A Silent Night in “the Chaos and the Noise” (Redemption of Scrooge Part II)

Sermon Title: A Silent Night in the Chaos and the Noise

Good News Statement: Jesus sustains us in peace

Preached: Sunday, December 4, 2022 at Dogwood Prairie UMC & Seed Chapel UMC

Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.

 

Scripture (NKJV): Luke 1:26-38 Today’s scripture reading comes from the words of Luke who writes in the first chapter, verses twenty-six thru thirty-eight, in his Gospel about Mary’s encounter with the angel of Gabriel.

 

Christ’s Birth Announced to Mary

²⁶ Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

²⁹ But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. ³⁰ Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. ³² He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. ³³ And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

³⁴ Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”

³⁵ And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. ³⁶ Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. ³⁷ For with God nothing will be impossible.”

³⁸ Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

This is the Word of God for the People of God; And all God’s people said, “Thanks be to God.”

 

Introduction:         

While a man had gone out driving to do some Christmas shopping, his wife had been watching TV when she heard the announcer say, “Be very careful and watch driving on I-5 today, there is a motorist driving the wrong way”! His wife got hold of him on the cell phone to warn him, and his reply was: “You tell me, there are hundreds of them here”.

Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol, first published in 1843, begins on an ominous note, stating the fact that “Marley was dead: to begin with”: it would appear that Dickens is going the wrong direction when it comes celebrating the joy of Christmas. The story takes place on Christmas Eve, Ebenezer Scrooge’s least favorite time of the year. He glares at carolers and scolds his employee, Bob Cratchit, for wanting Christmas Day off, all before turning down his nephew’s invitation to Christmas dinner.

Arriving home, Scrooge is startled to find the ghostly face of Jacob Marley staring at him from the door knocker. It disappears, but soon he hears sounds like chains dragging on the floor. They creep closer and closer, until Jacob Marley appears as a ghostly figure. He warns Scrooge that he must change his ways and that three ghosts will visit Scrooge over the next several hours, offering him a chance at redemption from his awful fate. Scrooge is heading in the wrong direction: greed, lust, pride, and money are distracting him.[i] He’s without peace.

During the busyness, the chaos, and the noise of the Advent Season, we sometimes find ourselves heading in the wrong direction: walking away from the manger instead of toward it, remaining in the fields while the shepherds go with haste to Mary and Joseph (Luke 2:16), and ignoring the Star of Bethlehem as it shines above the earth. We find ourselves going with the crowd instead of walking to the manger. During Advent, we prepare and wait for the coming of Christ, but sometimes we need to step back, remember our past, and seek peace before we can keep moving forward. Jesus provides us with peace amidst the chaos and the noise.

Opening Prayer:

Let us pray… Dear God of Peace, may we find peace in the chaos and noise of this busy season, as we find ourselves travelling to the stable instead of away from the stable. May my words fall to the ground as your words settle in the hearts of all those before me. In Your name we pray, Amen.

Body:

“The voice was soft and gentle…low, as if instead of being so close beside him, it were at a distance” (Matt Rawle, The Redemption of Scrooge, pg. 50).[ii]

What is your earliest memory? My earliest memory comes from the age of two: I was sitting on the back of my parents’ plaid, worn-out, couch in the living room, not wanting to sit still. I leaned back, and fell off. It must of have been a graceful fall because I stood right up, looked around, and found my family still watching the television. The next memory I have comes from the age of three and it was a memory of brotherly love. Being the youngest of four children, I was loved or picked on quite a bit. My oldest brother had this wonderful idea to teach me about erasers and wood peckers. He picked me up, turned me upside down, and rubbed my head against the cushions of that old plaid, worn-out couch, and told me, “I was a human eraser.” After that, he told me “I was a human wood pecker.” Grabbing my arms, he moved my head up and down against the couch cushions. Brotherly love! What is your earliest memory?

