Candlelight

The Rev. Joseph Winston

Christmass Eve, 2009

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2 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all
L
UKE

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the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was
taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be
registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to
the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and
family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged
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and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her
to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in
bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in
the inn.
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In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over
their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory
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of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to
them, “Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for
all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the

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Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in
bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a
multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

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“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favours!”

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When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said
to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken
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place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and
found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this,
they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard
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it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these
words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and
praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Sermon

Grace and peace are gifts for you from God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.1
There is something about a candlelight Christmass Eve service that warms
the heart. You can see it right here. Tiny children hold the candle tightly with their
eyes firmly fixed on the flickering flame. Look closely and you will see the light of
tomorrow dancing in their eyes. Young parents try to settle down their squirming
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Romans 1:7, 1 Corinthians 1:3, 2 Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:2, Philippians
1:2, 2 Thessalonians 1:2, Philemon 1:3.

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child so that Mother’s hair does not catch on fire. One day they will look back on
these times as some of the best in their lives. Old men and women strain to make
out the words of “Silent Night” through the dim candlelight. Misty eyes that know
what the future holds make the task even harder.
These are but some of the images you can see in churches all around the coun-
try tonight. People of all ages and races come together to worship the Christ Child
while holding candles in their hands.
Sometimes it is hard to understand why we use candles. This fact deeply res-
onates with many that do not know a life before electrical power. You cannot recall
a time when you did not just flip a switch and the room lit up without any work on
your part. You use candles of all sorts to add ambiance to a room and not to bring
light. Candles during worship are a novelty that you associate with Christmass
Eve and the Easter Vigil.
Then there is the mess that candles bring. Someone here will play with the
wax that drips down the candle. Without a doubt, some of the hot wax will escape
and make its way down to the pew. Some might even make it all the way to the
carpet on the floor. Months from now, these greasy spots will remain and someone
will have to clean them up. Parents see these problems first hand. Spilled wax has
ruined many a set of new Christmass clothes.
Life before electricity was difficult. Back then the flow of the seasons set your
life and not the rhythm of the clock. Work began at sunrise and ended at sunset.
So did your schoolwork. Reading at night was hard. You had to crouch close to
the flickering flame to see your book and paper. And there are all these different

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chores that the young people do not know about: the trimming of the wick, filling
the lamps once they cooled off, and the delicate task of cleaning fragile glass
chimneys.
You are here with a candle in hand for a very important reason. Your candle
tells you a critical part of Christmass and the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. Listen again to the Word.

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of
cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them
in the inn (Luke 2:7).

The world has grown so used to this message that it no longer surprises us.
Consider the alternative. Jesus finds an appropriate time in the world’s history
where He can use mass communication. Christ then selects a family with both
power and prestige. This would be a killer one-two punch. With riches at His
disposal, He could use radio, TV, and the Internet to bring His message to every
corner of the world.
That did not happen. Jesus chose to come during the Roman Empire. In this
time of the world, news traveled by word of mouth, through letters, or books
copied by hand. That is how the message came down to us. Parent told child
and friends shared with each other. Christ’s family was not from the upper crust
either. They worked for a living. They paid taxes. They could not even afford a
house when they arrived in Bethlehem.
You can see some of the same attributes in candles. They are not up to date.
They are weak. They are messy. And sometimes they can be lots of trouble.

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 There is a way to solve all these different issues with candles. Just stop using
them. That is exactly what we did in our factories. You can no longer find a single
business in all the United States that lights its place of work with fire. Now all the
companies use lights. Not only is it safer than using candles but also it is cheaper.
Less labor is required to turn on a light switch than to clean up after using candles.
It is also a good bet to say the same thing about all the houses in this country. For
all the same reasons as before, no one in their right mind uses candles anymore as
a way to light their home.
Churches followed the lead set by businesses. It has been generations since
we lit our nave with candles. We used the same arguments as the others. There is
less chance of an accident when you use electric lights, it is cheaper than using
candles, and it takes less work to use lights.
The relentless march of technology transforms the world. Electric lights cer-
tainly are one illustration. We now have cures for diseases that killed millions.
The green revolution also feeds people worldwide. These are all examples of good
change.
There is also a dark side to the powers that shape our lives. We feel that they
should save us from being human.
All by itself, this illness is bad enough. It robs us of our elders. It prevents
us from appreciating the body God gave us. It keeps us from understanding the
future.
In matters of faith, this disease is terminal. It transforms the Christ Child from
the One who frees us from our sins into just another escape artist who liberates us

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from this place and time.
Symptoms of this fatal sickness include the preaching that God loves only the
successful, the concept that Jesus comes to rescue us from the world, and the idea
that Jesus is only for us.
Somehow, we have caught this malady. You can see it. We have become fo-
cused on our own needs. The candles we hold are now dim. Sometimes seems that
only a tiny puff of wind is all that is needed to blow them all out.
Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given (Isaiah 9:6a). This is the Word
of God spoken to you.
There is a reason for His birth some two thousand years ago. Just like the wax
candle you hold in your hands, Jesus comes to bring you light (Luke 1:79). He
wants to make sure that you do not loose your way.
The troubles that you encounter during your life not discourage Him. It will
not put out His light. After all, He is seen it all before. Family and friends aban-
doned Him (Luke 8:19-21). You might even do the same. It simply does not matter.
Jesus stays with you.
The aches and pains of this world are hard to overcome. They make it difficult
to get up in the morning. It seems as if they will extinguish the candle you carry.
Jesus understands. He worked for a living. So did His friends. He still will show
up at your work (Luke 5:1-11). There He will ask you to follow Him.
This is the One whose birth we celebrate tonight. It is God born of a woman.
Vulnerable to all the problems we experience. Exposed to all the complications
we find in the world. He is one of us and despite all of that, He managed to live

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life fully.
This miracle warms our heart. One of our own brothers made it through life
as it was intended to be lived. All by itself, this is amazing. But there is more. He
wants you to have the same gift and He gives it to you.
Start a new tradition this year. Instead of blowing out your candle when the
last notes of “Silent Night” sound, take the candle out into the world that lives
outside of these doors and share with someone.
“The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and
minds through Christ Jesus.”2

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Philippians 4:7.