Grace to you and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

This is the season, when we remember the first coming of the Son of God and look forward to His return, and when the whole world is reminded of the fact of the birth of Jesus from Nazareth.

This is the season when our Christian gatherings are better attended than usually during the year. Have you noticed? Why is that so? Why do more people choose to set time aside and attend a Service or a couple?

Perhaps it is because we all are in need of something we do not possess. Perhaps we all are yearning and looking for something. There is something that we all share, that entire humanity shares. Our lives are not perfect. By no means…

There is so much restlessness. So much frustration. Some days it may seem that the whole world is against you. Many live in fear. Fears about tomorrow. What will it bring? So many are unhappy and disappointed with their lives.

So many live lives where they are never good enough, never appreciated, no matter what. So many are confused and perplexed about who we are and why we are here and how to go about this whole life-thing.

Perhaps you know the answer, why people are drawn to the Church in this season. What is it? Or maybe we should ask – who is it?

Now, let’s do some scarry exercise. Imagine for a moment … a world where you cannot know the truth. Where you can’t be sure about who you are, or what this world is about, or why are you here… Imagine a world where true, genuine, unconditional love doesn’t exist… Cold and ruthless world…

A world where you can’t be accepted as you are, with all your faults and imperfections, where there are always pressures to match the expectations and standards, to be somebody you are not, to do something, to fit in or else…

Imagine a world where there can’t be true safety and peace, where there is no one, no one whom you can fully trust and be assured that he is in control and will take care of you, whatever comes. A world without hope…

How do you like this picture? I assume, not so much… quite depressing. You see, you just imagined a world without Jesus. That’s right. And it may not be that different from how many do experience this world.

Because without Jesus Christ there is no truth, there is no true, genuine love and joy. There is no safety and deep peace and true rest and there is no hope. Maybe this is why we are here. Because we all long and thirst for the same things, and sooner or later we realize that this world can’t give them to us.

We just heard select fragments of Jesus’ story. Story… What comes to mind when you hear the word “story”? Many would assume that the word means that it is about something that is simply made up. A nice story… Meaning, not real.

But think about this – someone asks you: “Hey, tell me your story!” What do they mean? Are they asking you to make something up, something that is not real, that is not true? Or, are they asking for true you… tell me who you are!

We all live in a world that is shaped by stories. Some of them are true, some are false. Therefore, we need to choose wisely which stories to embrace. True stories lead to our flourishing, false stories to our withering.

Most of the stories we are fed daily are not good for our flourishing at all. The whole advertisement industry that fills most of the informational space tries to appeal to those of our deep longing and to give their answer – get that, do this, go there, belong here and … your heart will be satisfied, you will be good enough, you will be so special.

We have stories that tell us that happiness is found focusing on ourselves. Others teach to do whatever our hearts desire as if there were no consequences. We have stories that assure us that certain status or possessions, or achievement will make us more valuable as we otherwise are, or grant us secure futures, and so on.

I am sure you could tell me about many other stories, and I am sure you could also tell how it goes when we try to live them out.

We just heard fragments of Jesus’ story. It is not just a story. It is the story of this world, or we could say – it is God’s own story. Or if you are blessed by God, if God Himself helps you to choose wisely, this may be also your story.

Jesus’ birth is only a part of this story. In this story everything begins with the benevolent Creator, who created everything that exists, not because He had to, but because He wanted to share His love with others.

As a pinnacle of His creation, He created us, each one of you, in His Image and likeness. He entrusted us to populate this bountiful planet and to take care of it and promised to bless us immensely. However, then our story took a tragic turn.

We all live in the shadow of that turn. You know what it is. Even if many want to deny it. I am talking about … what is wrong with us. We entertain thoughts that we are ashamed of. We dream about and desire what is harmful to us.

We do foolish things that hurt us and others, and we do them again… and again. As it is written: “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.” (Rom 7:19) That’s us… And how does our God react to this?

His reaction is shocking. We like good people. Why? It is easy to love them. True God reveals Himself in a very unexpected way. He is not looking for good people. No! He shows the incredible depth of His love sacrificing Himself for those, who don’t know Him, who reject Him, who hate and mock Him.

He shows what genuine, unconditional love is like. He leaves His heavenly glory, He becomes one of us, so that we can know Him as He is. This is what we remember and celebrate this season, and in this story everything is unusual.

God doesn’t hate or try to destroy those who hate Him. He comes to save us. He doesn’t stay out there. He comes to dwell where we are, He reveals to us the truth, rescues us from the jaws of death and calls us His brothers and sisters.

This story goes on. It gets very personal. The One who created each one of you, He also knows what you truly need and long for, and He is the only One who can give it to you. More, He wants you to have all that you were created for, He wants it so much, He ignores our hostility and apathy, He doesn’t stop calling you.

He wants to have you as members of His family. He wants you to address Him – our Father in heaven. He longs to care for you. He longs to give you peace and joy. He wants you to experience what His divine love is like.

He wants to have you with Him, under His wings, now and in the age to come. There is no better place to be, there is no more abundant joy, no deeper fulfilment, no greater satisfaction, no better life than to be with this God. To be with Jesus.

That’s God’s story for you. Story about who He truly is and who you are. A very good story for us. I pray that the Holy Spirit convinces you, that you are assured that it is His own voice that calls you even now: “Choose wisely! Embrace my story, come to me, follow me and let me embrace you!”

Amen.