Advent: Christmas Season
Images By: Jennifer
We are now in the final part of the season of Christmas. Yes, the season of Christmas starts after Christmas Eve in the church, even if society says that is when it should end. My family has even gotten in trouble with our homeowner’s association for having our decorations up too long after the holiday, we educated them about the season of Christmas and the fact our house celebrated every day in the season!
When I picked this Advent book, I didn’t look close to see there was a 5th week covered in it. But there was a week for Christmas, and what a great way to celebrate and draw close to God as we rejoice in Christ’s birth! The chapter is titled Sharing the Light: Where is the One? I immediately thought about how we are called to share Christ in the world, the one about whom we are rejoicing, but then the question part of the title made me ponder what that might have to do with our rejoicing.
The part of the Christmas story Redding uses here is about the wise men (Magi). It’s fitting since their part of the story is celebrated on Epiphany, which is the close of the season of Christmas on January 6th. Did you know the bible does not say there were three Magi? That has become tradition because of how many gifts were given (gold, frankincense, and myrrh). How about the names people give them? Those aren’t in the bible either.
What does the Magi story challenge us to see and do? First, we need to take Christmas beyond the 25th of December. Even as followers of Jesus, we pack Christmas up on December 26th and go back to life as usual. Instead, we need to reclaim what Christmas is about: our Savior, the Light, coming into the world. The Magi story tells us they came when Jesus was a young child and they visited in a house. We should include other stories during the season of Christmas to help us draw close to God and celebrate.
Redding points out the stories of Anna and Simeon. When you include these and some of the harder points of the Magi story, you get a richer, deeper Christmas story about our Savior. Anna, a woman, a widow, low on the social pecking order, proclaims Jesus (a baby!) is the Messiah. Simeon, a man who should want nothing to do with children, especially ones not his own, touches Jesus and proclaims, 29 “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word,
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-32 NRSVUE)
What about the harder points of the Magi story? We only ever seem to talk about the gifts they bring and how they are from afar worshiping Jesus, and that tells us Jesus is for all people. But what about the fact they are looking for a king, so they go ask Herod, which in turns makes Herod call them in secrecy to ask questions about the star they have been following? The Magi don’t go back to report to Herod, so he can’t just kill this king. Instead, he has all male children 2 years old and younger killed (Matthew 2:1-18). We don’t like to think about the fact that even with great joy (Christ’s birth), great evil and sorrow took place, hand in hand. We have great Hope even amongst the pain, darkness, and sorrow.
These stories at Christmas, even with the parts that are often overlooked, help us to see the Light, the hope, that is needed so desperately in all of the world and especially in our dark, painful, and sorrow-filled places. Redding does a beautiful job of pointing out how we don’t like to look at the reality of the world when it comes to children, but these stories can help us look at realities that humans unfortunately become sick, die, have addictions, drift in life, become consumed by greed, are cruel, and face abuse or abuse others. “We need to know Emmanuel-that God is with us,” (98) and I agree. We should be proclaiming the full story.
God is with us. God came in the midst of darkness, and that is where healing begins. Christ is the Light!
Galatians 2:20 says, “it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.”(NRSVU) We as believers need to let that light shine and be the light in the dark places so healing can gain a foothold there.
Genesis 33:10 says, “for truly to see your face is like seeing the face of God, since you have received me with such favor.” (CEB) It is a privilege to be the Light and face of God for someone. They meet and hear about him through us.
The end of the chapter (and book) ends with such a great message.
“God doesn’t want to be our partner, to relate to us as a favored relative, to live near us or even with us. God wants to live in us and through us…We are meant to be God’s embodied love.” (102) So embrace one person at a time and love them. Help them believe they matter and that they are loved by God.
