Monday, December 27
Matthew 1:18-23 http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=160488450
Emmanuel-God is with us!
Throughout Advent, we’ve been focusing on how to “give ourselves;” a habit that I pray has become, and will continue to be, part and parcel to each and every day of our living. As we celebrate these Twelve Days of Christmas, however, I invite you to add another emphasis to your daily reflection and practice. I invite you to focus on receiving God’s gift of Christmas—Emmanuel, God is with us!
Each year Christmas comes to us through Advent with great anticipation, expectation and wonder. We do considerable work as we prepare to receive Christ’s coming. Yet, once Christmas gets here, once the Christ arrives, it seems we have little time to stop and experience all that God offers. The radio stations who have been playing Christmas music since the first week in November aren’t the only ones that cut Christmas off at 6:00 p.m. on Christmas Day (the First Day of Christmas). We are so impatient, so quick to move on. Perhaps the pressures of gathering and gifting have worn us thin? Or maybe, just maybe, without even recognizing it we’ve allowed the constraints of our culture’s celebration of “the holidays” to invade our full receiving of God’s gift of Christmas?
Emmanuel, God is with us—what an amazing gift! God loves us so much, that God came (and still comes!) to be with us. But like any other present, God’s gift must be well-received before it can be appropriately opened, embraced, known and shared.
Rev. Keck suggested in yesterday’s sermon that as we take down our Christmas decorations this year we might want to move Mary, Joseph and Jesus out of the stable and place them in a window looking out into the world. What a great idea! I think that would be a great place for us to start. Looking out from your window into the world what do you see? Is the world filled with the peace, justice and mercy that God has promised? Or is there still maybe a little work that needs to be done? How about in your life? Have you worked to receive the real Gift of Christmas or have you settled for something way smaller?
The prophets foretold of the coming of The Messiah who would inaugurate a new reign, God’s kingdom here on this earth. Jesus was born, lived, died and was Resurrected in fulfillment of these prophecies. Jesus promised that when he ascended to be at the right hand of the Father, we would not be left alone. God special presence, the Holy Spirit, was then sent to guide and teach, to be with us. Indeed, Emmanuel—God is with us and …is with us still!
And so as we continue this 27/12 journey, I invite you to hang on just a bit longer. Hang on with open arms and an open heart to receive as completely as possible the fullness of God’s gift. Over the next several days we’ll be looking at the gifts of Christmas: love, peace, joy, mercy, abundant life, simplicity, wisdom, freedom, and responsibility.
Pray that you, and we, might better understand and receive God’s gift for us, this Christmas.
Kid’s Challenge
You’ve had the chance to hear and even share in the telling of the Christmas story several times over the past several weeks. What do you think, is our celebration of Christmas consistent with the Christmas story? What would you like to add to our celebration of Christmas? What would you like to take away? Get a piece of paper and write down the things you really like about Christmas. Then turn the page over and write down the things about Christmas that you would like to remember and live out every day of the year. Put your paper in a place where you will see it often and try to read it every couple of weeks throughout the year.
Christmas Blessings.
Rich
Here are several verses of the carol, "O Come, O Come Emmanuel." I invite you to read through (and even sing) these words several times. What "Gifts of Christmas" do you hear anticipated in these verses?
O come, thou Wisdom from on high, and order all things far and nigh; to us the path of knowledge show and cause us in her ways to go. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heavenly home. The captives from their prison free, and conquer death’s deep misery. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer our spirits our spirits by your justice here; disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Desire of nations bind all peoples in one heart and mind. From dust thou brought us forth to life; deliver us from earthly strife. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
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