The Christmas Story...is a beautiful and yet very "human" story in history, filled with drama, imperfections, and tragedy. Although we hear throughout this time of year the phrase "The Joy of Christmas", some find Christmas to be a lonely time...perhaps the children have grown or members of our own families have passed away, and the the Christmas laughs, excitement, and the time of gift-giving...now lives only in our own memories. For others, Christmas can be a series of frustrations, simply from all the commitments and obligations this time of year sometimes bring. And of course, "lurking around every corner" are the financial temptations...to buy more than we ever anticipated, resulting in "The Joy of Christmas" turning into "The Strains of Christmas".
(The other night on my way home from work I was listening to John Tesh on the radio...and he was warning those who are finalizing their Christmas shopping to be wary of "the power of touch". Usually, as Christmas nears, the male population is seen shopping more because of our tendencies to procrastinate...the inevitable...having to shop. So, female workers of various stores have found it advantageous to...pat a man on the arm, or touch their back to direct them to a certain gift, culminating with these results:" the "male victim" is seen walking out of the store with much more than he had initially intended to buy...in fact, they have "crunched some numbers on this marketing strategy and found that the average male will will spend 163% more than what he originally intended...simply from the "power of a woman's touch". Oh yes..it is true...the Mighty have fallen....).
Yet, with all the Christmas dilemmas that comes with this season of the year, Jesus Himself is well acquainted with our disappointments this season can bring...particularly the longing that surfaces from our hearts that cries: "I just want to experience the Joy of Christmas!"
Jesus faced disappointing circumstances...from Day 1. He was rejected before He was even born ( there was no Inn or room available for Mary to give birth to the Christ-child). Instead, He came to save each one of us.... being born in a feed trough. He was soon to be hunted down, hopefully killed, and after avoiding that horrific massacre, grew up in His young life in pretty much total obscurity.
Yet, Christ did not let any of that deter Him...His love for each one of us reaches way beyond any "human circumstances" life may offer us. Jesus never shunned or shied away from the "opening chapters" of the Christmas Story...He "charged" into a world full of conflict...and full of poverty. Thank God He didn't decide to pray to His own Father and say: " Father...this is not workin' out...I don't feel right about how this story is starting out....and the climax...is both gruesome and too graphic...let's scratch this and start over."
No...instead..He embraced this life both Him and His Father had chosen...He was determined from the start...to have each one of us experience the real meaning of "Christmas".
Most of us are familiar with the great Christmas novel: "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens...published in 1843. In this story, "Mr. Scrooge" is visited by 3 ghosts: the ghost of Christmas Past, the ghost of Christmas Present, and the ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.
As we celebrate Christmas in our own church today, we too have "ghosts" that help us to better understand "The Joy of Christmas".
I would like to make mention of one this morning...and I call him " The ghost of Scriptures Past". He is known to many of us as...the prophet Isaiah.
This priest...of the Tribe of Judah is well known for his literary works: many find his writings inspirational, thought provoking, moving, and written with an almost poetic charm. Isaiah wrote much on the life of Christ Jesus, from His very birth to His death...on a Roman cross.
The writers of the New Testament: St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, and St. John, when they wrote their personal declarations on the Life of the Messiah...each one of them would reference the writings of Isaiah...more than anyone else...to assist and influence of what we now call "The Gospels".
What was amazing about all this?...well, this ghost of Scriptures Past...the very prophet Isaiah...had been dead for over 700 years...before these New Testament writers had ever even seen...the very Son of God...becoming "one of us".
Isaiah was a proponent of taking care of the defenseless, helping the poor, and promoting justice to those in desperate circumstances. He was deeply involved in the government of Judea...and came down hard on the wealthy...when...they ignored the "Cries of the Poor".
And, when Isaiah spoke of the "wealthy", he wasn't referring to some "guy living in a million dollar mansion and having 4 or 5 cars." "Wealthy" to Isaiah simply meant: having more than what you need.
Nor was Isaiah against anyone being "wealthy"...what he was against were those who had more than they needed...and chose to ignore those around them who were struggling to survive in everyday life.
I think the prophet Isaiah would have liked to have read "A Christmas Carol" by Dickens. I think Isaiah might have "picked up on the words of Mr. Scrooge" when he said; " I promise to celebrate Christmas...each day of the year".
So, today as we are here in the year 2012 A.D.... to celebrate Christmas...what is this "joy we seek?" For myself, I think it is what Isaiah and Dickens both left us in their great literary works...remembering those who suffer around us...and enjoying those who surround our lives...at this very moment!
It may require of us...smiling to someone who needs a smile, taking the time to listen to someone and the things they might be going through. It could be some freshly baked cookies, or it may even require you to aid another with financial assistance.
Of course, the greatest acts we can ever do are like the examples we have just heard of recently: the brave young teachers and assistants at Sandy Hook elementary school who sacrificed their own lives in an attempt to allow others to experience the true "Joy of Christmas". Jesus commented on people like that...saying: "There is no greater love in any of us...then when we choose to lay down our lives...for our friends."
The "Joy of Christmas" is perhaps... taking the time to appreciate those God has put around us...your own families...your friends...those at work...and Jesus "threw a monkey wrench" into our "Christmas Joy" by adding this: "Love your Enemies"....perhaps we will look at that...another day.
The ghost of Scriptures Past wrote a beautiful passage about the birth of Christ Jesus. In Isaiah 9:6 it reads: " For Light is among us...a Child is born. He is a Son...and He has been given...and now...He is "one of us". Government will now rest on His shoulders. He Himself will have the titles of: Amazing Counselor, a Mighty and Strong God, the Eternal Father, and....the Prince of Peace."
One more thing....
