Christmas Eve, 2025
Isaiah 9:2-7
Titus 2:11-14
Luke 2:1-20
Psalm 96
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
The “true meaning of Christmas.” Have you heard that phrase before? Of course you have. I mean that question explains the existence of the Hallmark Channel, right? What is the true meaning of Christmas? It’s probably going to involve a high-functioning lawyer who meets a local handyman at a bed and breakfast in Vermont, if I’m not mistaken.
Sometimes the supposed true meaning of Christmas is pretty predictable. The down and out get a break. The poor family gets to celebrate. The greedy boss get his comeuppance. The losers win. Good beats evil. And so on and so on. We all have some intuitive sense that Christmas has a true meaning, and we know it when we see it.
So why is that? And why only Christmas? Why does no one ask about the “true meaning” of Easter? Or Pentecost? Why doesn’t Hallmark have a series of movies dedicated to couples finding the Trinity Sunday spirit in the Berkshires together? It seems to be accepted common knowledge that Christmas has a true meaning and a particular spirit, and it is universally recognized around the world. Even by people who have never set foot inside a church.
If I asked you to tell me the true meaning of Christmas, chances are that you would mention words like gathering, helping, giving, family, togetherness, all of which lead us to one common theme: community. Community.
And community reminds me of cats. (Just stick with me for a minute here.) Last February, our beloved cat Pippin died on a Sunday afternoon. We took turns holding her until she breathed her last. Within a week, both our kids went into “you need a new cat mode,” sending us pictures of cats from the APL website. But we wanted to take our time before getting a new companion. Toward the end of October, our friend Jay sent us pictures of a local stray named Henry, a little big-headed guy one of his neighbors trapped and took to the place that neuters such cats, and turns one of their triangle ears into a trapezoid, and releases them back onto the streets. We went to meet Henry the cat on Halloween in Jay’s backyard, and now Henry is our chonky big-headed companion in our home.
People often refer to such cats as strays, or ferrel cats, or street cats. But when I looked at the paperwork from the vet, they refer to them as “community cats.” Not because of where they live, but because of how they live. Henry was a community cat, because the community kept him alive, which led me to all sort of realizations. Community cats don’t live by their street-smart stealth, but by the kindness of the community. They don't belong to any one family. But they survive because one person leaves fresh water for them, and another sets out food, and another cracks their garage door in the winter. They don't usually live to be 15, but they are loved while they do live. They are not ferrel or stray or alone. They are community cats. They belong to everyone, because everyone cares for them.
And there are people living around us who are sort of like community cats. Nearly every day, someone rings the bell at church looking for help. Some have shelter; some do not. Some have food; some do not. They are not strays. Or aliens. Or lazy. Or subhuman. But they are alive because the community helps them. And they die if the community doesn't. They are not “the homeless.” They are community people. Like community cats. If we can do it for cats, we can do it for people. Cats may or may not be made in God's image, but people definitely are. We know it from the very first book of the Bible. Every single person is made in the image of God. You would expect this point to end with some specific plea. But it ends with just asking you to care.
And so, back to Christmas. Our cards and paintings and images of the birth of Jesus tend to show an intimate nuclear family having quiet night. A silent night, if you will. But Jesus is more like a community cat. Jesus only survived because of the community. Joseph took Mary as his wife because the Angel told him not to be afraid. The Innkeeper provided shelter and a place to give birth away from the streets. The Shepherds heard a message from the whole host of angels and then raced to the scene to carry the news of great joy for all the people. The Wise men traveled great distances to offer gifts of support and to warn of the danger from Herod. I mean, just look at how many people were involved, each doing their own part. Sharing their time, talent, and treasure for Jesus, you could say.
When it comes right down to it, Jesus is a community baby. It took a whole community to make sure he was born safely. It took a whole community to announce his birth. It took a whole community to make sure he even survived. Jesus is a community baby, and he lives to bring community. Jesus draws us into community. On this very night in fact. A few hours ago this building was silent and empty, and just look at it now! It worked!
If you’re searching for the true meaning of Christmas, that’s it: community. And it was baked in from the start with the birth of Jesus, this community baby. Chances are, all your favorite Christmas movies are about community, one way or another. A town rallying around a tree and singing “Dahoo Dores.” Neighbors racing to George Bailey’s house with donations to bail out the savings and loan. Linus helping Charlie Brown see that Christmas is about love and togetherness, not soul-crushing capitalism. They’re all about community.
We were not built to live life on our own. And—spoiler alert—we can’t do it on our own. It takes a neighborhood to care for a community cat. And it takes a community to care for our neighbors, and especially those in need. And—turns out—it takes a community for Jesus to be born. And in the birth of Jesus, God is telling us that we are not alone. We never were, and we never will be.
The true meaning of Christmas is found in community. The Christmas spirit is found in community. Neighbors helping neighbors. People joining together to care for those who are in need. Even cats. It took a community to make sure Jesus lived. And Jesus lives to bring community, to draw us into community, because that’s where the magic happens.
May the birth of this holy child remind us every day to look for how God is calling us to care. Because it is in caring that we truly find community, and community brings life. Merry Christmas!
Amen
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