Christmas Eve, December 2th
The Rev. Tapiwa Huggins Gusha 

Isaiah 52:7-10/John 1:1-14

Verse 10, “He was in the world, and the world did not recognize him”

Verse 11, “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him”

Verse 14, “The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us”

In the name of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen. Merry Christmas to you all and welcome to this important Christmas Eve/Allow me to call it “Christmas” service. We have read from the gospel of John. John’s Christology is totally different from that of the synoptics. And it is this Christological thrust that makes John unique, and a better theologian as compared to the synoptics. While the synoptic gospels invest more in the human nature of Jesus, John invested much in the divine nature of Jesus, the pre-existence of Christ. Incarnation becomes more special when you have deep convection that Christ was there from the beginning. Christ chose to humble himself and being born among us, to experience our joys and sorrows and clearly demonstrate to us how to live a Godly life. 

Now looking at verse 10 & 11, even though John spent enough time teaching people about Christ, they did not understand whom Christ was (He was in the world, but the world did not recognize him/He came to that which was his own but his own did not receive him). This is one of the problems which still bothers me today. Does the world really know what Christmas is? The story of the invention of the Aeroplan by the Wright brothers in December of 1903 is told in diverse ways but the most interesting part to me is that those gentlemen spend many years investing in their project and in the process sacrificing not to be with their family even on import holidays such as Christmas. Now in 1903, their Aeroplan flew 120 feet above the ground, and they were extremely happy and relieved, and they wrote a telegram to their family, “We flew 120 feet, will be home for Christmas”. With excitement their sister Cathrine took the telegram and showed it to the local newspaper editor and the next morning the headline in the newspaper was, “Finally the boys are home for Christmas”. The editor missed the most important part of the message, an Aeroplan has been invented. It is our duty as Christians to make sure that the world understand what Christmas really means. 

I would also ask for your prayers because for me this Christmas is a sad and difficult one. This is the first Christmas in my life in which I will not have a Christmas Day service. This is the first Christmas since my ordination in which I will not have the opportunity to take the blessed sacrament to those who have been longing for it for a long time due to diverse conditions. John teaches us that Christmas means taking our gifts to those in need. It is important to send gifts to those in need, but it is more important to be with those in need. A certain priest was busy with Christmas services and could not visit his parents that particular year. So, he bought a very expensive microwave and send it to them as a Christmas present. The parents were so excited, and they invited neighbors to celebrate with them because they were the first to have a microwave in that village. The microwave was intact, and the manual was there but still the parents could not operate it. So, after some few days their jubilation turns into grief. After noticing their sadness for some days, a close neighbor approached them and enquired what was going on. Realizing that the microwave was the source of the problem, the neighbor then suggested, “But this should not be a big issue, we have many electricians in this village, and they can assist you for free!” The parents replied, “For this microwave to work, it doesn’t require a good electrician, but it only required our son to be here with us!”. My brothers and sisters, when God decided to send us the gift of salvation, he did not send it with a manual, but he accompanied the gift-the word became flesh and dwell among us. 

Christmas entails the amazing love of God, Christmas entails the amazing humility of God, Christmas entails the amazing commitment of God. Decorations are important but deep reflection on the love of God is more important. Food is important but deep reflection on the humility of God is more important. Presents are important but deep reflection on the commitment of God is more important. I will humbly request that you start Christmas celebrations tomorrow by a word of prayer. My wish was to send everyone an electronic Christmas card, but I was limited to the current existing mailing list so if I missed out someone, please forgive me. I wish you God’s blessings during this festive season. Amen!