It’s the day after Thanksgiving,
and the shopping frenzy has begun. Actually, some stores
opened late in the evening on Thanksgiving Day, and many
others opened at midnight or 1:00 a.m. this morning. Those
who create economic indices will be watching carefully
to see what kind of money was spent today. By Monday,
the business sections will be full of comparisons and
prognostications. Was this year better or worse than last
year? Will retailers end in the black? How much will the
sub-prime mortgage crash affect consumer willingness to
spend during this holiday season?
Many churches, on the other hand, will
be imploring people, “Don’t forget what Christmas
is all about! Remember, ‘Jesus is the reason for
the season.’” We’ll be saying, “Slow
down—this is a time of preparation for the birth
of the Savior.” We’ll also be saying, “And
if you really feel the need to spend a lot of money, for
goodness sake, don’t forget to give some to the
church! Or at the very least, remember the homeless and
hungry in the process of filling our already over-filled
houses with even more things we really don’t need.”
This tension between church and society
over this holiday is not new. When Oliver Cromwell and
the Puritan Party came to power in England in the middle
of the 17th century, all Christmas celebrations were outlawed.
I also understand that anyone exhibiting the Christmas
spirit in Boston in the mid-to-late 1600’s was fined!
All this came from their Puritan heritage. The motive
was good. They wanted the people to remember the entrance
of the Savior to the world with reverence and awe. But
the means were awful—legislation that tells people
they can’t celebrate will never, ever work.
Personally, I think we need to honor both
traditions. It’s the church’s job to encourage
us to recognize that the world does indeed need a Savior
and to use this time to prepare for it. That is why we
call this season “Advent.” It simply means
“Coming.” The Sent One is soon to arrive.
It’s a time to decorate with greens for the evergreen
is a sign of life and hope. The wreath that many hang
on their doors is the circle that represents the eternality
of God. Just as the circle has no beginning or end, in
God there is no beginning and no end. The Advent Candles,
three violet ones and one rose-colored, will be progressively
lit, adding one each Sunday. These remind us that the
Light of the World is indeed coming and we need to get
ready for that.
But it is also a time set aside to let
loose with parties and joy and giving and relaxation and
vacations. It’s a time to consider others and fill
food pantries and go into a baking frenzy and enjoy multiple
sports activities and take a break from work and school.
It’s a time to spend money, plan surprises, and
express our hope for the future
So, let the party begin. Shop well, have
fun with the preparations, and come to church each week
in Advent. Take a couple of hours each Sunday to open
your hearts anew to the Savior. Plan on attending a Christmas
Eve worship service. Prepare your homes AND prepare your
hearts. You can do both and I hope you will.
