January 2021
"Little Bethlehem"
Rev. Helen Beth Kuhens, Guest Pastor
Based on Matthew 2:1-12 (reading at the end of the sermon)
January 3, 2021
Before wrapping up your nativity scene and putting it away until next Christmas,
I ask you to ponder with me each part of that familiar scene.
Bethlehem
The first to ponder, is not a character, but a place. The Nativity scene, whether described by Matthew or Luke, takes place in Bethlehem:
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light.
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
Bethlehem is a Hebrew word – “Beth” meaning house, and “Lehem” meaning bread – together “House of Bread” As we share in holy communion later in the service, we can take note that – Jesus, who is the bread of life, was born in Bethlehem, the house of bread.
Mary, Joseph and Jesus
Central to the Nativity scene is the little family: Mary, Joseph and the baby.
Luke says of the shepherds: “So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.”
Mary
For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above
While mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of wondering love.
Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed.
Mary, loving mother mild, Jesus Christ, her little child.
What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Hast, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary.
Joseph
Matthew tells of two very important dreams of Joseph. The first is an announcement of Jesus’ birth: “An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him, Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’”
The second dream (you might recall from today’s Gospel reading) comes as a warning… again from Matthew: “Now after the wise men had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.’” Joseph, Jesus’ father and protector.
Jesus
Away in a manger, no crib for his bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head;
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing; the baby awakes;
But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes. (No crying? He is a baby!)
I love you, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.
And from the 3rd verse of “Once in Royal David’s City” (where tears are mentioned.)
Jesus is our childhood’s pattern; day by day, like us he grew;
He was little, weak and helpless; tears and smiles like us he knew;
And he feeleth for our sadness, and he shareth in our gladness.
Animals
Yes . . . The cattle are lowing; the baby awakes …
and from a 12th century French carol—“The Friendly Beasts”
Jesus, our brother, strong and good, was humbly born in a stable rude,
And the friendly beasts around him stood.
“I,” said the donkey, shaggy and brown, “I carried his mother up-hill and down,
I carried his mother to Bethlehem town.”
“I,” said the cow, all white and red, “I gave him my manger for his bed,
I gave him hay to pillow his head.”
“I,” said the sheep with curly horn, “I gave him my wool for his blanket warm.
He wore my coat on Christmas morn.”
“I,” said the dove, from the rafters high, “I cooed him to sleep that he should not cry,
We cooed him to sleep, my mate and I.”
Thus all the beasts, by some good spell, in the stable dark were glad to tell
Of the gifts they gave Emmanuel.
Angels and Shepherds
Angels
As Luke tells the story, angels announce the good news of Jesus’ birth first to lowly shepherds:
It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, good will to all, from heavens all gracious king.”
The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.
Shepherds
While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night,
Behold, throughout the heavens there shone a holy light.
The shepherds feared and trembled when, lo, above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus that hailed our Savior’s birth.
Wise Men and the Star
Many Nativity scenes include both Luke’s story of the shepherds (sometimes with sheep) and Matthew’s story of the Wise Men (often with camels). According to Matthew’s story, however, the Wise Men come not to a manger—but to a house – as we heard in today’s Gospel reading:
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem, wise men from the East came to King Herod asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?” After research by the chief priests and scribes, Herod sends them to Bethlehem. So “they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star … until it stopped over the place where the child was. … On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and
myrrh.
We three kings of Orient are; bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.
O star of wonder, star of light, star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.
We celebrate today the Epiphany Star that led the wise men to the Christ Child.
We prayed in the Prayer of the Day: Almighty God, You revealed the incarnation of your Son by the brilliant shining of a star. Shine the light of your justice always in our hearts and over all lands, and accept our lives as the treasure we offer.
(This is where I want you to hold up your baptismal candle as a reminder that you are a part of this story. The light of the star shines on this same Jesus who says:
“I am the light of the world.” And at your baptism you were given a baptismal candle with a reminder that went something like this: “Let your light so shine before others that they might see your good works -- your love and kindness -- and give glory to your Father in heaven.”)
And I share words from my favorite Epiphany Hymn based on a Christmas poem by Howard Thurman, an early African-American theologian, educator and civil rights leader:
“I am the light of the world! You people come and follow me!”
If you follow and love, you’ll learn the mystery of
what you were meant to do and be.
When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and the shepherds have found their way home,
The work of Christmas is begun:
To find the lost and lonely one, to heal the broken soul with love,
To feed the hungry children with warmth and good food,
To feel the earth below, the sky above!
To free the prisoner from all chains, to make the powerful care,
To rebuild the nations with strength of good will,
To serve God’s children everywhere!
