The First Sunday after Christmas - January 1, 2012

The Church Season of Christmas
1st Sunday after Christmas
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (January 1, 2012)

Readings:  
    Genesis 46:1-7
    1 Peter 4:12-19      
    Matthew 2:13-23

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Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen

The text for today is as recorded in the Gospel Lesson from the 4th chapter of 1st Peter verses 12-13

1 Peter 4:12-19 (NIV)

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

It’s a New Year, time for new ideas, new commitments, new visions, and new dreams.  That is all part and parcel of what is known as the American dream.  We dreamed, as a nation, of the freedom of religion, where you could be any religion you wanted and practice any faith freely, and no one could or would do anything about it.  You are free!

That is a great dream, freedom of religion without persecution.  Yet Jesus promised that if we faithfully followed Him, the world would hate us and we would be persecuted.  World history has demonstrated the accuracy of that prophecy.  Sadly, Christians in every age, and in every corner of the world have been hated and persecuted for their faith. Even here, in America, it is considered narrow-minded and rude, not to mention hopelessly backward, to stand firmly on one's faith and not go along with the socially approved ecumenical spirit of our times.  Anything in our culture is okay, except, of course, standing firm on the faith once delivered to the saints.  If you stand firm in the true Christian faith you are ridiculed, mocked, verbally assaulted.  And in other places in the world, people are dying for simply calling themselves "Christian". 

St. Peter speaks to us by saying; “do not be surprised!” He was talking about "the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing."   It is hard to stand firm in your faith, and confess Christ.  Family members will tell you to get off your high horse.  Friends will tell you to keep you religion to yourself - and will distance themselves from you if you don't.  Employers may tell you that your faith - and it symbols - are not welcome around the work-place.  People will find things to criticize and nit-pick on you because you are supposed to be something special, better, without any flaws, real or imagined.  Perhaps bigger things will happen among us as persecution in time - we cannot tell.  One thing we do know, our faith is not welcome out in the world, and not really even among others who style themselves as "Christian."

At this time of year when an old year has ended and a new year has begun, we often look back on our lives.  I'm sure many of us will recall when a time of trouble or suffering strengthened our faith in God.  A seeming setback turned out to be an opportunity for better or happier employment.  A chance meeting brought you to your husband or wife.  In fact it was not chance at all, rather God's gracious working in your lives.

Sometimes the events that happen around us don’t always go the way we want, and maybe we would like to be like Joseph, Mary and that tiny Christ child and flee persecution by going to another place and another country.  But, in those times when we can't make sense of things, when there seems to be no valid purpose or meaning to what's going on in our lives (and that happens to us all at one time or another), know that Christ has made you His own.  

There is nothing in all of creation that can separate you from Him and His love.  In fact, the Lord comes so near to you with His love that He actually gives Himself into you in the Sacrament of the Altar.  He imparts to you His very own life with His body and blood.  If the almighty Lord would go so far as to take on your vulnerable human flesh, to die in the flesh and shed His blood, and then give you His resurrected flesh and blood for the forgiveness of your sins, then certainly you can trust Him even in those times when there seems to be no reasonable answers to your questions.

So, when your faith and your confession brings ridicule or any other pain on you from the world around you, do not be surprised.  It is likely to happen, and Jesus predicted it.  It is our call to strive to avoid bringing this persecution upon ourselves.  It will find you of its own accord.  Remember that this is part of the plan of God, and remember that those would thwart the Word of God will ultimately bear the fruits of their evil, unless they repent.  Remembering the pain of ridicule and persecution, we should be eager to spare our attackers the pains they are bringing on themselves by bringing them the good news of Christ and forgiveness.  There is hope that a New Year will bring us peace and prosperity.  Certainly this congregation has been blessed beyond measure throughout its time.  We look ahead with faith and joy to see what we can do this year guided by the Holy Spirit to speak God’s Word.  And we pray that when persecution or trouble or pain does come our way, our faith will not fail, we will pray, and entrust our souls to God.  We pray that a New Year will bring us great things, at the same time our prayers have been answered before we pray them.  For God has given us His Son Jesus Christ, who brings us a new life, and to eternity with Him.  Amen.

The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

+SDG+