12/21/52

Scripture: Luke 2: 1-20; R.S.V.

Text: Luke 2: 14; “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased.”

Christmas is heralded again. Eager excitement of little children is matched by the busyness of their elders. Christmas music fills the air and the hearts of listening folk. The churches of our city are having the various observances of Christmas that, taken all together, are the chief commemoration of Jesus’ birth. Our community massed in a new form of observance last Sunday afternoon at the Field House. Schools have had their festive programs. Musical groups of the high school presented a program lovely in spirit and artistry last Wednesday. Organs and bells of the churches sing out the glad remembrance that a Savior was born and is come to earth to be our Christ.

We do well to give ourselves to the joy of the season. Not that there is so little of evil in the world that we can sing with abandon. But that the world is so evil, with a heaviness that reaches to every one of us, that we need the Good News more than ever.

A poet, moved to write some new verse for the world that would read his message, sat thinking that the Christmas season was not a very happy one for the people. For a war was on. As he sat musing over the difficulty, he heard church bells ringing in the valley as if to announce “Peace on earth, good-will.” But he got no lift from it. “There is no peace on earth.” This kept going through his mind. “See how man fights man; how hate goes on and on.”

But the ringing of the bells, louder and deeper, persisted in his mind, as a message of the peace heralded by angelic voices. “God is not dead nor does He sleep. The wrong shall fail and the right shall win. There will be peace on earth for those who are just, and kind, and good.” This seemed to be the message of the bells. The poet believed it and wrote it down as his message. That poet was not a man of this day, nor of this century. He was Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and he wrote amidst the warring and anxiety of his time.

One of the Bible verses which has for so long been a major theme for Christmas morale, is said to be one of the most difficult for translators. The translation of Luke 2: 14 which the English-speaking world has sung and recited for centuries is that which was offered in 1611 by the translation into the version authorized by King James of England. The words are:

“Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace, good will toward men.”

But scholars are not fully satisfied that the last few words of the verse thus translated convey exactly the meaning of the earlier, more nearly original language. Some of renderings of our day have dropped some of the familiar words, or tried different expressions as possibly more accurate. So the American Standard translation speaks of -- “peace among men in whom he is well pleased.” Weymouth has the angel chorus singing of -- “peace among men who please Him!” Moffatt of -- “peace on earth for men whom he favors!” Goodspeed of -- “peace to the men he favors!” The Revised Standard Version tells us that what the shepherds on the hill heard was:

“Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth, peace among men with whom he is pleased!”

Of course, in a footnote, the new version says, “Some ancient authorities read, ‘peace, good will among men.’”

Now I do not know the Greek languages -- neither the tongue of Greece today, nor classical Greek, nor the “popular-language” kind of Greek used by some New Testament writers. And so I will have to leave problems of accuracy in translation to those who do have a competent acquaintance with it. But the very nature of this difficulty in translation raises another question in our contemporary mind: “Is Good Will Defeated?” We are not without some misgivings, just as the poet, Longfellow, had his misgivings in his day.

Less than 3 weeks ago, 24 people, one of them a woman, met under the football stands of the University of Chicago’s Stagg Field. They were observing an anniversary. For ten years earlier, on December 2, 1942, these 24 folk had been among the 42 who witnessed the first atomic chain reaction. There was no elation in this tenth anniversary celebration. It was a time of solemnity. The present chancellor of the University, Lawrence A. Kimpton, had been administrative officer of that first atomic fission project. Now, ten years later, he was saying: “What was done here has staggered and troubled the minds of men ever since.”

That December 2, 1942 was followed three and one-half years later by what happened at Hiroshima; Hiroshima by Nagasaki; Nagasaki by Bikini; Bikini by Nevada Flats. Along the way came President Truman’s announcement on September 23, 1949, that Russia had exploded an atomic bomb. Later, Britain had done likewise. And last month, some sort of bomb experimentation in the Pacific produced an explosion far more vast and devastating than these of the past 6 or 7 years.

Honestly, what place or promise is there for good will among men when every nerve is strained to produce the means of physical destruction of the human race? What has poor, devastated Korea to say to us who sing of good will? What meaning is to be read into the fierce determination of China’s communist government to fire the millions of Chinese with hatred against America? -- even insisting that the Chinese churches get on that bandwagon? What of the ruthless vindictiveness of the Kremlin, scorning the very idea of goodwill as an opiate of the people, and interpreting history as a struggle, with no mercy, for power?

