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The Gospel of Matthew Bible Studies
The Gospel of Mark Bible Studies
The Book of Acts Bible Studies
January 2009
February 2009
March 2009
April 2009
May 2009
June 2009
July 2009
August 2009
September 2009
October 2009
November 2009
December 2009
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Christmas Eve (C) “O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by; Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting light. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” This past February Carol and I were privileged to host a tour to the Holy Land. A number of persons from (this congregation – including Eric, Karen, Luke, and Lauren Beenken; Enid Huotari; Bill and Patti Iversen; Chuck and Marleen Lowman; Marilyn Olson; and Pastor Josh and Susie Magyar) and others were in our group. One of the highlights of the tour, as you might imagine, was being able to visit Bethlehem – the town where Jesus was born. As Christian pilgrims, I have a feeling that everyone in our group was hoping to somehow experience the peace of Christmas during our visit there. But for the most part, this was not to be – because the Bethlehem of today is not a happy place. Bethlehem is now surrounded by a 30 foot high concrete wall erected by the Israelis – supposedly to keep would-be Palestinian suicide bombers from being able to get to Jerusalem (about a twenty minute drive away). Palestinians are not allowed to travel beyond the wall without a special permit (rarely granted), nor are Israelis allowed to go to Bethlehem. Messages proclaiming PEACE were painted on the Israeli side of the wall, but it was obvious that the wall is anything BUT “peaceful”. It is a symbol of fear, hatred, and mistrust that seeks to keep two peoples apart from each other. In order for us to get into Bethlehem, at a wall check-point our group had to get off the bus we had been traveling on throughout Israel – say goodbye to our Israeli guide and driver; and then board another bus chartered by a local Palestinian travel agency in Bethlehem. All in all, it was a rather unsettling experience for all of us in our group. We were in an unfamiliar place with a new (and rather “pushy”) guide. When we got out of the bus, we were immediately met by persons trying to sell us various souvenir items – as well as by some who were simply begging for handouts. Our destination in Bethlehem was the Church of the Nativity (the oldest church in Christianity – over 1,750 years old) – built over the traditional site of Jesus’ birth. There we went down into a grotto to see a star marking the place where Jesus was born and sing a couple of verses of “Silent Night” – before moving along so that the group behind us could get in. After that, we were next taken to a shop featuring olive wood crafts and other Bethlehem souvenirs – and spent about 45 minutes there in a rather “high-pressure” sales environment by merchants who were desperate for our business – before finally being taken back to the wall check-point to be reunited with our regular bus and guide on the Israeli side. Yes, we were all glad to have been able to go to Bethlehem – but we were also very, VERY glad to get OUT of Bethlehem. We all felt somewhat shaken by our experience there. As I have said, as Christian pilgrims we had come to Bethlehem hoping to somehow experience the peace of Christmas there – but in many ways we rather experienced a very oppressive atmosphere which seemed to permeate the entire city behind that concrete wall. But in fact, this is nothing new. What we experienced in Bethlehem was very much like it was 2000 years ago when Jesus was born. Bethlehem may have been at “peace” – but it was a “peace” based upon people’s fear of Roman military might. But one night a different kind of peace came to Bethlehem – a peace not symbolized by a wall or by earthly political or military power – but a peace which comes from God and into our hearts. As we will be singing during the second verse of “O Little Town of Bethlehem” a few moments from now: “For Christ is born of Mary, and, gathered all above While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wond’ring love. O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth, and praises sing to God the king, and peace to all the earth!” The peace of God which Christ came to bring does not separate people from each other, but rather brings them together. It is a peace which enables us to forgive and to be reconciled to each other. It is a peace which results from knowing that God is with us – even when we may be feeling oppressed and without hope in life. And in spite of the vision of angels which the shepherds had, this peace of Christmas usually does not come about in dramatic ways. As we will sing: “How silently, how silently, The wondrous gift is giv’n! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heav’n. No ear may hear his coming; but, in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.” And that is the blessing of Christmas. Even in the midst of the “Bethlehems” in which we live – which are often anything but peaceful – God comes to dwell with us. We may still have to live in situations which are hard and painful (both personally, and perhaps even as a people), but through the birth of Christ we now know that we are not alone. Through Christ, we know that God is with us. Through Christ, we know that we are loved. Through Christ, we can truly experience PEACE – and hope, and joy, which this world can never destroy. Yes, the true peace of Christmas is neither in Bethlehem nor in any physical place. It is right here – in our hearts – when we let Christ be born in us. And this peace, we believe, will one day overcome all the walls and hatreds and barriers that now exist in our world. But for now on this holy night, may we simply rejoice that this peace is here among us as we gather together in Jesus’ name and sing: “O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; Oh, come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Immanuel!” Merry Christmas, everyone! Merry Christmas! Amen! -------------------- Pastor George Karres 418 W. Main St. Sidney, MT 59270
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