In the story of Scrooge, we find ourselves being challenged to remember our past. The Ghost of Christmas Past transports Scrooge to his childhood hometown, where he is reminded of childhood loneliness, the pain of unrequited love, his bosses—the Fezziwig’s—dancing in merriment, and he sees the joy of life. It’s at this moment that Scrooge seems to have forgotten his own story. [iii] He is always “bitter and exasperated at the people around him,” according to Matt Rawle, but as the story unfolds we find out this wasn’t always the case. While back in his hometown, Scrooge was filled with joy. “His lip quivers, and a single tear falls upon his cheek.” Usually around the holidays, we find ourselves thinking about the past, old traditions, the now empty chair at the table, and so many other things. It’s almost as if we are living in the past while our feet are grounded in the present. Sometimes, in the chaos and the noise, we have to step back, remember our past, and search for peace.

From our Scripture this morning, we are taken back to a time in Jesus’ life where peace probably was the last thing that Mary was thinking about. Now, in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel is sent by God “to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary” (1:26-27). Mary receives Gabriel’s words in wonderment: “‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be” (1:28-29). Mary was perplexed. Mary was confused. Mary could have been frightened by the appearance of an unknown man standing before her. Mary was far from peace. And to top everything off, this young-peasant-girl living in the small town of Nazareth, was about to hear something that would change her life forever.

To a young maiden engaged to Joseph come the words of comfort and promise: “‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will call him Jesus” (1:30-31). The name “Jesus” would have special meaning for her and all Israelites, because it is derived from a Hebrew word that means “savior” and signifies the promise of one who saves God’s people. Not only will Mary conceive a child in a way never heard of before, but the child will play a special role in the salvation of all God’s people. [iv]

Mary’s response is priceless and absent of any peace. Mary responds: “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” (1:34). How can this be since I have never been with a man? How can this be since I am a poor child? How can this be since I am a nobody, living a town of only 400 people, minding my own business? How can this be? There is no peace in the tone of Mary at this point. But then something happens. The wonderful exchange between Mary and the angel Gabriel continues to express God’s pure and simple gift to Mary: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God” (1:35). The angel Gabriel brings peace to Mary by letting her know that the Most High God will be with her every step of the way: “For nothing will be impossible with God” (1:37).

The final response of Mary in our text for today expresses the faith of the young mother and chosen one of God: “‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her” (1:38). During a moment of chaos and noise, Mary found peace by giving all she could to the promises of God. During a moment of disarray and fright, Scrooge found peace by remembering who he used to be. During times of busyness and uncertainty, we find the “peace that surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:6-7). Sometimes in the chaos and the noise of the present, we find peace in our past. How will you find peace this Advent Season?

Many names are used throughout Scripture to describe the person and work of Jesus—Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Isaiah points to peace as one of the signs that God has offered the Messiah to God’s people.[v] Peace is mentioned at Jesus’ birth when the angel said, “Don’t be afraid… ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!’” (Luke 2:10, 14). Jesus, before his arrest and crucifixion, gathered his disciples together and said, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I give to you not as the world gives. Don’t be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27). When Jesus was resurrected, he appeared to the disciples, who were hiding behind a locked door out of fear, and Jesus’ first words to them were, “Peace be with you.” Peace be with you.[vi]

Jesus is the Prince of Peace because the peace he offers is the opposite of fear: it is shelter during a storm, comfort during grief, and strength during hopelessness. We light the candle of peace so that the light will burn away our fear of what following Christ might mean. Mary’s fear was burned and peace replaced it. Scrooge’s fear was burned and peace replaced it. Joseph’s fear, the shepherds’ fear, the disciples’ fear, and Moses’ fear was burned and peace conquered their life. We light the candle of peace so that our fear, our worry and doubt and uncertainty and chaos and noise, will be replaced with peace. Peace be with you. How many of you need peace during this busy Advent Season? How many of you need the peace of Christ to live in your heart? The peace of Christ is not out of reach: it’s here, it’s now, it’s living within you. Remember to breath. Live in the words of Jesus—recorded in the past but living in the present: “Peace be with you.”

