Not ready? Jesus is born anyway (a sermon on Luke 2:1-20)

Well, we’ve made it! It’s finally Christmas Eve. I wonder if this is the one chance you’ve had this week to sit and breathe in the midst of preparations to be ready for Christmas.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Or maybe your feet are resting but your brain is not – running through the list of things yet to be done: change the sheets in the guest room, check that the turkey is defrosted, pick up one last ingredient at the store before it closes, wrap presents, send cards, bake cookies. Yes, it’s Christmas Eve, but you’re not quite ready for Christmas. There is so much to do, so little time, and already you are exhausted.

Or, maybe you aren’t ready on purpose. Maybe you aren’t ready because you don’t really feel like celebrating Christmas this year. You’re too tired, too sad, too angry. Maybe someone is missing from around your table because of death, or distance, or discord. Maybe there’s just no money, no time, no reason to celebrate. Yes, it’s Christmas Eve, but you wish Christmas were just over, already.

Whatever our frame of mind – whether we’re exhausted or excited, anxious or joyful, ready or not-so-ready – the gift of Christmas is that Jesus is born anyway. Whether the decorations are perfect or still packed away; whether the cookies are Pinterest-worthy or crumbling; whether your lists are checked off or abandoned – Jesus is born anyway.

Christmas is about a lot of things – God’s love, joy, and peace; being together with family and friends; showing love through generosity and care for one another; celebrating the good news of great joy for all the people. Christmas is about a lot of things, but Christmas is not about being ready. No, not at all.

God did not wait for the world to be ready to welcome Jesus. God did not wait for the world to be well-prepared for God’s own son, God’s own self to put on flesh and blood to be with us.

Mary wasn’t ready to be pregnant.

The census did not come at a convenient time for Joseph and Mary to travel to Bethlehem.

And Bethlehem was not ready to welcome the weary family – there was no room for them, and so they ended up placing their tiny, squalling newborn in the animals’ feed trough.

The tired shepherds were not ready to be blinded by the glory of the Lord shining around them, not ready to hear the unexpected good news of the angels.

But Christmas came regardless. Jesus was born anyway. And, ready or not, this message of Christmas is for you – Good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. Born for you – even when your family drama is overwhelming, even when your hard work goes unappreciated, even when you are exhausted, even when everything in your life feels like a mess, even when you’re not ready.

This is the gift of Christmas – that God comes to be with us when we are the least ready and the most in need. God doesn’t wait for us to be cleaned up, on our best behavior, smiles plastered on our faces. No, God’s presence shows up when the world is in turmoil, when our relationships are rocky, when cancer and death and division and so much else leave us feeling anxious and despairing.

In other words, God shows up right here, right now. God shows up in Word and water, bread and wine. God shows up in story and song, in darkness and light. God is given for you, whether you’re ready or not. And that is indeed good news of great joy for all the people.

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