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BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS

Lesson 1: Isaiah 9:2--7 (C, RC, L); Isaiah 9:2--4, 6--7 (E)
The prophet declares the dawning of a new day of light, justice and everlasting peace for the downtrodden of the Lord. A son is given who mediates the very presence and attributes of God; he is proclaimed the Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. There has been a great deal of discussion as to whether this passage is pre-- or post--exilic, whether it was composed by Isaiah or a later writer. There is no reason to suppose that this is other than the work of Isaiah and was probably composed to celebrate the coronation of a king. This condition of peace (understood in the Jewish sense of total well being) will not come about through political intrigue but through the action of God (v. 7). The Christian Church sees Christ as the one who will bring about this triumph of shalom.

Lesson 2: Titus 2:11--14 (C, RC, E, L)
In Jesus, the grace of God became visible and accessible for the salvation of all people, not just the chosen few. Christ will return in glory as ''God and Savior.'' This is the only scripture where Jesus is given the title of ''God.'' Ethics flow from theology. Since Christ died to purify us from our sins (his priestly role) and may return at any time, the believer needs to renounce sinful passions and zealously pursue that which is good.

Gospel: Luke 2:1--14 (15--20) (C, E); Luke 2:1--14 (RC); Luke 2:1--20 (L)
Luke's wonderful nativity account raises a number of historical and exegetical questions which would be best kept to ourselves. Christmas is not a time for questions but affirmation and celebration. Rather, let us serve as the angel who announced the holy birth and lift our voices with the heavenly chorus in praise of our new--born king. The passage reiterates a chord found often in scripture: God is manifest in the poor and the humble of the earth. Let us savor the miracle of God's incarnation with awe and wonder.

Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 96 (C, E, L) - ''Sing to the Lord a new song ...'' (v. 1).

Prayer Of The Day
Glory to you, O Lord. As we gather around your manger, that symbol of your love and grace, our hearts bubble over with awe and wonder at your self--giving surprise. Jesus, be born in our hearts anew, that we may always radiate the glory of your love. Amen.


THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS

Lesson 1: Isaiah 9:2--7
Darkness and light is one of the great scriptural motifs, which crops up frequently in Isaiah. This passage is one of the greatest of this genre (v. 2). The people knew of the darkness of

corruption and political subjugation but now their hopes blazed brightly with the advent of a new ruler. Unfortunately, this star soon became a black hole. The Christian community was quick to realize that only Jesus is the sun that will never set; as he claimed, he is the light of the world.
Studies have been conducted on those who were born blind but through the wonders of modern surgery were given new and perfectly healthy eyes. With breathless anticipation, they awaited the removal of the bandages. What do you think they saw when the light first struck their corneas? Almost nothing! A nebulous blob. Seeing is more than light and lenses; one must learn how to see. When we are given the gift of sight at birth, we gradually learn how to see, but when sight comes much later, the difficulties are almost insurmountable. Many of these people found it too difficult to learn how to see, they went back to their ways of perceiving when blind. Some people find it more congenial to walk in the darkness than in the light. When we really walk in the light of God's Son, the Spirit teaches us how to see through the eyes of Christ and walk in the light without stumbling.

Lesson 2: Titus 2:11--14
Grace and glory. We are told here that Christmas is preeminently a celebration of God's grace; salvation is made available to all through the One born in Bethlehem (v. 1). However, Christmas has a face like the god Janus, looking both ways. Christmas is past but Christ is coming again: this time, in glory and power (v. 13). The first advent was hardly noticed but his second advent will be a great manifestation of glory that all will see and tremble. Our God is a God of grace and glory. There was indeed glory in the stable where Christ was born but it is a glory concealed, a glory apparent only to a few shepherds out in their fields. Let's be honest though: it is God's self--giving grace that draws us to the manger.
The gift goes on and on and on. You've probably seen the Energizer battery advertisements with the little pink rabbit beating a drum in a parade; all the other participants run out of juice but as the commentator says of the Energizer bunny, ''It just keeps going and going and going.'' God gave his Son and the Son gave himself for the sins of the world (v. 14). This is the gift that just keeps going and going and going as it is received and shared countless times down through the centuries. As a delightful Christmas song puts it: The gift goes on, the gift goes on and on and on.