AMEN.
*******************************************************************************************************************
Matthew 2:1-12
1In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." 3When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
6'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"
7Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." 9When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
I ask you to ponder with me each part of that familiar scene.
Bethlehem
The first to ponder, is not a character, but a place. The Nativity scene, whether described by Matthew or Luke, takes place in Bethlehem:
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light.
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
Bethlehem is a Hebrew word – “Beth” meaning house, and “Lehem” meaning bread – together “House of Bread” As we share in holy communion later in the service, we can take note that – Jesus, who is the bread of life, was born in Bethlehem, the house of bread.
Mary, Joseph and Jesus
Central to the Nativity scene is the little family: Mary, Joseph and the baby.
Luke says of the shepherds: “So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.”
Mary
For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above
While mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of wondering love.
Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed.
Mary, loving mother mild, Jesus Christ, her little child.
What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Hast, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary.
Joseph
Matthew tells of two very important dreams of Joseph. The first is an announcement of Jesus’ birth: “An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him, Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’”
The second dream (you might recall from today’s Gospel reading) comes as a warning… again from Matthew: “Now after the wise men had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.’” Joseph, Jesus’ father and protector.
Jesus
Away in a manger, no crib for his bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head;
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing; the baby awakes;
But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes. (No crying? He is a baby!)
I love you, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.
And from the 3rd verse of “Once in Royal David’s City” (where tears are mentioned.)
Jesus is our childhood’s pattern; day by day, like us he grew;
He was little, weak and helpless; tears and smiles like us he knew;
And he feeleth for our sadness, and he shareth in our gladness.
Animals
Yes . . . The cattle are lowing; the baby awakes …
and from a 12th century French carol—“The Friendly Beasts”
Jesus, our brother, strong and good, was humbly born in a stable rude,
And the friendly beasts around him stood.
“I,” said the donkey, shaggy and brown, “I carried his mother up-hill and down,
I carried his mother to Bethlehem town.”
“I,” said the cow, all white and red, “I gave him my manger for his bed,
I gave him hay to pillow his head.”
“I,” said the sheep with curly horn, “I gave him my wool for his blanket warm.
He wore my coat on Christmas morn.”
“I,” said the dove, from the rafters high, “I cooed him to sleep that he should not cry,
We cooed him to sleep, my mate and I.”
Thus all the beasts, by some good spell, in the stable dark were glad to tell
Of the gifts they gave Emmanuel.
Angels and Shepherds
Angels
As Luke tells the story, angels announce the good news of Jesus’ birth first to lowly shepherds:
It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, good will to all, from heavens all gracious king.”
The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.
Shepherds
While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night,
Behold, throughout the heavens there shone a holy light.
The shepherds feared and trembled when, lo, above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus that hailed our Savior’s birth.
Wise Men and the Star
Many Nativity scenes include both Luke’s story of the shepherds (sometimes with sheep) and Matthew’s story of the Wise Men (often with camels). According to Matthew’s story, however, the Wise Men come not to a manger—but to a house – as we heard in today’s Gospel reading:
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem, wise men from the East came to King Herod asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?” After research by the chief priests and scribes, Herod sends them to Bethlehem. So “they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star … until it stopped over the place where the child was. … On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and
myrrh.
We three kings of Orient are; bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.
O star of wonder, star of light, star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.
We celebrate today the Epiphany Star that led the wise men to the Christ Child.
We prayed in the Prayer of the Day: Almighty God, You revealed the incarnation of your Son by the brilliant shining of a star. Shine the light of your justice always in our hearts and over all lands, and accept our lives as the treasure we offer.
(This is where I want you to hold up your baptismal candle as a reminder that you are a part of this story. The light of the star shines on this same Jesus who says:
“I am the light of the world.” And at your baptism you were given a baptismal candle with a reminder that went something like this: “Let your light so shine before others that they might see your good works -- your love and kindness -- and give glory to your Father in heaven.”)
And I share words from my favorite Epiphany Hymn based on a Christmas poem by Howard Thurman, an early African-American theologian, educator and civil rights leader:
“I am the light of the world! You people come and follow me!”
If you follow and love, you’ll learn the mystery of
what you were meant to do and be.
When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and the shepherds have found their way home,
The work of Christmas is begun:
To find the lost and lonely one, to heal the broken soul with love,
To feed the hungry children with warmth and good food,
To feel the earth below, the sky above!
To free the prisoner from all chains, to make the powerful care,
To rebuild the nations with strength of good will,
To serve God’s children everywhere!
AMEN.
*******************************************************************************************************************
Matthew 2:1-12
1In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." 3When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
6'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"
7Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." 9When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
