For the past few years, I have seen Christmas lights turned on from Nov. 12. People get excited about Christmas. Christmas does something to many people they cannot explain. Even the homeless on the street have more attention paid to them in the month of December than the rest of the year. It has been referred to as “The Christmas Spirit.”
“The Christmas Spirit” moves hearts to be more generous, kind, respectful and other positive qualities, or so many believe. Perception is reality. You are treated the way others perceive you and you treat others as you perceive them. Now this may not be completely accurate possibly only in part. Every relationship is different and so interaction is different between everyone. We apply our best effort to look good before others. We want the praise of others, we want the rewards of being perceived good, we want a good reputation in the community.
Gifts and gift giving are a large part of Christmas. It is believed disrespectful to receive a gift and not give a gift in return. But gifts are given freely, many without wanting a gift in return. There is much attention paid by many to gift giving. In decades past the Simpson Sears and Eaton’s catalogues arrived in October for their customers to choose the perfect gift to get before Christmas. Today the Christmas advertising starts near the beginning of November to entice people to buy early that special Christmas gift.
To prepare for Christmas takes time, thought, money, and takes effort. The questions of who you will gather with, where will you gather, how long will you gather for are all necessary questions to answer in your Christmas preparations. The answers for some families are the same every year. But for others, answers change from time to time.
In the Christian Church the preparation for Christmas remains the same. A new church year begins four Sundays before Christmas. These four Sundays are named Sundays of Advent. Advent means “coming.” The first Sunday of Advent looks to Christ’s second coming, the following Sundays of Advent look back to Christ’s first coming. The message of advent is “the kingdom of heaven is near, repent.” John the Baptizer preached this message then Christ Jesus preached this message. This is the message preached in the Christian Church throughout history.
It is reported in the gospels many came out to hear John. Many confessed their sins and were baptized. Still there were those who rejected this message. Even though through history many have denied and rejected this message it is still proclaimed today throughout the world and people are baptized.
Christmas is Christ’s Mass. The birth of Christ is the reason for the season. Christ Jesus is the reason and Christ Jesus is God’s gift to a dying world in sin. God is not who you want Him to be. Christ Jesus is not who you want Him to be. God through many men and thousands of years has revealed Himself to this world in the Bible. God has also revealed Jesus of Nazareth as His Son. Through His revelation of Himself and His Son, He reveals who we are and our greatest need.
We live in a broken world and we are broken. God created all and wanted a personal relationship with us. But Adam, when tempted, broke this relationship. It is broken and we cannot fix this relationship. God can and has restored this broken relationship through His Son. God gave His Son to live the perfect life He demands and then died the death of all people. This is why the Christian Church celebrates Christmas and Easter. God’s gift given at Christmas Christ Jesus, true God and true man.
God called the prophets of old to point to Christ, God called John the Baptizer to prepare people’s hearts for the coming of Christ. God, through His word and sacraments, calls you to repent and have faith in Christ. It is not “The Christmas Spirit” that changes hearts but the Holy Spirit who changes hearts. May God, the Holy Spirit, touch your heart through God’s word and holy baptism heal your broken relationship with God and lead you to confess in Christ always. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
