“Aslan is Coming! Jesus is Coming!” Christmas Eve Service December 24, 2019 based on Luke 2:1-18 York Pines United Church

Luke 2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) Everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

 There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which we have been told about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

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Prophecies. In the first story – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, there is a prophecy that when two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve come to Narnia, the power of the White Witch will come to an end, and the world of Narnia will be reborn as Aslan returns. The word Aslan means King – and the prophecy speaks to the coming of humanity to restore the balance –  Aslan alone can’t do it. And yet – the coming of Aslan is anticipated as a great event. And we learn that there is a prophecy from the Deeper Magic, created before the dawn of time – which even the White Witch has forgotten, or maybe not known -  that when someone who has not committed any traitorous act willingly gives up his life for a traitor, time will reverse itself. So Aslan willingly gives his life in place of Edmund – and he returns to life to complete the restoration of Narnia.

The whole story of the annunciation to Mary, and Zechariah’s song are prophecies of that of Gabriel, Mary, and Zechariah. None of the Hebrew scriptures which we now call prophecies about Jesus, were actually about him – they were about immediate coming events. They became part of the story when a desolate group of followers were trying to make sense of life after Jesus’ death – and began going through their previous scriptures to find any shred of anything to help make sense of all the devastating events around Easter. The words King and Judge for the Hebrews meant “the one who makes right” “the one who restores the balance.” 

So Gabriel prophesies to Mary – that she will have a baby who will come to make things right. He will be a king – not a king of great wealth and power in the sense most people think, but one who restores rightness in the world through the power of love.

And Mary speaks prophecy – listen again to her words but with a small change which is nevertheless intended.

“My soul glorifies God and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, who has been mindful of the humble state of this servant. From now all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me - holy is God’s name. His compassion will extend to those who are in awe of him, from generation to generation.  He will perform mighty deeds with his arm; he will scatter those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He will bring down rulers from their thrones and will lift up the humble. He will fill the hungry with good things and will send the rich away empty.”

In Narnia the world is frozen until the coming of the prophecy – when two “”Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve” arrive, Aslan will come again; spring comes, life awakens, love lives again. Aslan, the King, is coming again to bring back the balance and make the world right. Mary’s song is a prophecy about God’s action in the world, bringing hope to life.

Zechariah also prophesies – “You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on ahead to prepare the way, to give God’s people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven  to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet in the way of peace.”

We have called Jesus the Son of God – but did you know he was also referred to as a child of Adam, a son of Adam? Some of the links to old Christmas carols in the Narnia Advent booklets, talk about Adam, and the long winter until Mary gave birth to the King who would right the balance.

So this second Adam, a “Son of Adam” is born into a world in pain, who will set the world right – who will bring a message of peace, hope, joy and love. And in both these worlds, peace and love is most often found around tables, sharing food.

Isaiah says “On this mountain God will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine - the best of meats and the finest of wines.  On this mountain the shroud that enfolds all peoples will be destroyed, and the sheet that covers all nations; God will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign will wipe away the tears from all faces.”

Isaiah was speaking to his people, about the coming of a judge who would right the wrongs done to them – for the people had suffered a long time, and were beginning to wonder if their lives would ever change for the better.

The Narnians too have suffered long – the White Witch with her magic cast their world into perpetual winter. Christmas had not been celebrated, Father Christmas was gone. There was no great feasting together. Nevertheless, the children sit down at table with the Beavers to a feast of good healthy food which nourishes and strengthens them. With the coming of these children of Creation, Father Christmas appears, and the creatures have a great feast including the finest wines.

As we celebrate communion on Christmas Eve, we are reliving a feast which Jesus and all the  Children of Israel celebrated together  – remembering times of great sorrow and trial, looking forward to what was to come. Jesus made it into something even more personal – a promise of hope, peace, joy and love in a world so close at hand. In Narnia, the new Realm of God is immediately at hand; Aslan the King is coming to restore that world, that Eden which it was before the coming of the evil; and Jesus continually speaks about the Realm, the Kingdom being “at hand” – right around the corner – if we care to make it happen.

Aslan – meaning King. The King to come – who wipes away the tears from every eye, who rights the wrongs, and brings Life back to Creation. Aslan’s power grows as he returns to the land he created. The return of balance in Creation is because of the commitment of the humans, and the creatures. None of them could make it happen alone – it had to be a joint cooperative effort.

The whole of these stories – both Narnia and the birth of Jesus, are held together- by hope, and by love – and by faith. These are stories about love – love of others, love of friends, love of family – unconditional love, with no strings attached. That’s what we celebrate at table!

Aslan has come! The King has returned! Jesus has come, and we know again the nature of Love.

A colleague of mine, Pamela Hodges, wrote this Christmas poem – and I share with her permission.

“Love Everywhere -

We are in love.
Not thinking about it,
Not getting around to it,
Not looking back on it.
We are centered in it,
It's centered around us.
Love surrounds us,
We are the heart of love,
Love is the heart of us.
The light of love grows
Through us, from the inside out.
Wherever we go, healing love follows,
If we forget love, love catches up.
Our hearts are always on time,
Our minds are sometimes behind,
But be still, and know.
Love is breath deepening our song, and
Love supplies Christmas peace,
And Christmas peace supplies love.
We follow a star that sparkles with possibility because
We intrinsically know about that timeless, Beaming light, calling
Our glowing hearts to also beam.
We are following love, because we are love.
Love finds love in a manger,
Anywhere,
Everywhere,
Love anticipates the arrival home.

- P.Hodges 2018