The Heartbeat of Heaven

The other day my barber who is a part time Baptist preacher and I were discussing Christmas preaching as only two seventy four year old preachers could do  "What is there new to be preached on Christmas Sunday?" he asked.  My father-in-law long years ago often told me, 'There is nothing you can say on Christmas which has not already been said."  My father-in-law was right, but we preachers keep trying to do the impossible anyway.  I suppose the effort is mostly about our ego.    

The truth is a good story can stand on its own.  It needs no commentary to hold it up.  Think about the really good stories read in the past and there is also a remembrance that once the story was done, nothing was needed.  The second chapter of Luke is that kind of story.  It is a story read in most churches sometime during the Christmas season and, perhaps, most often during Christmas Eve worship.  Just to remember the story is to hear its word floating through the air of our memory.  It is such a powerful story it will always be read and heard in wonder by those who are really listening.   

The only two problems with the story are found in the reader and the listener.  The readers are often tempted about the place where the angels start shouting to go into speed reading mode.  The end starts appearing and the reader starts hurrying to get there instead of letting the words slowly pour out upon the ears that are listening.  And, then, the other side of the problem is that those who are hearing the story quit listening about the same time because it has been heard so many times.  Everyone knows the ending, so why listen?  It is a shame we cannot have ears to hear the whole story.  There is no more powerful story ever written and we are likely to miss out on hearing the heartbeat of heaven as it pounds through ancient words.  Maybe this year it will be different.