True Meaning of CHRISTmas

Malachi 3: 1-4
Luke 3:1-6

Resistance. This time of year invokes resistance in many of us because our expectations of Christmas and the New Year have become separated from the expectation God has for us during this time. The demands we have placed on ourselves have created a tension within us because we want things to go smoothly during our parties and we want our decorations to be perfect and we hope to find just the right gifts to give our loved ones. However, God has already picked out the perfect decorations and has sent us all the most perfect of gifts. The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are not supposed to be spent frantically. God asks us to take this time to prepare for the gift he has given us.

Advent is a special time and it is not because of the trees or the wreaths or the candles. Advent is where we take four weeks to prepare the way for the Lord. John the Baptist spoke about making the way straight for the Lord so all people will see God’s salvation. This was a striking image in a country full of sand dunes, mountains, and rocky paths that made traveling difficult. How do we prepare for the coming of our Lord? How can we make the path straight for others as well as ourselves?

John the Baptist gives us the first clue. After he receives his message in the wilderness, every person he finds he tells them about the one who is coming, the Messiah. Then when they believe his message, he baptizes them so they may repent of their sins. Does this mean that we should run around for the next several weeks shouting about our coming Messiah and everyone that shows interest we should baptize?

No, your job for the next several weeks is to take stock of your life. Each day, take a moment to quietly assess where you are in your spiritual journey. What have you left undone? Each day, pray for forgiveness for whatever wrongs you have committed. Take time to be with your family, or if they live far away, speak with them on the phone or write them a card. Each day, say a prayer and find a place to quietly think about the gift God is sending to you. As much as many of us enjoy the parties and the gifts and the rich food, Advent and Christmas have nothing to do with any of those things. Perhaps that is why the holidays are not always a happy time for people. The pressure to succeed and to do things right is enormous. The financial toll this season takes because of the social expectations is substantial. The strain it puts on personal and professional relationships is not insignificant either.

A couple weeks ago a channel was airing a Charlie Brown Christmas and Charlie has been tasked to find the perfect tree for their Christmas play. Well, Charlie finds a real tree, which is tiny and who’s needles fall everywhere, it’s a rather pathetic little tree. All the children make fun of him because Charlie didn’t pick out one of the bright, shiny metal trees that had become so popular.

Suddenly fed up Charlie Brown yells out, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?!” Linus replies, “Of course Charlie Brown. The true meaning of Christmas is, “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field and keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shown around about them. They were so afraid and the angel of the Lord said, Fear not for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy and it shall be to all people. For unto you this day born in the city of David is a Savior which is Christ the Lord.”

Many people have become upset with the word Christmas not being used to describe the trees or the wreaths or the lights that we have at this time of year. Many emails and buttons and signs go up that say, “Keep CHRIST in Christmas”. I love that idea. Keep Christ in Christmas. It is what we are celebrating for and it is what we are supposed to be preparing for right now. But I challenge the idea that the trees, or the lights, or the wreaths are Christmas-y. Where are they in the story? When did Christmas become the things we hang on our walls or the music we sing as we decorate? When did Christmas become the many gifts under the tree or the eggnog we drink at the parties? When did Christmas become the wrapping paper and the tinsel?

Jesus is Christmas. Jesus is the gift. Jesus is the light that shines brighter than any we could decorate with. Jesus is the one who died on a tree for us. Jesus is the one who wore the crown of thorns on his head in a mockery of his birth status. We get all caught up in the word, and not caught up enough in the meaning behind the word.

It’s okay if others call it a holiday and we call it Christmas. Christ doesn’t disappear just because the word isn’t used. Jesus will still be a gift for all who are willing to accept him as Lord and Savior. Our job, during this Advent season, is to be willing to share that good news to anyone who wants to listen and then invite them to become your brother or sister in Christ. This holiday versus Christmas debate was won 2000 years ago and no matter what we call it, the meaning stays the same. Fear not, they cannot take Jesus from us.

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field.. and an angel of the Lord appeared before them and said, “Fear not, for I bring you tidings of great joy for unto you this day born in the city of David is a Savior which is Christ the Lord.”

Amen.