The Three R's of Christmas

Sermon for Sunday, December 14, Third Sunday in Advent. Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11.

Here we are, just eleven days from Christmas. Are you starting to get excited? Are you beginning to feel the joy of this season? Are you into the Christmas spirit yet? I am. One might even say I’m feeling so joyous that I’m feeling jubilant. Oh, the holiday season is such a great time of jubilee.

The prophet Isaiah speaks in this morning’s text of jubilee. He speaks of “the year of the Lord’s favor” in verse 2. This is another way of talking about what the Israelites commonly knew of as the year of jubilee. And if you’ve been reading your Leviticus lately, and judging by all the mixed fibers I see you wearing, you haven’t, then you already know all about the year of jubilee. The year of jubilee occurs once every 50 years, and it encompasses three things. First, any property – land, specifically – is returned to its original owner in the year of jubilee. When you “bought” a field, for instance, in that day, you would essentially be leasing it. You’d pay a price based on how many years were left until the year of jubilee, when you’d have to return it to the original owner.

The second thing that occurs in the year of jubilee is that slaves and servants are freed. Of course, there were stipulations, but generally slaves were free for a year, because in the year of jubilee you were not to reap or sow. You were only to live off what grew naturally without cultivation. So there is no need for slaves when you’re not working in the field, and thus the year of jubilee dictates that you free slaves and servants.

And the third and final major celebration of the year of jubilee is that slaves and servants would return to their clan of origin. So we have three things going on, things which I call the three “R’s” of jubilee. First, we have RESTORATION: Everything is returned to the original owner. Second, we have RELEASE FROM OPPRESSION: Slaves and servants are freed. And third, we have RECONCILIATION: Slaves and servants return to be reconciled with their clan.

“That’s great, pastor,” you might be saying, “but what does the year of jubilee have to do with us? We don’t practice this anymore.” And I guess you’re right. We don’t have a designated period of time where we restore, reconcile, and release captives from oppression. We don’t have a designated season in which we deliberately act more graciously by giving gifts, by helping others get back on their feet, or by setting aside differences to come together in peace and reconciliation in the spirit of that season.

Or do we? Is not the Christmas season our modern-day version of the year of the Lord’s favor, the year of jubilee? Isn’t this the time of year where we are more joyful, more jubilant, more kind? Isn’t this the time of year when our general mood as Christians is a celebratory mood? Around Christmas, we do tend to be a little nicer. Tis the season to be jolly. It’s the season where charity and love prevail.

Every year around this time, there are news reports of giant wads of cash, huge checks, or even diamond engagement rings being dropped into salvation army buckets outside of stores. This season inspires people to give a little more, some motivated by getting another tax write-off, but most motivated by the cheeriness and joy of the season and the desire to give joy to others at this time. There is the Toys for Tots drive, Operation Christmas Child, and other such projects to distribute gifts to impoverished children. Charities make their big push this time of year, knowing they’ll find people to be a little bit more willing to give in the Christmas season, the season to be jolly. In a sense, it is a way of providing liberty to captives, to release people from oppression. It’s a way in which we finally spread our wealth after 11 months of being greedy, when we help others attain a freedom from their troubles, even if just for a moment. It is a form of RELEASE FROM OPPRESSION in the time of jubilee.

This season is a time when families gather together to celebrate. Many of you will either visit family or have family visiting you. And often, the gathering of families reminds us of all the imperfections or tensions or even broken relationships we have in the midst of our family. Maybe Aunt Sara refuses to spend time with the family unless it’s Christmas. Or perhaps Frank’s parents haven’t spoken to him since the Christmas 3 years ago when he announced to everyone that he was gay, and this Christmas they’re finally reconciling with him. Or maybe two sisters don’t have a very close relationship, but at least they see each other once a year, at their mother’s house, every Christmas. This holiday season is filled with times of RECONCILIATION.

And finally, we act as land-owners, agreeing to give away things we bought. We give rather than take. Like returning land to its original owner, gift giving has a way of selflessness about it. It has a way of reminding us how blessed we are, and that we are to share that abundance with loved ones as well as strangers. Christmas then becomes a time of RESTORATION.

