He Came So Still….To Shape Our Lives

Luke 2:1-16

“He came so still. There his Mother was. As dew in April. That falleth on the grass”

I went into Woolworth’s, really just for old times sake and perhaps a final delve into the pick and mix and the promise of 50% off something good.

I joined the ranks of those wandering aimlessly up and down the emptying shelves.

A Mr Blobby Christmas Annual for just 75p.

A 6 CD Special offer pack of “The World of the Bee Gees” - £3.99

Little Bo Peep Duvet and matching pillow cases – down to just a tenner.

There was nothing I wanted. Nothing at all.

But I processed up and down along with everyone else.

Doing a full figure of eight of the store.

I’m out there with you searching high and low for the heart of Christmas.

Rooting about on the shelves. Hoping for a miracle I can afford.

“He came so still. To his Mother’s bower. As dew in April. That falleth on the flower”

Have I ever told you about St Kevin?

I know what you’ll say.

You’ll say – that never happened!

This Kevin used to pray in a little hut in the woods and he prayed with his hands outstretched.

Through the window one day came a blackbird and it settled on Kevin’s hand and busying herself as in her nest, she laid in it an egg.

And so moved was Kevin with this that he remained praying there neither closing nor withdrawing his hand, but until the young ones were fully hatched, he held out his hand, shaping it for the purpose.

“He came so still, there his Mother lay. As dew in April, that falleth on the spray”

Christmas asks us what it is we’re good for.

Consumers and customers whose lifestyles are shaped by special offers and sudden tax reductions.

Or the miracle of having God shaped out in the palm of your hand.

He would never have been born in an inn, not even if there had been room.

It was too noisy and too restless a place.

The people there had become blinded to miracles – by the fuss about the census, the tax plans of the Emperor and the mayhem of the Roman occupation.

Not so very different to what could blind us if we’re not careful.

“He came so still. To a manger bed. As dew in April. So that which grows is fed.

We are called to stillness this Christmas, but not just that we might not wake a sleeping baby or even because this night is so full of magic.

We are called to be still because by his birth, something new can take shape in us.

The miracle of Christmas is that God takes the flesh of all people.

He comes to the heart of all human possibilities and gives them the potential to be shaped into holiness.

Hear what I say! For I say all human possibilities.

And some are saying no to that.

They say no to the worst things about themselves because they don’t think they are good enough for God.

They say no to people who will not or cannot conform to the same faith outlook as them.

Do they not see and do you not see?

He comes like dew in April – and the dew falls upon all that is still enough to receive him.

“He came so still, to refresh your joy and touch your grief. Like dew in April, That falleth on the leaf”

So those who form our traditional Christmas stable scene are only special in one way.

They were all able to be still enough.

God’s grace took care of the rest.

God’s grace shaped them into something new.

Not their own good intentions.

Different sorts of shepherds. Unorthodox kings. A unique mum and dad.

Mary still enough in her home to hear an angel’s voice

Shepherds still enough at their work to hear the music of a whole mass of them

Wise Men still enough in their travelling to notice a single star amidst a whole galaxy.

Ox and ass. Donkey and camel. Still enough because that was their nature at nightfall.

“Ah Christmas, your busy time of year Vicar with all those carol services”

That’s what they say. Those who get stuck with me at Christmas drinks and can’t think of what to say next.

If busyness is all we show and restlessness is all we expect – the miracle might pass us by.

And perhaps we’re happier that it will – because it means I won’t have to change won’t have to shape even my outstretched hand into his form. Let alone the rest of myself.

The shape is this – he sees the best in me – even my worst bits – he sees the best of.

This means I can no longer base my life on being better than others, seeing them in relation to me all the time

“Peace on the earth and Good will to everyone” – we have to be shaped into making that song our life.

Hand outstretched at Christmas – by what will it be shaped.

“Mama Mia” DVD – only £7.99 – last ten in stock – I’ll have some of that.

Grab and grasp that and anything else I can lay my hands on. Into a shape that becomes fist like.

Or quietly – to open your hand and keep it there – like a tiny, empty manger in an out of the way stable – that would never have expected to have been suddenly filled with the fullness of God.

“He comes so still, even to this place. As dew in April. Humanity full of grace.

RH 24.12.08