Today begins a brief respite from a normally heavy schedule – three-day weekends are always a blessing. Help us, Father, to make the most of it. Amen.
Luke 2:36-40 (<<click to read the passage)
I feel that I need to sort of wrap up the whole leading into Christmas thing that begins with Luke 1. The last part of Luke 2 jumps several years ahead, to where Jesus was 12 years old.
So at least from Luke’s perspective, baby Jesus has entered the world and he is moving on to the next big event in Jesus’ life (Matthew’s Gospel is the only one to include the visit of the magi from the east.)
So back to Christmas…so that’s it? We are witness to Jesus’ birth, the manger, the angels’ visit to the shepherds and the shepherds’ visit to see the baby. Many times, I have included Simeon and Anna’s interaction with the Christ Child in my Advent sermon series but for some, even those encounters are pushing it when it comes to Christmas.
Right up front, don’t feel that once again your expectations of Christmas have let you down. Christmas is what Christmas is supposed to be – no more, no less. It is solely the celebration of Jesus coming to be with us – Immanuel, God with us.
I was talking with a friend this morning and she expressed how she struggles with Christmas. Her struggle is with the fact that we have made it to be way more than what it was ever supposed to be. It seems that it has become all about spending as much money as possible – regardless of how far it pushes us into debt – so that everyone gets what they “want” (not necessarily just what they need). It’s all about who can out-do everyone else with gifts and baking and decorating and parties and on and on and on.
And the question we have to ask ourselves is, “Where is Jesus in all of that?” We like to think that because He gave so much in coming to be with us that we, in turn, have to give a bunch, too. But we can’t…and really we shouldn’t. There certainly isn’t anything wrong with giving but we just need to keep it balanced and in a proper perspective.
This year before we even really get there – though retail is already beating there “Christmas” drums loud and long…got to start filling those coffers and getting ahead of everyone else! Before we even really get there…stop…take a big breath…look around and determine that Jesus is going to be the one that drives Christmas this year – not gifts, not your cookies or your parties – Jesus Himself, our Lord and, yes…our Savior…for that is why He came. We were lost and only He could find us. We were damned and only He could save us. So, what’s at the center of your Christmas? May it be Jesus for isn’t He the one that started it all? May it be so in each of our lives. Amen.
Nov 7th, 2019, Thurs, 3:25 pm
