“How Was Your Christmas?”
December 25, 2002
The Rev. Dr. David M. Wendel
Saint Luke’s Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Lessons: Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-4 (5-12); St. John 1:1-14
How was your Christmas? Did you get everything you wanted? Was your Christmas—just, perfect? I hope not. Now, I know that may sound cruel. All through the season of Advent, we’re wishing each other the best—Christmas cards express the hope that your holiday will be everything you want it to be. And it seems unkind to say otherwise. But, I hope your Christmas was not—picture perfect; was not the Christmas of the Norman Rockwell painting; was not everything you ever wanted the holiday to be. And I say that, first, because we all know that they never are. I say that first, to acknowledge that frustration and let down that inevitably comes, later on Christmas Day. For all the build up, and preparation, and anticipation; for all the work to get family or friends together; for all that we’ve been taught and conditioned to do, to make Christmas special and—well, perfect—the truth is, it rarely is. Oh, not that it’s not meaningful to gather with family and friends. Not that it’s not fun to celebrate the holiday—it’s just that they’re never perfect. They never do seem quite like the ones Norman Rockwell envisioned. Inevitably, someone gets upset. Mom gets her feelings hurt. The kids didn’t get the Nintendo X-Box they wanted. Cousin Bob wouldn’t come over for Christmas Eve dinner. The Christmas cards didn’t get out in time. The truth is, there are all kinds of relationship issues that are with us all through the year, but seem to bubble over at the holidays. And besides that, the other things we are dealing with just won’t go away, just because it’s the holidays. Grandmother has cancer and is wasting away in a nursing home. Your teenager is struggling with drug abuse, and you almost wish they wouldn’t be home for Christmas. You’re facing a lay-off for the second time in two years—and a dark cloud hovers over the holidays. The truth is, few of our holidays, if any, are ever—perfect, and year after year, we wrestle with that—and with the post-holiday depression that often sets in. And on the one hand, that can leave us feeling empty—frustrated, and alone, as we feel we’re the only ones who’ve been let down. So, first, today, I’d like to free you of that feeling—by reassuring you, that you’re not that special—you’re not the only one—most of us feel let down. And not only are you not the only one who feels that way—my hope is that we all feel that way—not just this year, but every time Christmas comes around! I would even go so far as to say that it’s good that we’re let down—that when that feeling arrives on Christmas morning, we can welcome that feeling, and celebrate that feeling—because what it means, is that—we still need the Savior! And that’s the second reason I say, “I hope your Christmas was not perfect.”
The temptation, for all of us, is to mistakenly
pin all our hopes for Christmas, on family members, relationships, holiday
dinners, and the right gifts. It’s only
natural that we do so, given the world that we live in, that begins, from
Halloween on, telling us that the key to a happy holiday, is home, family,
Santa Claus and gift-giving. That’s
what all the commercials play upon—and even when the ads emphasize the “real”
meaning of Christmas—what they’re pointing to is home, family, Santa Claus and
gift-giving. The problem is, these are
not the key to a happy holiday, nor are they the real meaning of
Christmas. If we pin our hopes for joy
and peace and fulfillment at Christmas on home and family, not to mention Santa
Claus and gift-giving—we will be disappointed.
We will! Because for all the
value of home and family—uncle Bill has an alcohol problem; mom is controlling and passive
aggressive; teenagers are, well,
teenagers…and, you know what I mean.
Home and family are what they are—they are not, our savior—nor are they
intended to be. Nor is Santa—for
contrary to the marketing, all the wonderful gifts in the world, cannot save
us—cannot fill the emptiness inside us—cannot shine light, into the darkness of
our hearts and lives and world. For
that, we need THE Savior—Jesus Christ—the Light of the World—the Word made
flesh. Again, that’s why I hope this
year, and every year, when you come to Christmas Day service, you’re feeling a
little let-down; you’re feeling like
the dinner and the gatherings and the gifts have left you feeling a bit, empty. Because then it is, that you’re ready for
the real thing—for the Christ, to be born anew in you, this Christmas Day! Then it is that you’re ready to hear the
Christmas Gospel from St. John, where we hear, not about the baby in the manger
at Bethlehem, but about the Word, who was present and participating in
creation, at the beginning, and who even now, has the power to re-create you,
and to raise you up from the pile of wrapping paper litter, to transform your
life and give you true hope and joy, again.
You’re ready to hear the Christmas Gospel from St. John, where we hear
about Jesus, born to be the Light, in the darkness of our world, and our lives,
overshadowed by cancer, and disease, and loneliness and despair, and death and
loss, and terrorism and violence. Jesus
is the Light, that has not been overcome by darkness, CAN not be overcome by
darkness—so that we have hope and joy, even in the face of darkness—hope and
joy that lifts us up, and gives us courage to go on, in the Light of His
presence, though shadows and gloom may be all around us. For, it’s when you see the darkness, that
you are the more ready, to receive the Light.
It’s when you know your need for the Savior, that you are the more ready
to welcome, the Word, made flesh—come to dwell among us, full of grace and
truth. Because, if you were at home,
right now, feeling all fat and satisfied with all that you’ve done and all that
you’ve gotten, you wouldn’t be here, to celebrate the True Light! Your presence here, this morning, shows,
maybe not that you had a horrible Christmas—but that you realize that all that
other stuff, isn’t what Christmas is all about. It’s about, the darkness, and the Light. It’s about not trusting in home, family,
Santa, and gifts, to bring you joy and happiness. It’s about celebrating the birth of the Savior, who is Christ,
the Lord—and giving him space in your heart, and life, for Him to dwell, as the
Word, made flesh.
There’s an old tradition that says, when you come to receive communion, you can cup your hands together, to make a manger for the Christ child, so that He can be born in your life, and you can receive Him, into the stable of your life, to be for you, Light in the darkness—Life, even in the midst of death and despair. So, however you hold your hands this Christmas Day, I invite you to consider your hands, the manger, that you may indeed, receive the Word, made flesh, in the bread and wine, that there will be space in your heart and life, for Him to dwell, today, and every day of your life. And I hope and pray, that His presence, will make your Christmas, perfect.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.