EVERYBODY’S HOMETOWN [Sa, 12-21-24]

 BEYOND WINTER: Irrelevant Theology of An Old Man—EVERYBODY’S HOMETOWN [Sa, 12-21-24]

 

When our daughters were in high school and college, and asked where they were from, they replied: “The Central Illinois Conference of The United Methodist Church.”

In my 40 years as a Methodist preacher before retirement, my longest appointment was 8 years. Most of my appointments were 2 or 3 years. That was standard in those years. Our hometown was wherever we lived.

Most of us, though, have a place where we grew up that we designate as a home town. For me, that is Oakland City, Indiana. We lived on a farm, three miles outside of town, but I went to school in OC, fifth grade through high school. It was the place where I first made friends, some of whom lasted for a whole lifetime.

I was accepted there. I was even loved, especially in Forsythe Church, in the open country outside of Oakland City. Your hometown is where you belong because you are loved. OC is my hometown, but it is not yours.

We do have a common hometown, though, because Bethlehem is everybody’s home town.

Bethlehem was Joseph’s hometown, so that’s where he and Mary had to go to get counted for the taxation census. When Jesus was born there, it became everybody’s hometown.

Bethlehem is the hometown of Christmas, the celebration of the presence of God with us. It is the most important town in history, at least for Christians. It is our hometown.

“Love came down at Christmas.” In your home town. You don’t have to go back there to be at home. Wherever you are, that is Bethlehem.

The hopes and fear of all the years are met…in your hometown.

 

John Robert McFarland

Today we go to the deepest darkness of the year. Tomorrow, we turn the corner on darkness. The day will have just a little more light. I take that as a good sign.