Thoughts on a Sermon

From Frauenkirche

The Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche) has an English service once a month. Most of the people in attendance are German. Last Sunday evening we went and participated in a carol service that was wrapped in the nine lessons of advent. Led by The Revd. Dr. Irene Ahrens, nine people, some clergy, most not, took turns reading biblical passages that prophesied and described the birth of Jesus. Between the readings we sang Christmas carols, or listened to the choir.

The lessons:

Micah 5: 2-5a: ...From you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel....And he will be their peace.

Isaiah 40: 1-5 Comfort my people...the glory of the Lord shall be revealed.

Isaiah 9:2,4,6 For to us a child is born...And he will be called: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

Isaiah 11:1-3,4a,6-7,9 ...The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion together and a little child will lead them

Luke1: 26-38 In the sixth month God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth...to a virgin engaged to...Joseph... And the angel said to her, " Do not be afraid, Mary...You will be with child and give birth to a son..."

Luke 2: 1,3-7 ...She wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2: 8-16 ...Shepherds were living in the field...An angel appeared...they were afraid...But the angel said, "Do not be afraid..."

Mathew 2: 1-12 ...Wise men came from the East..."We saw his star...and have come to worship him"...They offered him gifts..

The Christmas story certainly has a lot going on. We have thousand year old prophesies finally being played out. We have Joseph, whose love for Mary is so strong that he stays with her even though during their engagement she gets pregnant and gives birth. We have scary angels who turn up to provide clarity and comfort. We have a crowded Inn filled with people who don't lend a hand to a woman in labor. We have two miracles in the manger, one, the birth of Jesus, but the other, the survival of Mary, given the horribly unsanitary and solitary conditions of the birth. Kings and shepherds intermingle in the manger. Wise men bring gifts, but the riveting part of the story is the gift Jesus is foretold to bring us-the gift of peace. A gift where the wolves and lambs will live together, happily. He is to council us, to be our guide through this life.

Well, as the economic crisis continues to deepen and Ponzi schemes grip our imagination, it is clear that today the wolves and lambs are indeed lying together. Although the wolves seem to have the upper hand. What are we to do? How should we be guided? How do we overcome our fears? How do we fight visions of gloom?

The thesis of the service was that the Bible has the power to predict our future, our fate. Follow the angels, the stars, the wise men, the shepherds, the baby. Follow and be saved- it is foretold. But we have our doubts...Angels are more likely mental delusions, better see a doctor. Stars are massive collections of hydrogen gas undergoing fusion reactions a bazillion miles away. If one is curious about where they are headed in the sky, see Newton. Wise men delivering gold are more likely trying to rip you off. The modern shepherds are the people in control of the mass media, marketing experts, charismatic priests and politicians. Are they protecting us, guiding us to our fulfillment, or sending us to our demise?

I wish I knew. The Buddha taught that each and every one of us could overcome our suffering and achieve enlightenment and he provided a path. Christians teach that the kingdom of heaven is a place where all are welcome, just follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

Can anyone achieve enlightenment? I know my meager meditative practice has provided a place of calm, as long as I do not worry about reincarnation. I know the church provides me some peace and a place to rest my mind, as long as I don't think about being damned to hell for my liberal humanistic philosophy and scientific beliefs.

I do not have answers. But at this moment I am drawn to a church across the Elbe river, Maria am Wasser. I will leave to attend the church's children service, that includes a nativity play. I will leave my questions behind, and enjoy the sights and signs of the German moment.