"Christmas in the Trenches"
Homily of the Rev. Dr. David A. Killian
Christmas Eve
December 24, 2006
All Saints Parish
Brookline, Massachusetts
Text: Luke 2: 1-20
I
It was a dark, cold night this year when my wife Barbara and I went to buy our Christmas tree - not as cold as some years, but cold enough to make us shiver and not want to linger too long selecting the perfect tree. Instead we bought a perfectly adequate tree. I have to admit that I was a bit grumpy that day. I was feeling the stress of too many things to do and not enough time to do them. And yet, I knew we wanted a tree, so off we went to purchase one. When we got the tree home, it seemed to take a bit longer to fit the tree in the stand and then longer yet to readjust the tree so that it stood straight instead of leaning over. We finally got it adjusted and it may not be perfectly perpendicular, but to my mind it is perfectly adequate. And then I brought down the box of lights - and of course, one string of lights lit up immediately but others for some reason would not light. However, we had enough lights and plugged them in and the tree had a special glow. At that moment, something changed in my attitude. Even though it had been a dark, cold night; even though our tree and our lights were not perfect - when I stepped back and looked at that tree with the lights shining brightly - I didn't feel so grumpy any more. I didn't feel like complaining. The tree was beautiful and I felt that my world was filled with light.
I could identify with Isaiah in the first reading we heard tonight: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness - on them light has shined." All of us, from time to time, seem to walk in darkness. We get grumpy and gloomy. Sometimes because of our own illness or the illness of a family member; because of a death of a loved one; because of strain or tension in a relationship; because of being unemployed or underemployed; because of the people we work with; because of a shortage of money. Sometimes, it's because of our expectations. We wanted to have perfect parents or perfect children or a perfect church or a perfect neighborhood - and they are not perfect. Whatever the darkness is for us, it threatens to pull us down. At those moments, we, like Isaiah, yearn to see a great light.
II
The message of Christmas is that God is the Light that penetrates the darkness. God is actively involved in our world - each day, at every hour and every minute and every second. We may not feel God's presence. God may seem absent or distant, but the message of Christmas is that God is close at hand, as close as a baby born to a young mother.
If we think about the nativity of Jesus, we could imagine better circumstances for the birth of the Savior. We could imagine that Mary was at home, cared for by midwives, with family and friends near to help. It wasn't the perfect situation. That stable was a bit smelly with all of those animals around.
The first visitors to welcome the birth of Jesus were shepherds, who were considered near the bottom of the social pecking order of the day - right down there with publicans and tax collectors. They were imperfect, and yet perfectly adequate. The manger scene tells us a lot about God. God is present in our lives even if they are messy and imperfect. God loves us just the way we are. We, like the shepherds, can go to the manger to pay homage, and know that God will accept us and cherish the gift we bring of our love and service.
III
This year, I am aware of the imperfection in the world, of the many wars and injustices - in Iraq, Darfur, and other places. Even in war, the light of Christ is able to shine through and to call us back to peace. An incident occurred during World War I when an un-official truce was called on Christmas Day. It is expressed well in the poem, "Christmas in the Trenches," by John McCutheon.
My name is Francis Tolliver, I come from Liverpool.
Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school.
To Belgium and to Flanders, to Germany to here
I fought for King and country I love dear.
'Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung,
The frozen fields of France were still, no Christmas song was sung
Our families back in England were toasting us that day
Their brave and glorious lads so far away.
I was lying with my messmate on the cold and rocky ground
When across the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound
Says I, "Now listen up, me boys!" each soldier strained to hear
As one young German voice sang out so clear.
"He's singing bloody well, you know!" my partner says to me
Soon, one by one, each German voice joined in harmony
The cannons rested silent, the gas clouds rolled no more
As Christmas brought us respite from the war
As soon as they were finished and a reverent pause was spent
"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" struck up some lads from Kent
The next they sang was "Stille Nacht." "Tis 'Silent Night'," says I
And in two tongues one song filled up that sky
"There's someone coming toward us!" the front line sentry cried
All sights were fixed on one long figure trudging from their side
His truce flag, like a Christmas star, shown on that plain so bright
As he, bravely, strode unarmed into the night
Soon one by one on either side walked into No Man's Land
With neither gun nor bayonet we met there hand to hand
We shared some secret brandy and we wished each other well
And in a flare-lit soccer game we gave 'em hell
We traded chocolates, cigarettes, and photographs from home
These sons and fathers far away from families of their own
Young Sanders played his squeezebox and they had a violin
This curious and unlikely band of men
Soon daylight stole upon us and France was France once more
With sad farewells we each prepared to settle back to war
But the question haunted every heart that lived that wondrous night
"Whose family have I fixed within my sights?"
'Twas Christmas in the trenches where the frost, so bitter hung
The frozen fields of France were warmed as songs of peace were sung
For the walls they'd kept between us to exact the work of war
Had been crumbled and were gone forevermore
My name is Francis Tolliver, in Liverpool I dwell
Each Christmas come since World War I, I've learned its lessons well
That the ones who call the shots won't be among the dead and lame
And on each end of the rifle we're the same
As the men in those trenches sang "Silent Night" on that cold, Christmas day , I invite us all to sing "Silent Night" together now.