Christmas Eve Mass at St John the Baptist, Holland Road, 2020
SERMON – CHRISTMAS EVE 2020
Hands up users of Zoom?
Here’s a question for you then
What did the Angel Gabriel say on greeting Mary?
“Mary, you are on mute.”
Only at Christmas in 2020 does this resonate.
Tonight let us hear again the message of the Angels who, we remind ourselves from the prophecy of Isaiah, announce salvation, who say to the world “your God reigns.”
Our God who lights up our lives, who shines perpetually and therefore in times of darkness, is the true light which enlightens everyone,
Our God who through the life, death and resurrection of His Son teaches us how to live. Tonight we gather together to celebrate the birth and everlasting gift of the Christ child.
Look above you. Do you see the Angels? , And here I must thanks our community at St. Johns for your generosity that has enabled us this year to improve the lighting inside this church.
I wonder which one you think is Gabriel?
Actually we know for certain the names of four of the images of Angels.
And here I hand over to Father Neil
This Christmas is so different from last year’s, - a pared back Christmas at the end of a pared back year,
Let us on the Eve of Christmas pause to reflect for a few moments on how this year has taught us to live and how we see the world through the lens that is Christ:
Many lessons
Two that come to mind
· To acknowledge the contribution of others to our daily lives and the generosity of others.
· To recognise what it is to be human
I will conclude by asking us to reflect on
· Christ who teaches us how to live –how our purpose is to love and thus we can bridge the gap between Heaven and Earth so the two become one.
The contribution of others to our daily lives and generosity
This year we have found ourselves acknowledging more openly the contribution of “key workers.” We have “clapped for carers.”
We have also recognised the absence of those who through their work, so enhance our lives – We miss so much and will appreciate even more on their return, just one example – the lack of live music. I am reminded of John Donne’s exquisite depiction of Heaven as a place where there shall be “no noise nor silence, but one equal music.” We pray for all those in the arts and hospitality industries who have had to endure so much this year.
You will also be aware of countless acts of kindness, many unsung that have taken place in this last year, of people showing love to their neighbour.
To recognise what it is to be human
What distinguishes us from other living beings?
We think, we plan, we organise, we imagine, we innovate, we research and discover, we laugh, we love, we have the gift of humour, we follow the call of the Spirit. We thank God for these gifts.
2020 –has taught us to do things differently and in some cases #
Through the wonders of Zoom, our church community has been able to gather for twice daily services, even when churches were closed and tonight we are being joined from outside the Church in a way that we would not have envisaged a year ago. The bonds of peace within our community are stronger than ever before.
Let me conclude by thanking God for the gift of Christ
Christ who teaches us how to live –how we have the potential to bridge the gap between Heaven and Earth so the two become one.
We celebrate the love of God for his creation. We kneel at the manger, alongside the Shepherds. We observe the love of a mother for a new born. We realise that the love Jesus received as a child gave him the ability to teach us to love God and our neighbours. We look at Joseph, a supportive spouse, happy to step back from the limelight a man who perhaps at the start of each day turned to his wife and said “how can I make your day even better, ” an example of self-giving that would be so wonderful if we could follow in our relationships with others.
Let us thank God for the gift of His Son who teaches us to love God, and to love each other. May we keep the lessons of this COVID year in our hearts and remember them in the coming year.