When the "Babe born in the manger"...had grown...and suffered on a Roman cross...only to be seen Alive again, He left these words...to those of us who had found the "Joy of Christmas". He spoke and said this: " I leave you with this: My Peace...the kind of peace that only I can give you. The world can not produce the peace I give you...so let not your hearts be troubled...you have no need to worry...or be afraid." John 14:27
We light the Advent Candle today...in the Name of...His Peace....
(The other night on my way home from work I was listening to John Tesh on the radio...and he was warning those who are finalizing their Christmas shopping to be wary of "the power of touch". Usually, as Christmas nears, the male population is seen shopping more because of our tendencies to procrastinate...the inevitable...having to shop. So, female workers of various stores have found it advantageous to...pat a man on the arm, or touch their back to direct them to a certain gift, culminating with these results:" the "male victim" is seen walking out of the store with much more than he had initially intended to buy...in fact, they have "crunched some numbers on this marketing strategy and found that the average male will will spend 163% more than what he originally intended...simply from the "power of a woman's touch". Oh yes..it is true...the Mighty have fallen....).
Yet, with all the Christmas dilemmas that comes with this season of the year, Jesus Himself is well acquainted with our disappointments this season can bring...particularly the longing that surfaces from our hearts that cries: "I just want to experience the Joy of Christmas!"
Jesus faced disappointing circumstances...from Day 1. He was rejected before He was even born ( there was no Inn or room available for Mary to give birth to the Christ-child). Instead, He came to save each one of us.... being born in a feed trough. He was soon to be hunted down, hopefully killed, and after avoiding that horrific massacre, grew up in His young life in pretty much total obscurity.
Yet, Christ did not let any of that deter Him...His love for each one of us reaches way beyond any "human circumstances" life may offer us. Jesus never shunned or shied away from the "opening chapters" of the Christmas Story...He "charged" into a world full of conflict...and full of poverty. Thank God He didn't decide to pray to His own Father and say: " Father...this is not workin' out...I don't feel right about how this story is starting out....and the climax...is both gruesome and too graphic...let's scratch this and start over."
No...instead..He embraced this life both Him and His Father had chosen...He was determined from the start...to have each one of us experience the real meaning of "Christmas".
Most of us are familiar with the great Christmas novel: "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens...published in 1843. In this story, "Mr. Scrooge" is visited by 3 ghosts: the ghost of Christmas Past, the ghost of Christmas Present, and the ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.
As we celebrate Christmas in our own church today, we too have "ghosts" that help us to better understand "The Joy of Christmas".
I would like to make mention of one this morning...and I call him " The ghost of Scriptures Past". He is known to many of us as...the prophet Isaiah.
This priest...of the Tribe of Judah is well known for his literary works: many find his writings inspirational, thought provoking, moving, and written with an almost poetic charm. Isaiah wrote much on the life of Christ Jesus, from His very birth to His death...on a Roman cross.
The writers of the New Testament: St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, and St. John, when they wrote their personal declarations on the Life of the Messiah...each one of them would reference the writings of Isaiah...more than anyone else...to assist and influence of what we now call "The Gospels".
What was amazing about all this?...well, this ghost of Scriptures Past...the very prophet Isaiah...had been dead for over 700 years...before these New Testament writers had ever even seen...the very Son of God...becoming "one of us".
Isaiah was a proponent of taking care of the defenseless, helping the poor, and promoting justice to those in desperate circumstances. He was deeply involved in the government of Judea...and came down hard on the wealthy...when...they ignored the "Cries of the Poor".
And, when Isaiah spoke of the "wealthy", he wasn't referring to some "guy living in a million dollar mansion and having 4 or 5 cars." "Wealthy" to Isaiah simply meant: having more than what you need.
Nor was Isaiah against anyone being "wealthy"...what he was against were those who had more than they needed...and chose to ignore those around them who were struggling to survive in everyday life.
I think the prophet Isaiah would have liked to have read "A Christmas Carol" by Dickens. I think Isaiah might have "picked up on the words of Mr. Scrooge" when he said; " I promise to celebrate Christmas...each day of the year".
So, today as we are here in the year 2012 A.D.... to celebrate Christmas...what is this "joy we seek?" For myself, I think it is what Isaiah and Dickens both left us in their great literary works...remembering those who suffer around us...and enjoying those who surround our lives...at this very moment!
It may require of us...smiling to someone who needs a smile, taking the time to listen to someone and the things they might be going through. It could be some freshly baked cookies, or it may even require you to aid another with financial assistance.
Of course, the greatest acts we can ever do are like the examples we have just heard of recently: the brave young teachers and assistants at Sandy Hook elementary school who sacrificed their own lives in an attempt to allow others to experience the true "Joy of Christmas". Jesus commented on people like that...saying: "There is no greater love in any of us...then when we choose to lay down our lives...for our friends."
The "Joy of Christmas" is perhaps... taking the time to appreciate those God has put around us...your own families...your friends...those at work...and Jesus "threw a monkey wrench" into our "Christmas Joy" by adding this: "Love your Enemies"....perhaps we will look at that...another day.
The ghost of Scriptures Past wrote a beautiful passage about the birth of Christ Jesus. In Isaiah 9:6 it reads: " For Light is among us...a Child is born. He is a Son...and He has been given...and now...He is "one of us". Government will now rest on His shoulders. He Himself will have the titles of: Amazing Counselor, a Mighty and Strong God, the Eternal Father, and....the Prince of Peace."
One more thing....
When the "Babe born in the manger"...had grown...and suffered on a Roman cross...only to be seen Alive again, He left these words...to those of us who had found the "Joy of Christmas". He spoke and said this: " I leave you with this: My Peace...the kind of peace that only I can give you. The world can not produce the peace I give you...so let not your hearts be troubled...you have no need to worry...or be afraid." John 14:27
We light the Advent Candle today...in the Name of...His Peace....
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