he came to know Jesus.

Here is the image of God’s Grace … the image of undeserved mercy and forgiveness… the image of redemption … the image of Love.

We give thanks to God for the image of this depraved, evil, idolatrous, sinful man – why?

Because through him God showed us ourselves– through him we see that none of us is beyond God’s restoration.

With God all things are possible – hear His Word – ask Him to open your eyes - ask Him to reveal Himself - ask Him to show you Jesus. Redemption is available to all who truly draw near to God and who God draws to Himself.

As that new man grew old life would not be easy – Jesus never promises the wealth and health we so often hear preached from platforms and pulpits. This man would be bruised, he would be battered; he would suffer sickness, injuries and trials; he would sin and repent and again and again he would experience God’s Love and grace. He would endure persecution, poverty, prison and pain – he would teach all Jesus said and bear witness of all He did … he would preach the Gospel and he would be hated just as Jesus was hated. Tradition tells us that he too would be martyred.

His response to truly knowing Jesus was the response of the Christian – he would answer Christ’s call to follow Him - he would accept Christ’s commission to teach everything He said - he would live poor and persecuted in this world – he would endure all things proclaiming the Gospel - he would embrace the cross and follow his Christ.

Today God focuses our eyes upon these images that He hung among His Word – He shows us the Christ, the Cross, the Church, and the Christian. He shows us our call and commission.

Christmas is more than the cradle – it is also the Cross.

God places His beauty amidst the ugliness of our sin, hate and violence – yet within this ugliness God sheds His Light upon us – the Light that opens our eyes and guides our feet along the path He sets before each of His followers – God’s desire is made plain, we are called to be sent.

Yes, following all too quickly after the beautiful awe inspiring celebration of the birth of the Christ Child, the fallen sinful world encroaches ... but even this declares the Gospel, it reminds us of the reason God sent His Christ, it reminds us of the commission of the Church, it reminds us of Jesus’ call to follow Him.

So now, let this be our prayer and benediction as we close this reflection.

Let us pray:

Almighty God.

We are sinners, save us. We are Yours, sends us.

Send us clinging to no idol, no treasure or pleasure of this world.

Send us, counting every worldly loss as gain.

Send us proclaiming Your Word in all the world.

Send us, Loving as Christ Loves.

And as we do, let the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God the Father and the fellowship of God the Holy Spirit dwell among us and remain with us. 

Amen.