12/7/58

Scripture: (Read Isaiah 55; for 2nd Sunday in Advent; Lectionary)

Christmas means different impressions upon different people. It has long meant to me, among other things, a time for family gathering. And I am one of those who looks forward, eagerly, to that part of this coming Christmas.

But I am sure that it means more than a family gathering! So let us look around a bit for more of the meaning of Christmas.

There are places and peoples where there is winter (in the northern hemisphere) and summer (in the southern hemisphere) at this time of year, but no Christmas. For those of us who love the Christmas season it is fortunate that this appears not to be true here, nor in most of our state and nation.

And yet the meaning of Christmas may have so far escaped a lot of folk who live here that they can have winter without Christmas!

[here we are missing pp. 2-8]

The mission of the church, and the concern of the individual Christian, is to see to it that the guest of honor is invited to this festival. It is Christian to see that Jesus is in the midst of Christmas, so that the Christ gives meaning to the season in our church, our homes, our heart. Without this, we simply go through a nerve-racking routine for nothing. We have winter, all right, and lots of activity, but no true Christmas.

What does it mean to put Christ back into Christmas? Well, for some, it means displaying a crèche at home. That may be a good reminder that Christ belongs there. But the home will do well to be sure that He is welcome there, and that his presence is recognized by Christian gratitude, Christian understanding, Christian dedication, Christian action and sharing.

For some, putting “Christ back into Christmas” means

[also missing p. 10]

I sometimes think that there is more of the genuine spirit of Christmas displayed in Dickens’ “Christmas Carol” than in most of our pictures, pageantry, presents and songs. For there is depicted the changing of a life in old Scrooge, so that he became a different man, and straightway wrought a joyful change in the lives of others by the touch of his own changed life.

What does Christmas mean to a Jewish family? Are they trapped in four weeks or so of almost compulsory observance of a festival that is not theirs? Or do they sense enough of Christian kindness and concern in their neighbors to give them cause to rejoice?

Christmas as “the American way” is not to be confused with Christmas as the welcoming of the transforming Christ into the lives of his people. Christmas can come, and does come, into the hearts through the lives of faithful people, in many lands of the earth. But wherever it appears, in whatever language people sing its carols, under whatever national flag they live, through whatever church they express their allegiance, it is Christmas only if Christ arrives!

A great deal of our Christmas is not really Christ. We bow in his general direction and continue to do as we please. To make it truly Christmas, he must be our “invited guest of honor.” He must come into our lives.

Though Christ a thousand times in Bethlehem be born

And not within thyself, thy soul will be forlorn.

Let it not be a winter without Christmas, nor a “Christmas” without Christ! Let him be truly born in each of our hearts this season, welcomed to take hold of our lives, and reign supreme.

---------------------

delivered in Wisconsin Rapids, December 7, 1958