"And You Think the Internet is Amazing" - Luke 2:1-20 - December 24, 1999

The age we live in is almost unbelievable. With our computers we can communicate with our friends, instantly. We have access to information around the world without leaving our desks. We can receive calls virtually anywhere. This past week we were introduced to a cellular phone that rings a specific tune for the person who is trying to reach you. You know, before you say, "Hello," whether it’s your wife, your boss or your mother-in-law.

Last week I was on my way to Dayton for a hospital visit. I wanted to let my wife know that I was going to visit the grandchildren, who live south of Dayton, in the evening. I knew she wasn’t in her car, but no problem. I simply called and left a message, knowing that as soon as she started the engine the phone would ring and she would get the message. This modern technology is simply amazing.

Having the assurance that I had let my wife know my whereabouts I proceeded to my daughter’s home. About the time I arrived my car phone rang. My cellular phone company had a message for me. I punched in the code and listened. The message I received was from myself. I had forgotten that my wife and I had switched cars for the week. She never got the message. I thought I had left a message for my wife but instead I left it on my own phone.

No matter how sophisticated technology is it still depends on we humans to operate it. When I finally connected with my wife I had to explain what happened. Naturally she was puzzled but had not yet reached the point of calling the police to report a missing person. Machines can save us a lot of time and energy but they can’t read our minds or know how we feel. I don’t know about you but there are days when I long for simpler times. Can you imagine living without telephones, computers and televisions?

I always wondered why God picked a time 2,000 years ago to deliver the Son to the world. If it had been today, we could have had CNN standing by to broad cast the event directly to our living rooms. The birth could have been witnessed on the internet. We could have had celestial experts standing by to give us the details about angels. We could have the Director of Agriculture on the line to tell us about sheep and shepherds. We could watch the Pope give a blessing on a big screen TV. We could even take a call-in vote to determine the percentage of the population who believes that what is happening is real and the percentage of those who don’t.

For whatever reason God chose a particular time in history that was far more primitive but very simple. Even the place that was selected was very obscure. I believe that God chose that time because love had all but vanished from the earth. There was much despair and hopelessness in the lives of God’s people. It was law and tyranny that ruled, not love. God had to jump start the human race with a gift of love to get it back on track.

The gospel of Luke has recorded that something extraordinary has happened. An event beyond comprehension. An event which has changed the course of history for all eternity. And it didn’t happen in the most powerful center of the universe at that time, which was Rome. It happened in an insignificant little place, to humble, ordinary people. Little is known about Mary and Joseph except to say they had a deep, abiding faith. They didn’t complain about the lack of accommodations, and they gave their love by protecting their new born son from an oppressive emperor.

When I returned home from my daughters the other evening I apologized to my wife for my error in not communicating. And being the loving wife she is, she forgave me. She was also relieved that I was not missing in action. We both laughed about my calling the wrong number and at the same time reaffirmed out commitment to communication.

Technology is amazing but not very forgiving. If your cable bill is late you will lose your service and have to pay an installation fee to get it back. When your computer crashes and you lose everything you have been working on you have to start all over again. As amazing as technology is, it still depends on we humans to control it.

There is nothing technological about the birth story. It was never taped or E-mailed. It wasn’t photographed or scanned. There were no television crewmen and technicians standing by. Dan Rather wasn’t there either, standing in a fur coat with snow piling on top of his head giving his comments to the world. There was no GPS pinpoint the exact location of the stable and no caller ID to let Mary and Joseph know that the three wise men were on their way.

This event happened without media coverage. No computers were available to store the event on floppy CD’s. No camcorders were capturing it on a cassette tape. But amazingly, in spite of the lack of technology it has been passed on from generation to generation. It has already survived one whole millennium. A millennium filled with world wars, catastrophic disasters and evil empires. But, the darkest of days have not been able to delete this event from history.

And you think the internet is amazing?

But, what powers the event of God’s son coming into the world again and again is not technology. It isn’t energy, oil or gold. What keeps it going is love. Our love for God and our love for one another.

No matter how far humankind thinks it has advanced it cannot compete with the forgiveness, grace, and love of God. These are what keep us communicating. These are what keep relationships meaningful and strong. These give us hope and understanding, peace and fulfillment.

There is no greater time than Christmas to give a gift of love. Not just presents, food and money. For what all of us need is forgiveness and grace. These make for reconciliation, which leads to fellowship and community. Technology cannot pull this off, only people can.

The birth of Christ opened the door for forgiveness. Joy and gladness would once again fill the world with the renewed presence of God’s love. Thanks be to God for God’s inexpressible gift of love!

Therein lies the key. Forgiveness is a gift. It can’t be earned or purchased. It can only be given. It changed the heart of Ebeneezer Scrooge. It transformed the coldness of the Grinch. Forgiveness repairs damaged relationships. Forgiveness restores people to wholeness. Forgiveness, the act of God’s love in action is our hope.

So, every year when we once again hear the story, it is like resuscitating a heart that has stopped. God is the great resuscitator, the one that gives life. God is the one that loves us and forgives us. There is no down time with God. God does not have to be searched for at grace.com. God is with us yesterday, today, forever.

Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio