Christmas, what is it all about?
Have you stopped and listened to the music blasting from the ceilings as you look at endless potential Christmas presents? What does it proclaim? What do children think when they think of Christmas day? Presents, a man with a white beard and red jacket, reindeer, elf’s and a chance to see some good films on t.v?
Are we called as ministers and prospective ministers of religion to proclaim accurately the story of Christmas? If so, how do we do that? But what is the ‘accurate’ story of Christmas? Do we know and does it matter? These are a few of the questions brandishing my rather fuzzy head after only ten weeks at theological college.
Last week I listened to a fantastic sermon for the college staff from our amazing Chaplin for last year’s college carol service. It brought the nativity story alive in a way I could not have imagined. It made it something which could have happened right then and there, was it accurate? Perhaps not 100% theologically...discuss...which we did. Yes, my humble lecturer listens to us rebellious lot and takes our criticism wisely and with dignity (if you hadn’t noticed I think she’s not too bad ;-)). But did it matter that she had three wise women turning up at the crib scene and not epiphany? No (at least not in my opinion) and why? Because it made the gospel come alive and relevant to the group of people who would be listening to it. That is what I believe Christmas is about.
You see, God has always been here. It is us who have stopped ourselves acknowledging His existence. Thus He brought Himself right into our situation and made Himself completely relevant. So much so that everyone from the lowest of the low (shepherds) to the highest of the high (kings or wise people)saw Him and acknowledged who He was, a few Angels even showed up to sing and dance a bit.
Last week I visited a school where the children proclaimed the gospel story through words, actions and song. This is a non-religious school and they were doing a job better than I could have done and I’m supposed to be the ‘trainee vicar’. Was it theologically accurate? Nope, not entirely, did it matter? I don’t think so because if, on some level, the gospel got through to one person in that room when it was preformed week then it has been used by God in a very ordinary situation. Even if not, God challenged me. I mean there was a bunch of children singing “Jesus is a gift, He is a gift for us all” over and over. Now if that’s not God working through the ordinary I don’t know what is. I was moved to tears. And it hit me; surely Christmas is about God working through the ordinary – bringing Himself into a situation for our sake.
So this Christmas look for God in the ordinary. In the silliness around the Christmas table, the candle flickering, the Christmas lights, the t.v. programmes, the songs we sing and especially in the gifts because God’s most precious gift He gave to us over 2,000 years ago in His One and Only Son – Jesus.
Hope you have a very Merry and Joy filled Christmas!
Love and Blessings, Deborah ><>
