December 25 has come and gone. We're waving goodbye to Epiphany. Christmas lights are turning off. Christmas trees are coming down. So that's it then, right? Christmas is over until the-day-after-Thanksgiving 2011 when it's acceptable to let the Christmas music play again. Right?
Gosh, I hope not.
I hear people sometimes lamenting the ever-increasing commercialization of Christmas and we even have those nice "Jesus is the reason for the season" pencils now. But still, I blink after Christmas and we're on to the new school semester and the stores are full of the pink and red of Valentine's Day. Christmas is supposed to be a season about Jesus; the coming of God in human form; the Holy of Holies entering the world as a vulnerable baby; the beginning of the life that's very existence is evidence of the mercy, grace, love and justice flowing from our Maker and that's end will offer salvation to all.
With that understanding, we see the work that Christmas calls us to. "Work?" you say, "Christmas is about presents. So you mean 'work' as in 'getting presents for other people', right?" Mmm, no. Christmas - the eternity-changing advent of Jesus Christ into this world (as opposed to the holiday) - demands a response from your heart and your life.
"The Work of Christmas" by Howard Thurman
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the Kings and Princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flocks,
The work of Christmas begins.
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To teach the nations,
To bring Christ to all,
To make music in the heart.
I pray that we will see this "work" as the blessing that it is and carry the name of Jesus into each season of this new year.
Love to all and happy new year! :)
Isaiah 40
No comments:
Post a Comment