Unless

 

Luke 2: 1-16
New Ark United Church of Christ, Newark, DE
Christmas Eve 2024

The cover of this year’s Christmas bulletin comes from the Dr. Seuss book The Lorax. It’s the place the Lorax was last seen, on a rocky platform with the word “Unless” engraved on a large stone. In addition, there is the Christmas star shining overhead, and if we’ve read the book, perhaps we remember these words: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”



As Rev. Munther Isaac, the pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem, has once again placed baby Jesus wrapped in a keffiyeh on a pile of rubble for a nativity, I can also imagine a baby Jesus on this rocky platform with the word “unless” as his manger this year. If Christmas is about anything, it is about getting us to care a whole awful lot.



American journalist and Presbyterian minister Chris Hedges says that the Christmas story is about learning how to human, how to kneel before what is poor, weak, helpless, despised, and vulnerable, and inverting the world’s values. Unless we learn how to be human, how to kneel before the helpless and despised, unless we invert the world’s values, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.



Unless we call out genocide in Gaza and the risk of genocide in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ukraine, and other conflicts.



Unless we call out antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of hate and bigotry.



Unless we denounce religious nationalism of all kinds.



Unless we disavow and defund violence and war.



Unless we care a whole awful lot. But we do care, don’t we? So, it’s more than just caring. It’s about inverting the world’s values. The mighty shall be cast down. The lowly shall be lifted up. The hungry are filled with good things. The rich are sent way empty.



Unless we invest in our interdependence and mutual care.



Unless we hold everyone accountable to the rule of law, especially those with power and wealth.



Unless we insist there must be justice in order for there to be peace.



Unless we recognize every child, every person as a unique human being with the same needs for safety, shelter, food, healthcare, education, acceptance, and community.



Unless we treat the earth and the environment as equal partners in community.



According to the gospel of Luke, unless a young girl said yes to the angel of the Lord. Unless Joseph went with Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Unless room was made for them with the animals. Unless the angel of the Lord brought good news of great joy. Unless the shepherds went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child. Unless they made known what had been told them about this child, praising and glorifying God.



Unless we forgive ourselves and others. Unless we are merciful to those who need mercy. Unless we love our neighbor as ourselves. Unless we love and pray for our enemy. Unless we love God with all our mind, heart, strength, and soul. Unless the first are last and the last are first. When we kneel before what is poor, weak, helpless, despised, and vulnerable, it is then that we know Christmas. It is then that we know what it is to be fully human.


Merry Christmas, Church! Amen.



Benediction

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
nothing is going to get better. It’s not.
Unless Christmas only happens one night a year.
Unless we make room for Christmas to make a home in us.
Unless we follow and love

And learn the mystery of what we were meant to do and be.

Merry Christmas, Church! Amen.