The Reason for the Season
Published: December 24th, 2006
Dear Parishioners,
Last week I happened to drive past Pastor Manny Stivers’ church, Trinity Memorial Lutheran. [I’ve known Manny since my Lehighton days.] His outside billboard had a message that inspired me for this year’s Christmas message. I’ll take a little liberty with his message and craft it a bit more into the Christmas scene.
Christmas is not a season; it is a way of life.
What a great reminder for all! Nowadays, well before Thanksgiving Day, the commercial Christmas Season is underway. And thank God that “that Season” is only around for 6 to 8 weeks. The challenge for the true believer is not to fall prey to “this Christmas Season” but, to realize what we celebrate, what we remember on December 25th is this blessed event some 2000 years ago should be a life altering event for us today.
The tragic reality is that for the common person, and even for many Christians, this day has been trivialized with the glitter of the “holidays:” decorated trees, wreaths, crèches, lighted homes, candles in the windows, gifts under the trees, cookies and fine meals. In themselves, none of these are bad but they do have a tendency to nail down the Christmas event to one day out of the year. More times than not, we don’t even extend it to the traditional 12 Days of Christmas … up to the Epiphany.
When we do that, we minimize the true transforming message of the Christ Child. We have heard it time and time again: God so loved the world that he sent his only Son into the world, not to condemn us but to save us. I’m sure all of us hear that quote often … but do we truly listen and take it to heart. Do I truly believe that Jesus came into this world to die for “me” … and that he did so, even while I was [am] a sinner. That is Good News that should be celebrated not one day a year but all 365 days of the year. It should be a truth that transforms everyday of my life.
What would that transformation look like? Well, if God loved me so much like that … then I should try to return the favor by loving him like that. And he says we can do it by loving one another like he loved us … everyday of our lives. It doesn’t mean that I have to “feel good” about everyone. But it sure means that I don’t actively do anything that will hurt them. Easily said, but not so easily done!
So the value of Christmas Day is that it should remind us of the love of our God who would rather die than be separated from us … and our obligation to try to show that love always.
Christmas is not a season; it is a way of life.
