It almost feels kinda pointless to write a meditation/column for this week's e-mail, for this is the week we finally enter into Christmas. I mean, it is one of those things wherein we know what is going on, don't we? Christmas eve worship @ 6:00 & 11:00. The familiar readings. The familiar songs. Candlelight and communion. Familiar holiday traditions. The joy and the politics of gift-giving and receiving. Some bittersweet moments for a few, as you remember those who are not around the table this year and or how this Christmas is different from other years. Deep life-altering radical changes that we get anxious about not knowing how they are going to play out or how to deal with them...
"Wait. What?," I can hear some of you saying. "I was with you up until that last point. What do you mean, deep life-altering radical changes...." Why, that's one of the joys of Christmas is its predictability. With a few minor tweaks from year to year depending on circumstance, it pretty much rolls the same for us.
Well, not so fast, my friends. Yes, Christmas is a joy because of the predictability of hearing the same words again from the scriptures...but, I wonder if we truly think through the implications of the complete UNpredictability of the Christmas celebration. As the Christ child is symbolically placed in the midst of the nativity scene this year, I hope and pray that tangible representation of Christ's appearance in the world reminds us that things are no longer predictable. With the arrival of the Christ child, things are different. The Christ child leads his people in ways they never could have thought, to destinations they never could consider, and all he asks for is their complete trust and devotion.
That, my friends, is something you and I need to think more about as Christmas approaches. If we are serious about following the Christ child, it will not be predictable. If we are serious about following the Christ child, it will demand of us the need for complete faith and trust, especially when the answer or destination to a particular situation or circumstance is not inherently obvious.
So, come and worship with us on Christmas Eve (or at a church in your area if you do not live near us). Come and hear the words from the prophet, the psalmist, the gospel, and the epistle. Come and hear the message on "Why Christmas is Important (and it may not be what you think)." Come and taste the tangible reminder of the grace that appeared during that night as we partake of the sacrament of holy communion. Come and be inspired by the candlelight of the people of God raising the light of Christ.
And be ready for something you never expected. After all, that is what happened on the first Christmas morning - something completely unexpected.
See you Sunday!
Lamar
No comments:
Post a Comment