When Peace is Born Through Our Yes

Christmas Eve

Miller’s Station UMC

12/24/25

Anchor Verse: Luke 2: 1-7

Introduction: The Long Waiting Ends

I remember all of our births. The moment my wife told me it was time, the long hours of labor, the exhaustion we felt when it was over, the joy and excitement of holding our new child. We now tonight, wait expectantly.

Over the past four weeks, we have navigated uncertainty and reflected on our individual callings. Our discussions have underscored that hope involves placing trust in God’s guidance, especially when the path ahead is unclear. We discovered that peace begins with love and responsiveness; it requires intentional engagement and ongoing cultivation. Achieving peace is an internal struggle against cynicism, pessimism, and self-doubt. Practicing joy is equally significant—we should strive to find joy even amidst difficult circumstances. Lastly, genuine love always demands something from us. It involves loving especially when it is challenging or requires personal sacrifice. This is not “cheap grace,” where forgiveness is claimed without transforming how we live.

Tonight, gathered as friends and family, we welcome the birth of peace.

God With Us, Ordinary and Vulnerable

Mary’s humanity reminds us of the true wonder of Christmas: that God chooses to dwell with “plain old ordinary us.” This miracle means that God is not distant or removed from our daily lives, but is present in the midst of all our experiences—our fears, our pain, our mundane routines, and our moments of happiness. God’s presence does not depend on our strength or perfection, but rather, God enters into our hardship and walks alongside us through every trial we face. Whether it is the physical hardship of morning sickness, the exhaustion of illness, the grief and uncertainty of being displaced or feeling forgotten, God chooses to be with us in the places where we feel weakest and most vulnerable. Mary’s courageous “yes” to God invites us to do the same: to risk loving deeply, even when it requires us to open ourselves to fear, disappointment, and uncertainty. In saying yes, we acknowledge our vulnerability, but we also embrace the profound possibility of God’s love breaking into our ordinary lives. Tonight, as we remember Christ’s birth, let us hear God’s invitation to trust, to risk, and to welcome God into our hearts, just as Mary did so long ago.

Wesleyan Perspective: The Transforming Power of Christ’s Birth

A few weeks back on Christ the King Sunday we looked how we begin a new year in the church. Advent and Christmas time sets the stage for this new year. It is an invitation for each of us to allow Christ’s presence to shape our daily lives. Every Christmas, we are reminded that God’s grace opens the door to renewal. This grace gives us the courage to leave behind what holds us back and to step forward into a new season filled with hope and transformation. Christ’s birth is a reminder every year of the reset we must engage in. Think of it as the foreshadowing of the lessons to come.

The teachings of Wesley remind us that Christmas is a call to spiritual rebirth. It is an opportunity to let go of old habits and patterns that no longer serve us, and instead, to welcome God’s ongoing work within our lives. Christ’s birth helps us to understand that we are freed from guilt and the compulsion to sin; we receive peace and divine favor. Christmas is about God’s victory over sin and death, not just about kindness or generosity. For John Wesley, the true meaning of Christmas is that  Christ was “born to give us second birth.” Only through him can we embody love, generosity, and kindness consistently.

As we gather to celebrate tonight, let us open our hearts to the changes God desires to bring about in us. Trust that this holy birth can inspire new growth, not just within ourselves, but also in our community as a whole.

Conclusion: Responding to the Invitation of Love and Peace

To close, brothers and sisters, this Christmas, let us honor our own vulnerability and say “yes” to God’s invitation. We have explored the themes of hope, peace, joy and love. The last four weeks have been laid out as a blue print of how we embrace and utlize this gift of Jesus incarnate. We must embrace the miracle of God within us and let it transform our hearts, relationships, and communities.

This evening, I invite you to reflect on the insights we’ve gained over the past several weeks. If you’re joining us for the first time, I encourage you to ask someone nearby about what we’ve been discussing. Together, we’re called to embrace peace, hope, and the renewal that Jesus’ birth offers. By choosing peace and allowing ourselves to be vulnerable, we make room for peace to grow within us. Tonight, let us hope that peace flourishes on earth—not just in celebration of Christ’s birth, but through our own acts of courageous love.

Amen