Yet there are signs of good will. A few weeks ago, Tokyo’s largest hall hung out huge placards reading “Thanks to LARA” -- (Licensed Agencies for Relief in Asia). LARA was ending its six-year program in Japan. And it has been known as a sign of international friendship by most of the people of Japan. The Japanese folk held a giant demonstration, sponsored by the ministry of health and welfare, to show the gratitude of their nation. People from all walks of life were there --- orphan children, members of parliament, people of the ordinary walks of life; the Emperor’s brother, Prince Takawatsu delivered the message of thanks. A 12-year old boy from an orphanage made a straightforward talk, saying: “Before LARA parcels came, we hated school. Afterwards we were the best dressed children there, and we loved it.” What a difference the used clothing American families have sent could make in a land when there simply has not been enough clothing during the effort at reconstruction.

During the six years an estimated $11 million dollars worth of supplies were given voluntarily for this enterprise. Nearly half of it came through Church World Service -- the united Protestant channel of relief abroad. About one quarter came through the Quaker agency -- the American Friends Service Committee; and the rest through other groups, Protestant and Catholic.

When the work was begun, Japanese folk opened their eyes in amazement at the good will and generosity offered to a defeated enemy. One official said, “I cannot understand you Christians.” The Japanese officials responded with an integrity in distributing the relief supplies that is seldom matched elsewhere. None was siphoned off into black markets or into the pockets or households of chiselers along the way. Can not this successful venture continue to stand for the kindness and good will that knows no bounds?

Other records of good will can be found in the daily press if we look for them. Good will is real; and it creates good will. Mankind has tested it enough to find that out, whether or not he finds it literally commended in one place or in another in Holy Writ. One importance of good will at this time is not alone our anxious scanning of the heavens and of the horizons for evidence of good will toward us; but that we search ourselves to see if others have a right to find good will in us. Even our enemies ought to be able to sense that we worship with transforming sincerity, a Christ who make us lovers of all mankind.

Peter once raised a question with Jesus. It had been an endless task for the Master to make himself comprehensible to Peter. Peter had sudden bursts of illuminated understanding. But when harsh experiences caught up with him again, he began to doubt. On this particular day he questioned whether he had heard rightly on the matter of forgiveness. “Lord,” he asked, “how often do you say I am to forgive my brother if he sins against me? As many as seven times?” “Seven times? Seventy times seven!” [Matthew 18: 21-22].

If it still sounds unreal and impracticable to us Peters of 1952, we will do well to listen to the Lord and to the heralds of his birth. For it is part of the essence of his gospel and that salvation which means peace for our souls.

The “ancient authorities” had a spiritual perception that we do well to retain in our souls as more than a footnote!!

[This sermon was then closed with “An ancient Christmas Message” by Fra Giovanni, Christmas, 1513, a printed version of which accompanies the handwritten sermon manuscript.]

“Greeting! I salute you. I am your friend and my love for you goes deep. There is nothing I can give you which you have not got; but there is much, very much, that, while I cannot give it, you can take. No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in today. Take heaven! No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in this present little instant. Take peace!

“The gloom of the World is but a shadow. Behind it yet within our reach is joy. There is radiance and glory in the darkness, could we but see -- and to see we have only to look. I beseech you to look.

“Life is so generous a giver, but we, judging its gifts by their covering, cast them away as ugly or heavy or hard. Remove the covering and you will find it a living splendor, woven of love, by wisdom, with power. Welcome it, grasp it, and you touch the angel’s hand that brings it to you.

“Everything we call a trial, a sorrow, or a duty, believe me, that angel’s hand is there; the gift is there, and the wonder of an overshadowing Presence. Our joys, too; be not content with them as joys. They, too, conceal diviner gifts. Life is so full of meaning and purpose, so full of beauty -- beneath its covering -- that you will find earth but cloaks your heaven. Courage then to claim it; that is all! But courage you have; and the knowledge that we are pilgrims together, wending, through unknown country, home.

“And so at this Christmas time, I greet you. Not quite as the world sends greetings, but with profound esteem and with the prayer that for you, now and forever, the day breaks, and the shadows flee away.”

[Fra Giovanni, Christmas, 1513.]

Prayers at Christmas (printed with the above letter):

“Lord Jesus, be our holy Guest,

Our morning Joy, our evening Rest;

And with our daily bread impart

Thy love and peace to every heart.” Amen.

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Delivered in Wisconsin Rapids, December 21, 1952.