Christmas 1/ Navidad 1 2021

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M. Campbell-Langdell

All Santos, Oxnard

(Luke/ Lucas 2:1–14, (15–20))

The whole world appeared to be asleep. There were tax collectors and governors and shepherds out doing their sheep-herding and Mary and Joseph just quietly trying to get by. Just to get by. Había cobradores de impuestos y pastores de ovejas y gobernantes y José y María buscando un lugar en la posada, pero todo pareció envuelto en un gran susurro; todo parecía dormido. No room at the inn. No había lugar en la posada.

Everything was quiet. Todo fue quieto. Even the excitement of Gabriel's visit must have seemed so long ago for Mary. Maria debería haber pensado que soñó con la visita del ángel Gabriel. Todo estaba quieto.

But not so in heaven! No estaba quieto en el cielo.

As one C. Clifton Black says, "BOOM! Not only one angel but an entire celestial chorus electrifies the night sky before a handful of outliers (2:9-14) who know nothing of what happened in Luke 1:5-80. The difference is that between a lonely candle in the dark and a light that blows out the motherboard of Consolidated Edison. God has decided to invade our tired, banal lives with a vision and message so spectacular as to be incredible — unless, like those shepherds, we are ready to seize and believe it (2:15-20)." (Working Preacher commentary on passage from Luke for December 25, 2017).

Esta visión angélica en el cielo fue un poco como si el poder se hubiera cortado.  Y tenían una sola vela prendida en un gran salón cavernoso y, de repente, ahora ya regresó la luz (¡todos hemos experimentado esto!) Y es como un shock al sistema.

All that light, it would have shocked the system! Just like us sometimes when the light is restored after a long power outage, only times a thousand!

And that is the message- God has come to the world! In the form of a tiny, vulnerable infant. Hemos tenido la bendición de ver varios bebés en la iglesia recientemente. Y son tan preciosos y necesitan tanto de nuestro cariño. Babies in our midst remind us of the fragility of life, of its vulnerability. Los bebés nos recuerden que todos dependemos el uno del otro. We are reminded that we rely on each other.

Of course, Jesus grows up. We know the story. Sabemos que Jesús crece hasta la madurez. Pero nunca deja su vulnerabilidad como un ser humano.

God came into the world. Dios vino al mundo en forma de un niño precioso.

Pero no solo para ser adorado, pero también para adorar. God in Jesus did not just come to be adored but to adore.

To share love with each of us, who are like Mary and Joseph, just trying to get by. Para compartir el amor con todos nosotros, quienes justo como María y José, quienes solo estamos tratando de sobrevivir y seguir adelante cada día.

And God came for you. Not only to be adored but also to adore you. Dios no vino solamente para ser adorado sino también para adorarte a ti. This wonderful counselor, prince of peace, this mighty one in humble clothing loves you just as you are. Nuestro Señor, el Príncipe de Paz, te ama justo como eres. No después de que hayas mejorado. God knows you are working on all those things but loves you, baggage and all. Dios te ama aún o posiblemente por todas sus fallas. God knows what it is to have flaws, doubts and all that. To have anxiety. Jesus went through it all. Jesús pasó por todo esto- la ansiedad, el sufrimiento de ser un ser humano.

We often focus on the fact that Jesus didn't sin. But the truth is, do you love your loved ones any less if they have sinned in a different way than you? ¡No! No amemos a nuestros seres queridos menos solo por haber caído. Entendemos que esto es parte de ser un ser humano. We will all fall down. We are all loved.

Así que, no importa lo que está pasando en tu vida en este mundo, las cosas que te molestan, o sientes que te impiden conectar con Dios, llévalos hoy ante el niño Dios. ¡El te ama! Justo como eres.

Bring all that is bothering you today, all that is weighing you down, to Jesus today. Look into his loving eyes and know that you are loved. Just as you are. God's gift this Christmas is you! God loves you. ¡Tú eres el regalo de Dios hoy! Dios te ama. Amen.

 

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