Sunday 26 December 2021 – The Peace of Christ.

Readings: Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 2:41-52

MESSAGE

It’s the day after Christmas Day and its Sunday. Which is quite unusual. The last time we had Christmas Day on a Saturday was 11 years ago. This is only the ninth occasion in my lifetime. The pattern is 6-5-6-11 years between occurrences. So the next one is in 2027. Gosh this is pub quiz material, isn’t it?

As a result this is a super Sunday. It’s BOXING day. St Stephen’s day. And Low Sunday – the Sunday after Christmas which people sometimes ignore, especially if they are hardy annuals who have just done their Christmas Day trip to worship and already have their calendar overloaded with an Easter Sunday booking.

All in one day. Plus four congregations zoomed in together too.

We are fortunate that the lectionary we use focuses on Jesus after Christmas on this day. Over the three-year cycle the gospel reading covers the dedication of Jesus at the temple, the flight into Egypt , and we leap forward this week to almost teenage Jesus. Next Sunday we pop back almost to those terrible twos or at least toddler Jesus checking out the gifts that came via camel. Yes, the wise men visit Jesus the child (not a baby) and in a house.

Like our economic Christmas and Easter visitors, Christmas card designers tend to squash the whole lot onto one space – shepherds, sheep, kings, camels and a low flying star and a raft of angels. Only Mr Bean has ever thrown a dinosaur into the mix. Oh and dozens of five or six year old boys, when I taught that age, who always managed to draw a dinosaur or at least a couple of volcanoes behind baby Jesus and the whole gang.

So what do we do with Jesus today?

I’ve chosen the idea of “peace” as a filter or frame as we examine this part of the story. Colossians 3 is there as a reminder I think that as church we are in this together in unity as we take in the Christmas story.

Paul in this letter has pretty much summarized the Christian faith. The passage before our reading ends with one of those all-encompassing statements (a bit like my favourite Galatians 3:28.)

Col 3:11  Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. (In Galatians 3:28 he includes “male and female” in his list of things that are not – not relevant or valid.)

In his letter to the church today I suspect he might add some other categories of separation. You’ll figure those out if you reflect on our current dilemmas. Whether we are certified or not.

Paul in this passage talks about peace like this:

Col 3:15  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Peace is a key part of the Christmas message. Remember these lines:

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests.””

On earth, peace or peace on earth.

In fact it is one of those areas where Christians have a bridge with people who are not particularly into this faith story.

They’re pretty keen on peace.

Timothy Keller, in his book “Hidden Christmas” makes the point that the source of light and therefore peace for us is not within us but outside of us.

The prophecy of Isaiah helps:

Before the announcement of the son to be born, this is the context: Isa 9:2  The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

They are walking in darkness – and the light breaks in. Jesus backs this up when he is identified as the light of the world. Light breaks into darkness.

And the expected one is both wonderful counsellor AND prince of peace.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. (Isaiah 9:6-7).

So what about the gospel reading today? Where does the peace come in there?

Here it is. Put yourself in Mary and Joseph’s shoes.

Quite a huge responsibility really, raising the son of God. No pressure.

Anyone with even a limited understanding of the incarnation- this bit about Jesus pitching his tent – moving in among us – will know that this is real stuff. Real humanity. There is no Marvel-comics “superJESUS” at school sorting out the bullies.

From the outset, it was challenging and scary. Raising and caring for the son of God. Having to pack up and escape like refugees to Egypt – that place of slavery for his people – is quite a rough start. After that, when they settle in Nazareth, it was the normal stuff that parents do, including home schooling I imagine. And modelling faith.

He’s reaching adulthood now.As a Jewish male. Almost 13.

On this family trip to Jerusalem there’s a small problem of losing Jesus.

Losing a child is pretty tough, even if for a short while. We’ve all probably been there as parents. Even when they’re adults we still worry about them. As the story of this older lady of 100 illustrates well: she described the best year of her life as the year in which she turned 90 – because by then all her children were safely in rest homes.