Conclusion:

There are seemingly countless parties, decorations, concerts, gifts to wrap, stockings to hang, and meals to prepare. Advent is to be a time of waiting and the act of slowing down to notice God’s presence within a chaotic and noisy and hurried world. In 2008, song writer Amy Grant, wrote these words, “I need a silent night, a holy night/To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise/I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here/To end this crazy day with a silent night.”

When we slow down, when we allow ourselves to enter a silent night and midnight clear, we find ourselves living in the moment of Christ’s peace. This is what happens when a child sits in front of the presents under the tree, staring, dreaming of what lies under the red-and-green paper. It may seem like the child is wasting time. By sitting there, wasting time, and slowing down, the child is making room for peace.

The beautiful thing about this is that it gives us permission to do the same thing—to slow down, to waste time, to allow room in our souls for friendship; to sit and waste time with your spouse; to sit and waste time with your siblings and  family; to site in the sanctuary, staring at the Advent wreath, getting lost in the Christmas tree, and kneeling at the table. During Christmas everything changes, and God invites us to slow down so that we might notice the change happening within our own souls.

If you don’t seek peace this Christmas season, you might find yourself going the wrong way on a one way. If you don’t seek peace this Christmas season, you might only find yourself thinking about how Mary was perplexed and miss out on the fact what Mary said to the angel Gabriel, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” If you don’t seek peace this Christmas season and allow the chaos and the noise to distract you from the true meaning of Christmas, then you have forgotten what the Psalmist wrote, “Be still, and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10). Take some time to remember the past, like Scrooge did, because it just might give you the peace that you need to make Christmas extra special this year.

Scrooge is an iconic figure who represents stinginess, greed, and generally being in a terrible mood. But if Scrooge can find peace and be redeemed, then so can you. Sometimes people with the worst pasts can create the best futures. How will you find peace this Christmas season? Are you needing a silent night? If so, God has peace waiting for you. “Peace be with you.”

Communion Liturgy:

Gathered around the table in an imperfect, dirty, filthy, upper room in Jerusalem, Jesus kneeled with his disciples. Jesus, knowing very well about the chaos and the noise that would soon enter his life, took a moment to offer a few hours of peace on a silent and holy night. Jesus entered our broken world, blessed imperfect households, wept in the presence of death, tasted bitter herbs, heard the cries of the oppressed,  walked this earth with scarred hands, and had lips of perpetual grace. Kneeling at the table, Jesus brought his whole self—the past, present, and future—and he invites us to do the same with hopes of experiencing peace. May the body and blood of Christ give you peace this Advent Season.

Benediction:

Peace. May we all strive to find peace this Advent Season. May we set aside the chaos and the noise and find peace resting in a lowly stable. May the Prince of Peace find your heart as you cherish the memories of your past. Peace be with you. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit go transforming lives as you live well and wisely in God’s world. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.

 

 

[i] Fate, as defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is the development of events beyond a person’s control, something destined to happen, turn out, or act in a particular way. For Scrooge, his fate doesn’t look too promising: focused on greed, pride, lust, and money. Scrooge has an earthly fate, but there is a heavenly fate that awaits to change his heart, to provide him with redemption; but he must be willing to turn himself around and go in the direction that the three ghosts are leading him.

[ii][ii] Scrooge settles into his bed, thinking it all a horrible dream—seeing Jacob Marley in his living quarters—but soon a bright light disturbs him. It is the Ghost of Christmas Past.

[iii] Scrooge, upset, takes the extinguisher-cap and tries to eliminate the ghost’s light. He ends up back in his room and falls into a deep sleep.

[iv] Hear the message of the angels: “To you is born in the city of David, a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord” (2:11).

[v] …but interestingly Jesus says in Matthew 10:34, “Don’t think that I’ve come to bring peace to the earth. I haven’t come to bring peace but a sword.” This offers us a clue as to what kind of peace God desires. A godly peace goes beyond lack of fighting or reservation or apathy.

[vi] Peace is not a lack of conflict. Following Jesus will result in quite a lot of conflict with the world.