Sermon, Christmas +1

 There’s a song that was written during the second world war, and it speaks of a soldier’s dream for Christmas.

To give credit: the songwriters were Kim Gannon, Walter Kent, and Buck Ram. The first crooner to offer it was Bing Crosby – though many have covered it since.

It starts thus:

“I'll be home for Christmas,

You can count on me.

Please have snow and mistletoe,

And presents by the tree.

Christmas eve will find you,

Where the love light gleams

I'll be home for Christmas,

If only in my dreams.”

The one telling this narrative is focusing on a wish list of sorts: the concept of home.

Christmas, for him, means traditions: snow, and mistletoe, gift-giving and greenery.

While the context is important, the singer touches on something that I’m going to co-opt into a theological reflection this morning.

I’ll be home for Christmas:

Home.

It’s a small word with a lot of meaning.

Because, at its best, home is a place of safety and comfort, it’s a space where love grows, where family shares, where laughter and care is abundant.

It’s a place where four walls become a heart-space.

The healthy, happy reminiscing of HOME is seldom focused on the décor or architecture, but of experience and relationship and creating memories. Home is, ideally,

While we know that ‘home’ isn’t that ideal for everyone, it is something we can all aspire to create in our own lives.

Home.

Being HOME for Christmas.

BEing. at HOME. At Christmas.

It’s important: at any time; but especially at Christmas, we tend to be more sentimental about being together, being at home, being in that memory-making environment.

And this year, that’s happening less so.

This second COVID Christmas is keeping a number of folks *not* home – in the physical sense.

And the distance hinders the rest of the process of HOMEness as we have known it.

And the restrictions – as awkward and unpopular, though health-supporting and reasonable – they aren’t really beaming that lovelight into our hearts the way we might want.

So this is why it may be helpful for us to re-adjust our understanding of home, and for that I’m going to dive into the scriptures.

First off, we have Samuel: this small passage where his parents make their annual trek to see him – for he has been given to the temple as a holy offering. And while he is in constant service to the Lord, his family continues to support that. With an ephod (which is a garment for his ministry). They miss him, of course; this child that Hannah wanted so badly she cried and begged and prayed; but they celebrate his offering in obedience to God.

Samuel teaches us that Home is an offering of service.

And the psalmist: praise and glory! And then praise some more. Regardless of species, of status, of location – whatever and wherever, praise the Lord!

The psalmist’s celebration of praise teaches us that praise is what comes from deep within ourselves, when we are at home: and that praise helps us to establish ‘home’ in the broader community.

The Epistle carries this one step further, embracing the result of offering and praise: and these works are not a to-do list, but a head-space and heart-space for living. Be compassionate. kind. Humble. Patient. Let your character demonstrate the love of Christ – let the indwelling word of Christ – which we are assured dwells in us RICHLY! – let that guide and inspire all our actions.

It is in that holy space where, as Paul teaches the Colossians and us – we find our home in the Lord.

Home: a place of offering, of praise, of the resultant good works: of being.

Home. In the Presence of God. For none of these things happen without the presence of God.

And delightfully, none of these things are intended to be competitive of quantitative. For serving God with Love, dwelling in the deep truth of HOME, is not about keeping a tally or keeping score; it doesn’t compare and contrast one with another. Home: true spiritual home: is about authentic presence with God. Of knowing and being known; of journeying with joy.

Offering, praising, loving: BEing at home is not what our culture really excels at.

Because our culture can sometimes get caught up in DOing rather than BEing. We live in a bigger/better/faster/more culture, where we constantly try to prove ourselves with titles and status and positions, etc. The challenge there being that more is never enough; and disappointment is likely.

So today we’re reminded that God calls us to BE. To be spiritual beings having a human experience. To be enough, just as we are. To know who we are, and whose we are: and to be comfortable and satisfied with that. When we can dwell in that space, we are able to be still in the presence of God: and that is a great gift.

To find that stillness and that belonging takes practice, it takes reflection and meditation and prayer and direction. It takes a journey that is seldom straight and easy; for life gets in the way.

But when we are in that presence, we know that we are home.

As Jesus told his parents: he was at home. In his Father’s house. The whole time.

Why on earth would they – should they! Have been surprised – it’s obvious to him (admittedly, the boy has not been the one panicking, he didn’t know that he was “lost”). But it’s obvious to him that the temple is exactly where he should be: it was his home.

The place of prayer; the place of community; the place where the spirit dwells.

Home. In the presence of God.

In the light of Christ.

In the presence of love.

In the joy of being.

I’ll be home for Christmas:

I’ll be home for Christmas.

Where the lovelight gleams.

I pray that you ARE home this Christmas – wherever you are physically.

May the place and space that you fill be a home;

Where you – as the beloved of God – are in the presence of the Lord.

Let us BE. Home. This Christmas.

Amen.