Jesus is found in due time. And the conversation is pretty polite considering.

Luk 2:48  When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

They must have been pleased where they find Jesus. Could have been some other danger or disaster.

His response is fascinating: Luk 2:49  “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

Sorry Joseph –  I know who my real dad is?

I think Mary made her peace with this too. From the annunciation onwards, there is this gracious acceptance of her role as a young mother of God’s son. I like her example, because in processing that encounter when with Elizabeth, Mary’s response is praise! “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my saviour…”

It’s a simple lesson for us when things are on the road to custard, if you like mixed metaphors. We too are to praise God even in the storms of life.

• I think we were privileged to learn that from early on – the writings of a once prisoner then prison chaplain Mervyn Carothers were helpful in our early years of faith. (You may remember the Prison to Praise series). At the beginning of the book he quotes Paul in 1 Thessalonians: Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1Thess 5:16-18).

• Paul and Silas praising God in Acts while in jail are another pointer. (Acts 16:25).

• Paul’s antidote to anxiety in Philippians 4 is another reminder. Don’t be anxious, but in everything by prayer and supplication, WITH THANKSGIVING present your requests to God – and the promised peace that passes human understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (well he is the prince of peace, isn’t he?) (Phil 4:6-6).

In Colossians 3 from which we heard today, Paul has another pointer:

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. (Col 3:15-16).

I imagine Mary might have said to Paul (imagine them meeting together and sharing thoughts at a table talk conversation about the things of faith!): “Yes, you’re right. I needed peace that day when we lost Jesus. But I kept praising God and trusting God’s plan, maybe a bit like when you were in prison Paul?”

Imagine you or I at that table saying: well here are the things that keep me up at night….

• Mary might say – “let me tell you about Golgotha.”
• Paul might say: “have you perhaps read my letter which talks about those 5 times 39 lashes, beatings and shipwrecks – or that bit where I mentioned we are pressed down but not crushed.” (The passage it goes like this: ”We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…” 2 Cor 4:8-9 NKJV)

Not surprising that Paul also said: ‘”t is no longer I that lives, but Christ that lives in me.” (Gal 2:20).

There is something quite calming about the next few verses of this passage in Luke 2:

But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. (Luke 2:50-52).

Somehow Jesus knew about his mission from early on but doesn’t talk about it again until preaching that first sermon in Nazareth (in Luke 4:16ff) when he read from their lectionary reading for that day: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…” (Isaiah 61:1-2)

For some reason that line about his mother treasuring all those things in her heart speaks to me. There’s a pattern there a discipline. It’s a repeat of verse 2:19 after the shepherds’ visit: But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. You see this sense of inner peace at Jesus’ first miracle in Cana of Galilee – where she says to the servants in John 2:5: “Do whatever he tells you.” It’s a prayerfulness I think – in Acts 1:14 where they are constantly in prayer before they choose Mathias to replace Judas, Mary is there again.

I suspect mothers are like this – they treasure all kinds of things in their hearts and keep praying for their children especially, holding them before God. I think as parents many of us would be thrilled if our children all grew in wisdom and in favour with God and people!

I don’t know what will trouble your hearts in 2022.

I do recommend Paul’s exhortation to the Colossian church though:

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. (Col 3:15-16)

And true to our tradition, which I fear many have ditched too soon, it’s the word of Christ that is part of the stabilising we need.

And with that, singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in our hearts at every stage and challenge in our lives. Our closing song today reinforces this – it’s the song ADORE. (See link below).

This is the Christian life. The peace of Christ dominant in our hearts – the word of Christ richly embedded within us to shape us, the praise of God always on our lips and in the rhythms and cadences of our days, weeks, months, and years of life.

May the peace of Christ reign in your heart at this time, and in the year ahead.

Amen.

Here is the song “Adore” which I commend to you.