December 24, 2007
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Mindekirken - The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church Pastor Per Inge Vik Christmas Eve 12-24-2007 Luke 2:1-14 God Touches Us When I came to this church last year, I brought a new translation of NT in Norwegian, I read from it at the pulpit every Sunday. Norway is a small country with less than 5 million people, as you probably know. So we do not have a new Bible translation very often. It has now been 29 years since we had a full standard translation, a so-called “Church Bible”. So now time was due for a new one. Because the language changes all the time, we need to have the Bible in words that also the young people can understand. As soon as this new edition of the NT was issued, I brought a copy to my 90 year old mother, and I read the Christmas gospel to her. She was amazed, she enjoyed it! “So clear, so understandable”, she responded. I think it is good that we have new Bible translations. There is a big difference between the holy book of the Moslems, the Koran, and the Bible. The Koran is not to be translated. It is to be unchanged, in the original Arabic. The Bible, on the contrary, was translated very early in its history. The first translation was into Latin, and later came 1000’s of others. The Bible is not a museum piece! In my understanding, Christmas is about a God coming close to us humans. Therefore the words used to describe this, need to be “close”. The Christmas story Luke tells, is simple and beautiful. It tastes a bit of stable. The Christmas gospel is all about a living Savior, and as it is conveyed to living humans, a living language is needed. So now, the angels over the fields of Bethlehem do not sing as they used to! In the very last words in our Christmas text today, the English translation says, and on earth peace among those whom God favors!" The Norwegian translation here talks about peace among people God rejoices in! I think we need to hear that. Imagine being people that God rejoices in! And God expresses this by coming very close to us. Today let us think about Christmas as a touch. Every Christmas Eve, since I was a small child and till this day, my family has had the custom in our home that before we unwrap the Christmas gifts, the family forms a circle and walks around the Christmas tree, singing Christmas carols. Now I am curious to see how many of you have ever experienced that, either in your home, at church or at any other event. Giving each other your hands and walking around the Christmas tree. Raise your hand, please! Ok, you may have a new chance on Sunday, Dec 30th. After the family service here in Mindekirken that day, we will celebrate juletrefest. The main part of the program for that is going around the Christmas tree, singing, and doing the fun movements. I led such events twice last week. First at TOH here in Mindekirken. Then at a Sons of Norway lodge. I could see that the children just loved it, and also the adults. Let me tell you about something that happened on a Christmas morning during WW2. Some English soldiers were out walking in a London suburb. They approached a grey and dreary brick building with a sign over the entrance door reading: “Queen Mary’s Orphanage”. They decided to knock at the door and see how the kids there were celebrating Christmas. The door was opened by a lady who told them that they hosted only children who had lost their parents during the bombing attacks against London. So the soldiers entered, and met the children that just were about to get up. The soldiers soon realized that not much reminded them about Christmas in this house. The kids had no Christmas tree, and no presents. The soldiers went from room to room, saying “hi” to the kids, and wishing them a Merry Christmas. They didn’t bring any presents. Even so, the soldiers found a few things in their pockets that they gave away, like chewing gum, coins, pencils and other small things. One of the soldiers caught sight of a little boy sitting all by himself in a corner. He approached him, and asked him what he wanted for Christmas. At first, the little lad didn’t answer at all. But after a while, he turned his face up to the soldier and asked: “Can you hold me, please?” The strong, young man couldn’t hold his tears back as he lifted the little orphan and hugged him for quite a while. This story hits the core of the Christmas message. The most important Christmas gift, is the touch. God touches the world. He touches us. He isn’t content to sit in his heaven and send loving declarations, oral or written. He showed us his love by sending a human in flesh and blood: A baby in a manger. A man on a cross. A living body that meets his friends once again after his resurrection by the words: “Peace be with you”. They were allowed to touch him. Love is about closeness, about being touched. Two people that love one another, will in some way or another express it by touching. It can be anything from the erotic meeting to a warm hug, a clap on the cheek, or a warm and good handshake. In church, there are many words: texts and sermon. Words are valuable, as long as they reach. But touch is something else. In the 9 o clock English services here in Mindekirken, we share God’s peace, all of us shaking hands. I like that. I feel this is a warm and welcoming church, I hope you also get this feeling. Imagine being people that God rejoices in! That God is close to us, that he touches us by the baby born in Bethlehem! Through Jesus, God meets our deepest need: To be embraced, to be taken care of, totally. So that was what I wanted to convey today. Think about Christmas as God touching you. Jesus is God’s answer to the request: Can you hold me? Glory be to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, who was, is and shall always be one, true God from eternity to eternity. (Congr: Amen) |
The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church · 924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 · (612)874-0716 |