From the Pastor |
I was in my car the other day listening to some Christmas music… When I heard the song that reminds us that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. Although if you believe the Staples commercial that aired quite a few years ago… Back to school time is the most wonderful time of the year. You might remember that one… A man is pushing a shopping cart through Staples and he’s dancing as music is playing… “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”… As his two children are standing there looking like: Now while I do agree back to school can be a very joyous time (at least) for parents… I have to disagree with Staples because there is just something special about the Christmas season. There are beautiful decorations and lights everywhere… The food (and baked goods) are wonderful… The music is joyful… and there certainly has such delight as we watch others… especially the children… open their gifts. Even amidst the stress and chaos our preparations and celebrations can bring… The cooking and baking… shopping and wrapping… decorating and parties… And let’s be honest most of us probably spend a little more than we should… but even so… There is something downright magical about the Christmas season. Think about it. The average person tends to smile a little more… We think of others a little more… There’s a sense of caring and compassion that seems to spring up this time of year. Charitable donations are at an all-time high from Thanksgiving through Christmas. And I can’t tell you how many posts I’ve seen on Facebook of people looking for information of how they can have their families serve others in places like soup kitchens during the holiday season. Now… while there are some Scrooges out there… The majority of people just seem a little nicer, kinder, more generous, more loving. It truly is a magical time of year. I just have one question… What happens after the New Year? I mean, once the holidays are over… the world just goes back to normal… to business as usual and it seems like those feelings of hope, peace, joy, and love get put away with the decorations until next year. And I have to tell you, Christians are just as guilty as everyone else… And that’s the saddest part of all. This is OUR time… Contrary to what the secular world might think… Christmas IS a Christian celebration. I mean, we’ve gathered here tonight to remember the birth of our Lord and Savior… to pledge our faith… we sing for joy, and praise God‘s holy name. The truly saddening part is that too often we leave here and return to our normal lives like nothing has changed. It’s like we save all the peace and goodwill for Christmas. Here we are, on this most Holy night, and hearing and cherishing the Christmas story once again. But how does it translate from the pages of the Bible to our everyday lives? The fact of the matter is: As an infant born in Bethlehem, God came into the world. This child was Emmanuelle, God with us. He was not born in a palace but in a place with animals were kept. His birth was not reported throughout the land… there was no major press release… but It WAS heralded by angels on a hillside to a group of Shepherds… Men who were quite low on the social register. This was the way that God, the Lord of all creation, decided to come to us and reveal just how great his love for us is: “For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 God came into the world and by the gift of God’s grace and love… All who believe are forgiven of all the sins that have plagued human beings since the days of Adam and Eve. Through Emmanuel, the Messiah, Christ Jesus… we are adopted as God’s own children. For the child born in Bethlehem grew up to wear a cross… he grew up to pledge his very life… For you… For me. It is through this sacrifice that the power of God’s grace is given to us. Paul’s Letter to Titus reminds us… Jesus (whose birth we celebrate tonight) came into the world to offer our salvation through Grace… and to teach us how to live a good and godly life while “we wait for the blessed hope” for Christ’s return. To live a godly life is… Simply put… To imitate Jesus. To live as he lived. To love as he loved. Jesus lived a life of service, compassion, and love. He preached God‘s word, but he also very clearly put God’s word into action. He healed the sick, and fed the hungry. He offered hope to the poor and downtrodden. He was a friend to the outcast, the sinners, and the unlovable. And he did these things ALL YEAR LONG! Not just during the festivals and holidays. When Jesus was born “the grace of God… appeared, bringing salvation to all” This… This is the gift of Christmas… The Hope, love, peace and joy that comes from the grace and glory of God. It is more precious than the gifts beneath the tree. For while those gifts will fade away, this wondrous gift from God will always remain. It is always with us. For the greatest gift of all is a life that has been redeemed. But redemption brings change… We are saved by our faith alone… That is true… but faith is more than simply believing. When we have faith… We embody Christ, Emmanuel… God with us. You see… Christ didn’t only come into the world that first Christmas in Bethlehem. Jesus didn’t just live some 2,000 years ago. To this day Jesus is Emmanuelle… God with us. This was God’s plan… At a stable found in a nowhere place called Bethlehem, the love of God was sent down for the whole world to see. And now, through the power of the Holy Spirit… Christ within us… God’s love is still visible to the world THROUGH us. How many people are crying? How many are suffering and dying? How many people are simply asking for a little bit of love? In the midst of the darkness we turn to the light that is Christ our Lord. We embrace God's love in our actions and our love of others. We overcome our fears with our love. Because LOVE transforms the world. As Followers of Christ Jesus, we are called to share the grace and love we have experienced every day of the year… This Christmas… Don’t leave Jesus in the manger; Let the wonder of that first Christmas fill your life today—and every day. Let this Christmas bring Christ within each of us… so that the love of God that was sent for the whole world to see will be evident within each of us… Open your hearts and minds on this Holy Night so that the love and grace of Christ will fill you and become more and more evident for the world to see. Not just during this Christmas season, but every day of the year. Don’t save it all for Christmas. Because holidays have come and gone… but God’s love, revealed through the child of Bethlehem, lives on if we continue to share it.
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Yeon Shin
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