Words (Christmas Day)

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There’s an old saying that goes, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”

But that’s not actually true.  Words can do great damage.  Many people have been emotionally damaged by being told all their lives that they’re stupid or useless.  Many people have had their careers and reputations destroyed because of lies that have been told about them.  And many people have been discouraged from acting boldly and bravely because of threats to them or people they love.

Words can hurt a lot.

On the other hand, words can also do great things.  The right word of encouragement, support or hope can brighten your day and give you strength to power through difficulty.  A word can inspire an idea or a vision for a new thing – whether it’s a great new invention or simply a tweak to a favorite holiday recipe.  And sometimes, a word can spur you to action and light a fire in your soul that makes you get up and do something you wouldn’t have done if it weren’t for that word.

Words have power.  And just as they can do a lot of damage if used wrongly, they can change the world for good if used rightly.

And so it is that John begins his story of Jesus not with angels, or shepherds or stars in the sky, but with a word – with THE Word.  God’s Word.

God’s Word, also, was not just a “word.”  Instead, God’s Word, right from the beginning, was the inspiration for creation instead of nothingness.  God’s Word, right from the beginning, was an action that created the world and the cosmos because the Word wasn’t content to simply be an idea.  God’s Word, right from the beginning, was a word that brought forth not only stuff, but hope and possibility and the beginning of new life.

And so John’s story of Jesus is that in Jesus, God is showing he isn’t done!  The word of God is not a memory or a distant concept.  Instead, God’s Word is living and active in our lives now just as it was way back then.  And that’s why John’s Gospel sees in Jesus not just a person, or a prophet or a model for good living.

Jesus is God’s Word made manifest in human form.  Jesus is the vision of God made real in the life of the world.  Jesus is God’s Word who acts in concrete ways that bring healing and strength and new life.  Jesus is God’s Word who brings hope and inspires us to know that our journey of life is not one we travel alone, nor will it end with our individual deaths.

It comes as a surprise to many people that this morning’s Gospel reading from John was the most common and important Christmas Gospel in the ancient church.  And that’s because in the end, Christmas isn’t really about stars or angels or shepherds or even cute babies in a manger.

Christmas is about God’s Word becoming real in our lives.  It’s about God doing what God has always done – using his Word to inspire us, to bring us hope and to act in our lives in ways that also inspire us to act and make God’s hope and love real in the lives of our neighbors.

Sticks and stones can break your bones.  And words really can hurt you and others.

But the Christmas Gospel reminds us that words can also do great good.  And the greatest good comes from Jesus – God’s Word – who has become real in our lives, so that we – as followers of Jesus – can live with hope and with vision and be people who make the Word of God real in the lives of others around us.

Amen.