Who Showed Up?

A Christmas Eve Poem Sermon
by the Rev. Dr. Eric L. Bodenstab
For Christmas Eve 2022
© 2022 E. L. Bodenstab

The count was on, so they showed up.
She was pregnant, but they showed up.
There was no room, still they showed up.
She gave birth, and he showed up.

Looking for food, they showed up.
Hungry and wanting, they showed up.
They found a baby when they showed up.
They wanted food, so they showed up.

Their flocks needed them, so they showed up.
It was dark on the hills, but they showed up.
Then unexpectedly, they showed up.
First one, then many, they showed up.

Announcing good news, he showed up.
Proclaiming great joy, he showed up.
Giving glory to God, they showed up.
Announcing peace, they showed up.

Quickly they left so they could show up.
They found what was told because they showed up.
Great mysteries of old because they showed up.
They left feeling bold because they showed up.

Augusts did not show up.
Quirinius did not show up.
People of power did not show up.
People of influence did not show up.

She wondered at who showed up.
She pondered who showed up.
She reflected on who showed up.
She remembered who showed up.

When God is born, who shows up?
When God acts, who shows up?
When God loves, who shows up?
When God forgives, who shows up?

When God cries, who shows up?
When God heals, who shows up?
When God dies, who shows up?
When God lives, who shows up?

Come, let us show up.
Filled with faith, let us show up.
Living out God’s grace, let us show up.
Bearing the light of Christ, let us show up.

Believing the mysteries, let us show up.
Praising God in all things, let us show up.
Welcoming the birth of faith, let us show up.
Greeting God in others, let us show up.

Come, show up.
Adore, show up.
Come.
Adore.

Come.

Adore Christ.

Merry Christmas.