For about a month every year, the season of Christmas transforms our world through acts of restoration, reconciliation, and release from oppression. And it’s no coincidence that this transformation occurs as a result of the original reason for the season – the transformation of the world through the birth of Jesus Christ. God entered into our world with the birth of Christ. Through the ministry of Jesus Christ, God began to transform our world through restoration, reconciliation, and release from oppression. The United Methodist Church has recently adopted a mission statement that is, “To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” We are called to participate in God’s transformation of the world. Simply put, we are called to are to participate in the very transformation that we celebrate in Advent and on Christmas. When we come to church on Christmas Eve, we will celebrate the transformation of the world through the coming of the Christ child. But will we be merely spectators of this transformation, or will we be actors in this transformation? Are we helping to transform the world in this season by taking part in restoration? Are we helping to transform the world in this season by taking part in reconciliation? Are we helping to transform the world in this season by taking part in releasing from oppression?

And are we allowing ourselves to be recipients of God’s transforming work this season of jubilee? Are we allowing the proclamation of the prophet Isaiah and the proclamation of John the Baptist to take hold of us and mold us into the people that God wants us to be? Are we letting the joy of the birth of Christ move us to do things and say things we might otherwise be afraid to do or say? Are we letting God’s entrance into humanity transform us by restoring our souls, by reconciling our relationship with God, and by releasing us from being captive to sin? Are we letting the Christ child transform our lives?

I have two brothers-in-law that are huge Philadelphia Phillies fans. Needless to say, they were both thrilled when the Phillies won the World Series this year. They’d been fans since childhood, spending countless years investing time, energy, and money into their favorite baseball team. Sometimes it felt useless to them, like when the Phillies finished with a losing record 12 out of 13 years. But when the Phillies finally won the championship this October, they celebrated. They jumped around their living rooms. They bought championship t-shirts or commemorative magazines to celebrate the occasion. It was a time of jubilee for them. And it was nice to see them happy. It made me think that some day, my hopeless love for the Pittsburgh Pirates will transform into a time of celebration, a time of jubilee.

But you know, I’m not a Phillies fan. Never have been. Because of my brothers-in-law, I pulled for them during the playoffs. But when they won, I didn’t buy merchandise. I didn’t jump around my living room or scream at the top of my lungs. I didn’t really feel like celebrating because I hadn’t been along for the ride. I hadn’t invested my time and energy into the journey, so I didn’t really enjoy the parade at the end. And if I had acted like them, they’d probably look at me as a fraud. I’m not a fan, so why should I celebrate as if I am?

When it comes time for Christmas, how can we celebrate if we’re not part of the journey? How can we celebrate the transformation of the world if we don’t take part in the transformation? Sure, we can show up to the parade, maybe we can jump around our living room, but no matter how much we try, we won’t feel the same sense of excitement as those who have actually been part of the transformation from the beginning. We won’t be able to celebrate God’s transformation to the fullest unless we allow ourselves to become a part of it. How can we celebrate the transformation of the world through the coming of the Christ child unless we help transform the world, and unless we allow ourselves to be transformed into the people God wants us to be?

It’s not too late! There’s still a week and a half to get on board with God’s transforming work through the three R’s!

Invest in RESTORATION this season – remember how blessed you are and what others have given you in your life. Give to others, and allow God to restore your broken soul.

Invest in RECONCILIATION this season – mend broken relationships, smooth out rough and tense relationships – reach out in love to those who have hurt you, and reach out in love to those you have hurt. Allow God to reach out to you and reconcile your relationship with him.

Invest in RELEASING FROM OPPRESSION this season. Help those who are impoverished. Refuse to allow others to be taken advantage of. Speak out against injustice where you see it, and stand with justice when you meet it. Allow Christ to release you from the oppressive powers of sin.

Make Christmas more meaningful this year. Invest in God’s transforming work in the world, so that you can participate in that which you celebrate. Allow God’s investment in you to take hold as well, so that you may be transformed just as you help transform the world. I hope and pray that we all may find ways to restore, reconcile, and release from oppression in this season and always. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.