Carols in the Garden: Courage
Sermon by the Revd Dr Brutus Green
Courage. It can take many forms. There’s courage that’s prepared to take risks. To brave the elements – To brave the outside world. There’s the moral courage required sometimes to reduce risk. To protect others; to go against what everyone else’s saying, to speak out when others are careless; to be a voice crying out in the wilderness. Of Putney.
And when is courage recklessness? And when is courage just caution, or anxiety?
There’s no shortage of courage in the story of Christmas. The kings are willing to travel to strange lands. The shepherds brave a descending host of angels, which I imagine came down like the apaches at the beginning of Apocalypse Now, We are told ‘they were terrified’, But they stood their ground, and made their way to Bethlehem. Then there’s Mary. I’m sure there’s worry enough in pregnancy, without long journeys in occupied territory, when the hotel booking’s fallen through, and your only transport is a donkey. One of the benefits of restrictions this year is not having to sing ‘Little Donkey’, which, let’s all agree, gets a little bit whiney. But yes, the little donkey did have courage, plodding onwards with his precious load. Don’t give up now little donkey.
The story of Jesus’ birth is fraught with peril, noisy, messy, mud and blood and mangers. And that’s before Herod kicks off an infanticide. But then perhaps there was also the moment imagined by the carols – the silence of night, O Bethlehem – how still we see thee lie – When all is calm, all is bright.
Perhaps like the Christmas Truce, the shells fell silent, the cattle ceased lowing. Amid the snow, or what passes for snow in the Middle East – Bethlehem is currently sitting pretty on 15º – ‘Winter's a good time to stay in and cuddle but put me in summer and I'll be a ... happily vaccinated’. Perhaps there was a moment in the glow of a safe delivery, if you can get a slot, that the family rested easy. Perhaps there is a moment for us too, this night, to lay aside our fear, rest easy, and enjoy it being Christmas. With all our memories of Christmas past.
Christmas is about courage. And it shows us where true courage lies. Because it’s the story of a life begun that will teach us to love one another; of a life given to show what love means, what sacrifice means, what courage means. Because true courage is always courage for the sake of others.
The soldier from 2Scots currently on guard duty in Afghanistan, the paramedic waiting in her ambulance, the shopkeeper letting go of his last bottle of port to sustain a busy Santa Claus. The person who picks up a little something for their elderly neighbour; all those who this night continue in their work to serve their community and nation; a baby born who will take the slings and arrows of human meanness to prove that love shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not overcome it.
So this Christmas let’s pray for courage. Courage to go out, where necessary, where friendship or need demands, where the beauty and solemnity of this night calls us to worship; courage to stay in despite boredom and the company of our families. To have courage for others. To love one another. Amen.