Gospel: Luke 2:1--20
House of Bread. Jesus was born in Bethlehem which means ''house of bread.'' It is appropriate that he who multiplied the loaves and who gives himself to us in bread and wine should be born in this place.
Taxes or charity? The emperor Augustus ordered all citizens to register for his tax. Around that same time another king was born, Jesus, the Christ. He demanded nothing but gave everything, even his own life. Oh yes, according to the Gospel of John, the night before his death he washed his disciples' feet and then commanded them to love one another.
Good News for the poor. Luke's nativity story makes very clear that the Messiah's coming is good news for the poor and those considered to be of little importance. His birth announcement was proclaimed to humble shepherds whose status was only slightly greater than that of prostitutes and tax collectors. Luke's version of the Beatitudes is addressed to the poor, while Matthew speaks to the poor in spirit. Luke has a special concern to show Christ's compassion for the down--and--outers, for he enters the world as one of them; he comes to us as a naked, outcast alien. How different in the western world, where many of the churches reach out to the up--and--comers, those who are wealthy, powerful and successful. Even at Christmas, when our impulse to charity is magnified, we do little more than share a few crumbs with the poor of the earth. Our giving centers on those who have favored us with gifts. God's love in Christ is pure grace, giving himself to those of no repute. Perhaps Christ first appeared to the lowly shepherds because their economic poverty predisposed them to spiritual poverty and humility,

which is the womb of spiritual regeneration. Only those who are poor, naked, and blind can receive the message of an infant Savior as good news.
Worship as witness. The response of Mary and Joseph to the revelations of the shepherds was awe and wonder, the underlying attitude of worship, transmitted by the shepherds (vv. 17--18). However, the gospel of the Savior cannot be kept within. When the shepherds returned to the ordinary arena of their existence, their voices lifted in praise of God (v. 20). As we meditate on the mystery of the incarnation, we are filled with awe and wonder at the grace of God but we cannot stay transfixed at the holy place; rather, we must go back to the fields of our endeavor with jubilant songs of praise on our lips, as worship blends into witness.


PREACHING APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS

Lesson 1: Isaiah 9:2--7
Sermon Title: Christmas Dawning
Sermon Angle: The prophet announces a new day for those prisoners of political captivity, who dwelt in the darkness of defeat and hopelessness. The light of the Lord's liberation was dawning on the nation. God was sending a Savior/King. The expectations of the Jews are fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who frees us from the captivity of selfishness and sin. Christmas marks the dawning of a new day.
Outline:
1. The Jews dwelt in the dark prison of national captivity
2. God freed them and caused the dawning of a new day
3. We all experience the dark captivity of being sin's slave
4. With Christ, we have the dawning of a new day in which:

- God will send his Son to govern us

- It will be a reign of peace and righteousness

Lesson 2: Titus 2:11--14
Sermon Title: Proclaiming The God Of Grace And Glory
Sermon Angle: This passage speaks of the appearing of the grace of God for the salvation of all people and urges us to prepare for Christ's coming again in glory. God is always both a God of grace and a God of glory but one aspect is more prominent at one time than the other. In the incarnation, the glory is masked but the grace is clearly evident. That God should stoop to infant form is grace; that Christ should die on the cross and rise again is also pure grace. Some day, however, Christ will come again but this time in visible power and glory. If we receive the grace, we will not fear the glory.
Outline:
1. In Christ we see the grace of God

- In his humble birth

- In his gracious words and actions

- In his sacrificial death and resurrection
2. In Christ we will see the glory of God

- When he comes to judge the earth

- When we die
3. Our response, through God's grace

- Turn off our passion for sinning

- Turn on our zeal for good deeds

Gospel: Luke 2:1--20
Sermon Title: Close Encounters
Sermon Angle: The confirmation class was challenged to find the extraterrestrials in Luke's nativity account. They couldn't believe it, so they searched. One student hesitatingly responded, ''Angels?'' ''Right on,'' I replied. The sermon title derives from Steven Spielberg's movie,

Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, which features an encounter between humans and an extraterrestrial being. The first encounter was between a wrinkled little alien and a child. The response on both sides is not fear but fascination. Angels certainly are extraterrestrials and they figure prominently in Luke's nativity narrative. As you know, the word angelos means ''messenger''; the angels bore the good news of the Messiah's birth through word and worship. The shepherds themselves became messengers (angels) when they joyously shared all that they had heard and seen about the new--born king (v. 17). Every Christian is an angel (messenger) who is called to bear witness to the wonder of the God incarnate.
Outline:
Introduction: Use the Close Encounters story and follow with the statement that Christmas contains a close encounter with extraterrestrials.
1. A close encounter with angel--messengers
2. A close encounter with God, through the incarnate Son
3. A close encounter with salvation
Conclusion: Like the angels and the shepherds we are to proclaim the good news of Emmanuel, the joyous tidings of salvation.

