What a wonderful message of the angels.

Through our readings and hymns
and by our acting out the story
of God's coming into our world

The message of Christmas is proclaimed.

And, that message is
that God, in the Christ
comes to us
abides in us.

and unites us in holy community
that we might never be alone.

That's nice. It feels good.
but there is an implication
is there not
that this Christ will make a difference in us;
transform us into something new
and that through this transformation
others will see a great light
and God will make a difference
in them, as well,
one human heart
at a time.

That means that each of us
is a part of God's saving acts
on behalf of others.

Such might seem a difficult task.
It is not, really.

One needs only to speak and act
as one with trust
that Jesus is the Light of the World.

I note that many young people
are dressed for various parts
in the telling of this story.

Long ago, I did the same.

I remember my first dramatic role
in a school play.

It was in the 2nd Grade.
I wore a complete costume of a cat.
My only speaking part
was to say "Meow!"
when the teacher pointed to me.

At the proper moment
she pointed,
and I forgot my line.

She formed the word, "Meow"
with her lips,
but I didn't trust her enough
the audience enough
or myself enough to speak at all.
It's easy to be disabled by our fear and distrust.

As Christians
we are those given the gift of trusting
the Light of God
and being that light for others.

When I was in pageants
on the eves of Christmases past,
the really sharp children
always got the good roles,
(probably because the teachers
had heard of my debut as a cat.)

I was always given a shepherd's costume
and told not to say anything.

The Shepherd's role was the pits, we thought.
No body wanted to be a shepherd.
They were poor and dirty,
slept on the ground
with animals.

Yet, note this:
it was to the shepherds
that God's angels came:

"Glory to God in the highest,"
they sang,
"on earth peace and good will."

And it was the shepherds
who went to the Christ child that holy night
and who told everyone what they
had seen and heard.
Shepherds are important
They were open to the coming
of Christ
as others weren't.

They were much like children.

In that same way
children are witnesses of truth,
and life, and hope
to us older people.

Here is a wonderful example
of how children (and shepherds for that matter)
can bring light
and life
and creativity
and imagination
by their presence among
the rest of us.

It comes to me from a friend of mine
in Florida.

When I look at a patch of dandelions,
I see a bunch of weeds that are going
to take over my yard.

My kids see flowers for Mom,
and blowing white fluff on which
you can make a wish.

When I look at a homeless person
and he smiles at me
I see a smelly, dirty derelict
who probably wants my money
and I look away,
pretending I don't see him.

My children see him smiling at them
and they smile back.

When I hear music I love,
I know I can't carry a tune
and don't have much rhythm
so I sit self-consciously and listen.

My kids feel the beat and move to it.
The sing out the words.
If they don't know the words,
they make up their own.

When I feel wind on my face,
I brace myself against it.
If feel it messing up my hair
and pulling me back when I walk.

My kids close their eyes,
spread their arms
and fly with it
until they fall to the ground, laughing.

When I pray, I sit formally
and say thee and thou
and grant me this, give me that.

My kids say "Hi God,
Thanks for my toys and my friends.
Please help mom and dad to loosen up.
I sure love your world, Thanks a bunch."

When I see a mud puddle
I step around it.
I see muddy shoes and clothes
and dirty tracked carpets.

My kids sit in it.
They see dams to build,
rivers to cross,
and worms with which to play.

I wonder if we are given children
to teach
or from whom to learn.

They can show us a freedom of relating
and a creativeness of living
a wonderful wastefulness of love
and a imagination of spirit
just as did the shepherds

My friends, of whatever age,
"The people who had walked in darkness
have seen a great light.

So does Isaiah speak to us
of God's unconditional love,
and a new way of seeing ourselves
as Christians together.

It speaks to us of Trust
that God is
and God speaks the truth
when he gives us our lines.

It speaks to us
of God's child in each of us
- joyfully playing,
- creating, being,
- loving, imagining
and waiting for all the world
to see.

What a magical evening to be together;
what a magical light to be shared.

"O come to us
abide in us
our Lord, Emmauel".