A cartoon from several years ago showed a woman saying to her husband: "Good grief, Henry. Here's Christmas at our throats again! "

 

Amid the preparations for Christmas, there are always those with voices much like hers - people who want to proclaim a Bah, humbug on the whole business. And, if the truth be known, some of us may feel less than excited about Christmas ourselves. The expense, the crowds, the overindulgences, the hurried schedules and all the other trappings of the modern celebration are enough to make all of us have a somewhat jaundiced view of the season.

 

In the face of such a wide-spread state of affairs, it is helpful to remember that God did not send Jesus to be at our throats but in our hearts instead. The difference between those two concepts defines the gap between gloom and glory. It also helps us see exactly why we call the gospel good news. As the Gospel of John so clearly states: "For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him." (John 3:17)

 

Jesus is God's gift to the world and to our lives. The way we celebrate becomes our thank you for that gift. It is my prayer that each of you will have a blessed Christmas season. May the peace of Christ fill your lives and may songs of thanksgiving and praise fill your homes. Merry Christmas!

See You in Church,
Pastor Kathleen