Return to Sermon Index
 

A Letter to God

Rev. Sharon K. Dittmar
December 24, 2002

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see-I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”                 -Gospel of Luke

 Our homily this evening is a letter and its response:

 Dear God,

Every year National Public Radio Senior News Analyst, Daniel Schorr, writes an end of the year peace round up.  This year he concluded his report with the request that he be reprieved from this responsibility.  Although there have been improvements in the past year, the state of peace in the world is apparently too discouraging for him, and for many of us as well.   God, I think you know this already, but I am always uncertain about your attention span, so I mention it to you once again

Christmas is about so many confusing things; Santa, presents, you, Jesus, war, family, peace, salvation, hope.  It’s really the collision of ideas, expectation, and images that jars me year after year.  I don’t think you are entirely responsible for this, but in truth it is not going well now.  In this year, with threats and rumblings of war in Iraq, there has been an attrition of spirit, a pall of hopelessness cast over us.  Do we support war?  Are we safe?  Do we protest war?  Do we pray?  Do we wait?  And by the way, what are we really talking about?

Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.  God, do you favor us?  If there is no peace, does that mean that we are out of favor or that you left?  Are we alone now?  Please tell me we are not alone, because the pall is crushing and we do not know what to do.

The story about Jesus says that he was born in a manger in a time of war, taxation, military occupation, and dislocation.  I like this little boy of yours and ours.  I’ll tell you why, because he came when it was cruel and he thrived anyway.  I do believe that he is your son, and I that I am your daughter, not as gifted, but a child of God nonetheless.

I mention the child part, because it is possible that on this day a special child may be born in trouble in Baghdad or Cincinnati, and also because one day I was a child, everyone here tonight was once a child, or is still a child.  And as I mentioned earlier, right now is difficult, not as desperate as when Jesus was born, but not right.

Smiling babies in strollers have evoked songs of peace.  Children have overturned despots.  Jesus has been dead two thousand years, and today, those of us gathered here, young and old, are the children.  We are the children and we are lost.

What was that?  “To you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior.”  And God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son.  So peace is variable, but love is eternal?  I think it must be so, in good times and bad.  We all come into this world as paupers, and in our lives we choose, lose, make, earn, strive for, and sometimes are given riches; happiness, love, safety, compassion, companionship, justice.  Those riches.  Dear God, you sent your son, and my question to you is, “Did you really think that love was enough?  We’ve got some big problems.”

I’m not sure I heard the response correctly, I never am sure.  Here is what I thought I heard.

There was silence and then God sang

 You will make it enough my children.  It is you who will carry my torch, who must choose to favor peace.  I will not leave you.  Please do not leave me.  I need you to work and hope for peace in your hearts, in your families, in your communities, and in the world.  My children, I need you, this year and every year.  I am counting on you to do the best you know how in a big world where everyone has guns.  But know this, on this night unto us a child will be born again, courage in our hearts, conviction in our minds, compassion in our hands, a hunger for justice in our souls.  My children, look east, the time is near.  I bring you good news of great tidings.  You are my Saviors on earth.

Return to Sermon Index