Sermon Title: Have A Wonderful Christmas
Sermon Angle: Luke states that all who heard the shepherds' story were filled with wonder and awe concerning events which were beyond their understanding. Wonder is a proper response to that which is mysterious and to that which is holy. The gospel of our incarnate God is indeed mysterious. We must not lose our sense of wonder and worship as we celebrate Christmas. Too often, we are filled with worry rather than wonder as we get taken away with the superficial aspects of Christmas. Verse 19 relates that Mary pondered these things in her heart. The Christmas event is like a precious jewel, which we should reverently examine, turning it over and over to see the light of glory reflected from various angles.
Outline:
Introduction: Relate a story of how wonderful Christmas is to children. Then state that we must not lose that sense of wonder.
1. All who gathered around the manger wondered at the news of the shepherds
2. Mary pondered these things in her heart
3. Today, Christmas often produces more worry than wonder
4. Be a child again and be filled with wonder at the mystery of the incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection.
5. Come, let us worship our king - wonder leads to worship

Babies can bring out the best or the worst in us. The appearance of the Christ--child elicited a murderous rage in King Herod and worship on the part of the shepherds and the Wise Men. A baby can bond together man and wife or tear them apart.
Ann Landers asked her readers with children: ''If you had it to do over again, would you have children?'' A surprising 70% replied that they would not. Apparently, these people thought that kids brought more pain than gain.

A young Presbyterian pastor was approached by a taciturn Elder, Angus McDonnell. His son was due to arrive in town on Thanksgiving weekend with his newborn son whom they named Angus Larry. How would you like to carry that appellation around with you the rest of your life? Anyway, the elder wanted the pastor to baptize his grandson. The young cleric quickly spirited Angus into his office and inquired into his son's religious affiliation. Well, they hadn't gotten around to joining any church yet, retorted Angus. Then, the pastor tried to convince him that it would be better if the infant were baptized in the community where his son's family

lived. The pastor thought he had put across his point when the elder politely thanked the pastor and left. However, Angus knew how to put a fire under this young upstart. He called every other elder and they held a secret meeting, where they voted unanimously that the pastor should baptize the child.
Following the service, a woman by the name of Mildred lingered in the back of the church. Obviously, she had some agenda. She hesitatingly confessed that her 18--year--old daughter had a child out of wedlock adding: ''Well, it ought to be baptized, shouldn't it?'' The pastor said that he would take it up with the Board. After some reluctance and a lengthy discussion, the Board voted to approve the baptism. The baptism took place the fourth Sunday in Advent. The church was full. This congregation had the custom of asking this question as a part of their baptismal liturgy: ''Who will stand with this child?'' At this point, the family, friends, sponsors, and so forth, would stand up and remain standing during the sacrament. The pastor and Elders were concerned that nobody but the young woman's mother would stand up with her. When the question was raised, ''Who will stand up with this child?'' it looked as if their worst fears were being realized. Then a man got up; it was Angus McDonnell. Then some other Elders rose, followed by a young couple who had recently joined the church. In short order, a host of congregants were standing with the young mother. Tears of joy danced down her cheeks. The Word had once again become flesh in fulfillment of the scripture lesson read earlier in the service from 1 John 4: ''See what love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God .... If we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.'' (Based on an article by the Rev. Michael Lindvail in Good Housekeeping, December, 1990.)

This account is based on a story in Parade Magazine, titled ''The Gift Of The Toy Man.'' The Toy Man is Eric Hultgren, who was a tool and dye maker for over four decades. Eric's life was turned on its head by his wife's final illness. Shirley was dying of lung cancer, but being a kind and Christian woman she still was concerned for others. Shirley suggested to Eric they should make something for the kids. Before Eric had emigrated from Sweden, his father had created for him a wooden truck, his prized toy. Shirley suggested that he construct some toys like that for the children.
Since Shirley's death, Eric has honored her request by utilizing almost all of his free time carving trucks, cars, school buses and airplanes, carefully crafted toys created out of love. These toys he takes to the local hospitals and personally presents them to children on the pediatrics ward. In just two Christmases, Eric has presented over 700 children with his special toys. He wouldn't dream of asking for payment; apparently, the joy in the eyes of the children is sufficient reward. He doesn't even introduce himself; he is simply known as ''The Toy Man.''
Eric has given far more than toys; toys have the connotation of that which is fun but not necessary. No, Eric has given and continues to give himself to those who are frightened by brokenness and disease. Isn't that what Christmas is all about?