Fearless

Luke 2: 1-16
New Ark United Church of Christ, Newark, DE
Christmas Eve, 2019

So I am not nearly the first to notice this, but you know when you learn something, see something you never noticed before about a beloved piece of culture, you’re eager to share it and so I am eager to share this with you. It’s about Linus, Charlie Brown’s friend who always carries a blanket. A Charlie Brown Christmas debuted the year I was born. My parents gave me a copy of the book for my first Christmas and I still have it. Like many folks, one of my favorite parts is when Linus recites part of the Christmas story from the gospel according to Luke. It’s how he sets the stage with a spotlight, his cadence, how he begins the story with the shepherds, the way he says the word ‘joy’.



Linus always has his blanket with him. It’s part of his charm, this piece of comfort that he carries with him everywhere he goes and yet it also acts, among other things, as a slingshot, a flyswatter, a scarf, a hammock, a cape, and toward the end of the Christmas special, a Christmas tree skirt. But when Linus recites the Christmas story, at one point in particular he drops his blanket, and it is when Linus says the words “Fear not”. 






We all have things we hold onto, memories and thoughts and ideas we keep as touchstones, objects we utilize as talismans, rituals and traditions and habits that we use to manage our fear or anxiety and how we handle change. That’s what transitional objects are for—to ease us from one change to another.

Fear not, for behold I bring you tidings of great joy. And it is at this moment that Linus no longer needs help making the transition from one change to another. He no longer needs to manage his fear or his anxiety. I think one of the reasons angels are always saying ‘do not be afraid’ or ‘fear not’ when they show up is now we need not fear because we are no longer alone. Fear not, for behold I bring you tidings of great joy. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord. You are no longer alone.

Is that not the whole point of church, of community? Your family doesn’t accept and love you as you are? Fear not. You are not alone. Here you are accepted and loved for the unique gift that is you. Is every day is a struggle to get out of bed, to engage the world, to not succumb to despair and grief? Fear not. You are not alone. Here there are others engaged in the same struggle; we look to each other for companionship and mutual support. Feeling like you can’t make a difference, that one person’s actions don’t matter? Fear not. You are not alone. Here you can join your hands with others—locally, nationally, globally—and be a part of the work of hope in the world. Do you have questions about God and faith, what does it mean to follow Jesus, what is the purpose of life? Fear not. You are not alone. Here we don’t have all or the same answers but we engage wholeheartedly with the questions.



Allow me to share a little wisdom from Star Wars. Fear wins by making us think we’re alone. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and hate leads to suffering. Confronting our fear is not only the destiny of a Jedi but also the destiny of every human being.

Sometimes Church can be a fearful people: fearful that we are alone in what we do to create justice for the poor and marginalized, that there aren’t enough of us; fearful that we will be left alone, overwhelmed by the needs of others and an uncertain future. But there are more of us doing the work of hope in the world than we think. What we call the Church or the Body of Christ is much bigger, much broader than those who follow Jesus or who believe in God or adhere to any religion. The incarnation is more about what is good and holy, true and just, embodied, enfleshed in every human being.

What wishes to come into the world through you, despite your fear? Love comes into the world despite our fear, as does hope and compassion and justice. The opposite of love isn’t fear but indifference. Our fear is a sign that our heart is in the right place; we’re just afraid to go there. And so the message of the angels to “Fear not” is also an invitation to go to the place that frightens us. But we can’t really be fearless all the time. What Christmas Eve is all about is that we fear less so we can embody love more—a Love so amazing that it transforms our lives, changes how we live. Which can be pretty scary. But it’s also news of great joy.



Merry Christmas, Church.



Amen.



Benediction – stanzas from “Continue” by Maya Angelou



My wish for you
Is that you continue
Continue
To be who and how you are
To astonish a mean world
With your acts of kindness
Continue
To allow humor to lighten the burden
Of your tender heart
Continue
In a society dark with cruelty
To let the people hear the grandeur
Of God in the peals of your laughter



Continue
To put the mantel of your protection
Around the bodies of
The young and defenseless
Continue
To take the hand of the despised
And diseased and walk proudly with them
In the high street
Some might see you and
Be encouraged to do likewise
Continue
To plant a public kiss of concern
On the cheek of the sick
And the aged and infirm
And count that as a
Natural action to be expected



Continue
To dare to love deeply
And risk everything
For the good thing