Finding time to break yokes. How can we side with God this Christmas?
Albert Bogle
December 26, 2022
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Isaiah 9: 2-7 (NRSVA)
2 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.
3 You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
4 For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For all the boots of the tramping warriors
and all the garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onwards and for evermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Boxing Day in Victorian times was traditionally a day to go home for Christmas especially if you were ‘in service’. The title ‘In service’ was used to describe those who worked as servants to the middle and upper classes of society. It was a day you might say when ‘leftovers’ were boxed up and servants could take food home to family and friends. It was a day of freedom.
In our reading today the prophet looks forward to a day when all will be free. When the heavy hand of oppression is lifted and the boots of the invading armies are burnt in the fire. And all can live at home in peace.
Paul Simon’s song ‘The Boxer' expresses the struggle of so many people today trying to find meaning and comfort in a dysfunctional world. Trying to work their way home. The world of work and wages hang like boxing gloves around their necks.
“In the clearing stands a boxer
And a fighter by his trade
And he carries a reminder
Of every glove that laid him down
Or cut him till he cried out
In his anger and his shame
‘I am leaving, I am leaving”
But the fighter still remains” (Paul Simon, ‘The Boxer’)
Even here in this lyric there is a narrative that seems to be in our DNA that tells us despite all our scares and hurts — we can fight through this bitter winter to a better day to a clearing place in troubled times and sing a hallelujah!
Christ the Boxer
Risen Lord
Like the boxer in the clearing
You stand victorious
You have journeyed
From the cradle through the grave
‘In service’
But you carry the scars of the fight
Our fight
Our anger
Our shame
Crossed out
Cut out of time
Clearing the way
To God
Yet in leaving
You remain
In Spirit
To be our coach
Teaching us to live
In the light of your victory
Hallelujah — What a Saviour!
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