Christmas Eve 2024 – Sung Mass 7:00 PM
Saint Cecilia Catholic Community, Palm Springs, CA
Rev. David Justin Lynch
Isaiah 9:1-6 | Psalm 96:1-13;11-13
Titus 2:11-24 | Luke 2:1-14
+In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Who is your personal savior? Many Christians would reflexively say, “Jesus.” One of the key ideas that Christians affirm at Christmas is that Jesus is humanity’s savior. We hear it repeatedly: “Christ, Our Savior, is born for us,” in Christmas music, in Christmas prayers, and in the scriptures read at Christmas services. So what, exactly, is a savior, and why do people feel a need for a savior?
A savior is someone who rescues or saves others from harm, danger, or difficult situations. This term can be used in both a literal sense, like a firefighter saving someone from a burning building, or in a more metaphorical sense, like a person who helps someone find their way out of a tough period in their life.
In nineteen-ninety-one, I was divorced against my will, leaving me devasted both emotionally and financially. But about three years later, God sent Sharon to rescue me. I would not be where I am today without her. She was, in an earthly sense, my personal savior.
But Jesus is different. Tonight on Christmas Eve, we remember how Jesus came into all of our lives as the savior of not just me, but the entire world. Jesus saves all of humanity, not just particular people.
In the religious context, a savior is a divine figure who brings salvation and redemption to humanity. The concept of a savior is deeply woven into many religions and cultures, symbolizing hope, protection, and deliverance. We Christians aren’t the only people needing a savior.
In Islam, the figure of Isa (the Arabian name for Jesus) is regarded as a prophet and the Messiah, known as al-Masih, who will return to save humanity and will come to restore righteousness and justice. Muslims, however, do not think Jesus was God’s Son.
In twelve days, we will celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany commemorating the visit to Jesus by the Magi, who are thought by some scholars to be Zoroastrian priests. Zoroastrianism speaks of Saoshyant, a future savior who will lead humanity in the final battle against evil, restore the world, and bring about a resurrection of the dead.
Jesus, of course, was Jewish and was an observant Jew throughout his life. Jewish views on Jesus are diverse and complex, reflecting a range of historical, theological, and cultural perspectives. Except for Messianic Jews, most Jewish people respect Jesus as a teacher and prophet but do not consider Jesus as God’s Son or as the Messiah promised in the Old Testament.
The idea of a savior is a common thread in human spirituality, providing hope and a sense of purpose across diverse belief systems. So, why do people seek a savior? They do so for various reasons reflecting deep psychological, emotional, and cultural needs. The concept of a savior taps into fundamental human needs for connection, purpose, hope, and security.
This is particularly true in times of crisis, difficulty, or uncertainty. That’s when people look to a savior for hope and relief. A savior represents the promise of a better future and the possibility of being rescued from current hardships, just like Sharon did for me.
We heard savior-seeking rhetoric from supporters of both major party candidates in the recent Presidential election. In general, politicians have been perceived as saviors by their supporters, often due to their charismatic leadership and promises of significant change.
Politicians often use words and phrases to position themselves as defending particular value systems to initiate or restore better times going forward. The perception of a politician as a savior can be highly subjective and influenced by various factors, including media portrayal, personal values, and the political climate. This phenomenon isn’t unique to any one country or political system; it can be observed globally across different eras and contexts. Examples include positive examples like Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and Winston Churchill, and negative examples like Adolf Hitler, Saddam Hussein, and Vladamir Putin.
Each of those individuals came to power in times of turmoil and promised to fix everyone’s problems. But we shouldn’t trust them, or any government, as our savior. The problem with governing authorities is that, for the most part, they don’t respect human freedom. Whether governments are autocratic or democratic, they fix, or at least try to fix, problems by telling people what to do or not do, and in most cases, they back up their dictates by force or threat of force.
Jesus, however, uses means other than force to make a difference in our lives. Jesus is not an authoritarian leader. Jesus does not have a police force, an army, or a court to compel conformity to what he wants. The way of Jesus is the way of love. His Two Great Commandments are to love God and one’s neighbor.
Jesus is not a politician. He is not someone who holds his wetted finger in the air to adjust his message according to which way the wind is blowing at a particular time. Nor is the message of Jesus addressed solely to his followers. You may recall the words of the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus Jesus in the Johannine Gospel, where he says, “I ask not only on behalf of these [my disciples] but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one.”
What Jesus is saying to those who don’t explicitly accept him as Lord and Savior, is that he is just as human as you are, and therefore, has the same feelings and needs that you do. Jesus is, simultaneously, as human as you are and as divine as God. As such, he is much more qualified than any political leader to save you. And, Jesus saves you even if you don’t endorse every word and phrase of the historic creeds. Even if you don’t think of Jesus as God’s Son or as a Messiah, Jesus still saves you. How can that be? It can be that way because Jesus loves you.
Jesus saves you when you hear or read about him. The story of his life and his teaching provide you with moral guidance. For example, look at the second of the Two Great Commandments to love one’s neighbor as oneself, often phrased as, “Do not do to other people what you would not want done to you.” The message of Jesus also includes forgiving others who wrong you and reconciling with those with whom you are at odds. So, the next time you have an urge to get back at someone, give those ideas some thought.
Jesus saves you when you are part of a community gathered in his name. The sense of belonging that flows from a group of people can be deeply fulfilling and provide social support. Being part of a church community provides comfort and a sense of security that comes from knowing that someone is looking out for you.
Here at Saint Cecilia Catholic Community, we welcome all of you, no matter what your theology or lack thereof. We respect that everyone’s spiritual journey is different and that the variations among us deepen and enrich one another’s relationship with God, no matter what that relationship looks like. Here, we preach and practice that beautiful perspective that emphasizes the inclusivity and boundless nature of divine love and mercy.
God’s nature and God’s will are revealed through creation and conscience, allowing individuals to respond to God’s grace even without specific knowledge of Jesus. Jesus came to save all humanity, not just his followers. What he taught is not just for Christians but has universal applicability regardless of where you go to church or even if you don’t go to any church.
The reason this all happens is because of God’s grace. What is God’s grace? God’s grace is unconditional love. Grace is about receiving and extending kindness, forgiveness, and love, often without conditions or expectations. When you are kind to others, God’s grace is at work within you. God’s grace is a profound and transformative concept that touches many aspects of life, offering hope and compassion. Imagine life without all of that.
The fact is, humans cannot exist without grace. Jesus is the conduit for God’s grace. His life and ministry demonstrate the grace of God by making divine love and truth accessible to humanity.
God’s grace is in you when you hold the door for someone carrying a heavy load in both paws.
God’s grace is in you when you donate money to save neglected animals and to support poor musicians.
God’s grace is in you when you invite someone into your life and nourish your relationship over a period of time for mutual benefit.
God’s grace is in your life when you say, “I’m sorry” to those you have wronged or offended.
God’s grace is in your life when you accept an apology and reconcile a relationship.
The bottom line is that God’s grace is what saves humanity from sin. However, rather than allow God’s grace to save them, some people think they can live without God. You may think you can, but the truth is, you cannot.
Why?
No one gets through life without experiencing grace on some level. When people do ordinary helpful deeds to one -another, both the doer, and the receiver, experience God’s grace. What Jesus taught points shows us the way of God’s grace. Given the present condition of this world, now more than ever, here and now, we desperately need the saving power of Jesus as the manifestation of God’s grace. AMEN.