Don't be afraid!

In the first two chapters of Luke's gospel, we hear from angels three times. The first is when an Angel appears to Zechariah while he is working in the temple. The second is when an angel appears to Mary. And the third appearance is in the section we heard today, where an Angel brings a message to the shepherds.

The initial response to the angel in each case is fear and confusion, and the response of the angel is “ do not be afraid” . Do not be afraid. I imagine if I was going about my regular activities, as Zechariah, Mary and the shepherds were, I might be just a bit stunned and somewhat terrified if suddenly an Angel appeared in the room with me.

 

Don’t be afraid, God has heard your prayers; Don’t be afraid! God is pleased with you; Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you.

 

Don’t be afraid - but I wonder if there was more to be afraid of than the appearance of an Angel.

Over the last few months we have been hearing from some of the prophets of the old testament. We have been thinking about the way the people of Israel were longing for a new way of living, a Messiah, the one who would come and change everything.

On and off for centuries the people of Israel had been under foreign rule, Babylonians, Persians, and now the Romans. Like many empires today the focus was on maintaining control.

 

 

At the time of the birth of Jesus, the people of Israel were under Roman occupation. While it was time of what is known as the Pax Romana, the peace of Rome, it was an enforced peace, ‘if you step across this line you get killed’ kind of peace. It wasn't peace in the way that we speak about in terms of Shalom, peace that means living in harmony with all of God's creation, peace that is about life not about the absence of war.

The people of Israel, had reason to be afraid, not just of angels, but of a whole host of people who were part of the bureaucracy had colluded with the Roman authorities; soldiers who could force you to carry their pack, tax collectors who added onto the Roman tax, religious leaders who didn't want to upset the Romans.

 

We have some of the same fears today. There are places in the world where you get killed for speaking against the government; there are places where it is dangerous to be a child in school, especially if you are a female child; there are places where you cannot choose whom you will marry; there are places where people are bought and sold as if they were a commodity.

And sometimes the fear is more local. Fear of unemployment, of becoming homeless, fear of being different, fear of being bullied.

 

At Christmas we celebrate the coming of light, light that comes into a world of brokenness and pain, a world where we seem to stumble in the dark. The news in the past few weeks has been mainly sad news, as it is for most of the year – war, violence, murder, kidnapping.

 

“Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy. ¹¹ This very day in King David’s hometown a Saviour was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. ¹² You will know who he is, because you will find him dressed in baby clothes and lying on a bed of hay.”

 

I wonder if it would be easier if an Angel did appear, saying to us, don't be afraid! We've read these words in looks gospel, and yes they were intended for an audience 2000 years ago, but I want you to hear them today, as if they are being spoken directly to you.

“Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy. ¹¹ This very day in King David’s hometown a Saviour was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. ¹² You will know who he is, because you will find him dressed in baby clothes and lying on a bed of hay.”

 

Every year we celebrate the birth of Jesus, Immanuel, God with us, saviour, Lord. Every year we celebrate with songs, food, friends, and gifts. And every year we wonder if it makes any difference.

 

That always seems to be something to fear, but I wonder what the Angel would say to us,? What is the good news for us today?

The good news for us today I think, is that a saviour has been born for each one of us.

The good news is that Jesus, Immanuel, which means God is with us has been born for each one of us.

The good news is we do not need to live with fear, because God lives with each one of us.

The good news is that God loves each one of us so much that he chose to come and share this human form with us, so we might know how much we are loved.

 

Don't be afraid! I have good news for you,. God loves you, and you will know this because God came in human form to show us how to live, to bring liberation and freedom from that which enslaves us, to bring peace, true peace,.

 

Don't be afraid!