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To us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. (Isaiah 9:6–7)

Homily

It seems to me that much, if not all of life, has consistent longings… consistent needs.  As best as I can see and learn, these longings cut across culture, they cut across age, they remain no matter who one is, where they are from, or what they do.

We long for wisdom.  We want to know that what who we are matters and that we are making the most of our lives. 

We long for justice.  We want to see power used for good.  We want the wrongs in this world to be made right.

We long for love.  We can be captured or fractured by parent love.  The desire to be connected to family, to be in loving relationship with those whom we are from.

We long for wholeness. We deeply desire to be free from anxiety.  We desire to be free from conflict.  We desire to not care what others might think of us and to be and find contentment.  And, I think most of us not only want that for ourselves, but for everyone.

These longings shape everything I have been thinking about lately. They seem to be found in every conversation I have, every headline I read, every television and movie plot I ponder…

When we see real wisdom, we celebrate it and when we hear foolishness it can rile us.  Foolishness dominates so much, so we spend time reading, researching, learning particular philosophies, ideologies, positions, and perspectives that help us articulate what we believe is wise, true, and real.

We want to see the powerful in this world use their power to help and not hurt.  To unite and not divide.  To bring life and not take life.  To bring justice to people, places, and circumstances that have evaded it. 

We spend hours and dollars to better understand where love went wrong.  We can find so many people and so many moments paralyzed by the reality of the power of love misused.  When we see it used well, we get as near to it as possible – be it a movie, a book, or near someone who hasn’t had our story.

We see conflict all around.  We see the wars.  We see the places and people who life is unfair too.  We watch in horror when violence, rage, and destruction happen to others.  We cannot quite seem to find a way forward past the conflicts in this world… in this nation, and even the conflicts in our own lives and families.  We long for peace.  We long for wholeness. 

The text we have heard read from the book of Isaiah, was delivered to the people of Israel when they were facing a threat from a growing superpower that would eventually take over the northern kingdom of Israel.  In their time of need, in their time of longing – Isaiah addressed their situation, their longing by promising the coming of a future King. 

This promise would be fulfilled 700 years later in the birth of Jesus.  700 years of longing, of waiting, and like any great gift – this gift of Jesus would live up the promises made. 

This gift of Jesus would be as Isaiah promised.

To us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

This child, this Jesus is a gift that meets are deepest longings.  It is not only in his nature, but the names that he is given show us what kind of gift Jesus is to all people with all of our longings.

“Wonderful Counselor” indicates that Jesus will be a supernatural source of extraordinary wisdom — he is an amazing gift for those of us who are searching for truth and wisdom.

“Mighty God” indicates that Jesus will be divinely strong and powerful — he is an amazing gift that comes to address the injustice in this world, and an amazing gift for those who are powerless. 

“Everlasting Father” indicates that Jesus will care for his people forever, as a father cares for his children — an amazing gift for those who are alone, who need life with real love. The gift of a faithful and loving parent. 

“Prince of Peace” indicates that Jesus will bring deep well-being and right relationships — an amazing gift that addresses the desire for freedom and wholeness in our lives and with God.  A gift for the places and people in need of peace and restoration in this world.

Christmas is about the gift of Jesus coming into this world.  The promised King that Isaiah spoke of is the Jesus we celebrate today.  And he is, and can be for you, the most dynamic gift you can every receive. 

To be sure, tomorrow there will many gifts given and received. I wonder as to how many gifts will serve a very quick function in people lives.  How many gifts will have a short shelf life, how many gifts just cannot meet the promise they make or the function of the gift is not really needed.

And I often think that for many, the gift of Jesus can be experienced the same way.  That for many, Jesus is a one-dimensional gift.  There are many people who grow up around Jesus, in the church, and find little to no need for Jesus anymore in your day to day life.  AND, I wonder:

Has Jesus ever been seen as he was really is?  As he was promised to be?  As his name describes?

Wonderful Counselor, meeting your longing for wisdom?

Mighty God, meeting your longing for justice?

Everlasting Father, meeting your longing for love?

Prince of Peace, meeting your longing for wholeness?

If you have never experienced the gift of Jesus, may this be the Christmas you find yourself open to receiving the most amazing and dynamic gift of your life.  A gift that speaks to and meets you in your deepest longings and desires.

And, for others, if the gift of Jesus has been a complicated gift in your life, would you be open this Christmas to seeing Jesus as he is and maybe not how others told you he is or the worst representation of Jesus you have experienced?

Can I just ask you?

• If Jesus is someone who leads with shame and not love?
• If Jesus empowers the already powerful and ignores the weak?
• If Jesus withholds love from certain people?
• If Jesus who doesn’t seem to be in the business of wholeness and peace?

If this is the Jesus you have heard of, can I tell you I do not know this Jesus.  Let me tell you about the Jesus I know:

To us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

This Christmas, may you come to see and know the gift of Jesus as the dynamic gift he is…

As Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. 

Amen. 

(Candle Light Prompt)

Of the increase of his peace there will be no end: Christ candle lit and distributed….