Christmas Penitence, Christmas Cheer
I am preparing to send out Christmas cards to family and friends this weekend. It's always challenging to find a card that's "just right," and the fact that I'm picky doesn't help. All of it must come together--the right artwork, the right Scripture, the right message.
Although my Christmas cards will contain messages of peace, love and good will, the mischievous part of my nature pictures the reaction I would get if I sent out a custom greeting that included an excerpt from the heartwarming Gospel reading of this past Sunday, and perhaps signed my name under the message, "Have a Merry (and Penitent) Holiday Season!" As much as my family and friends may love me, I doubt that would go over very well, especially if they think that I'm hinting at comparisons to hypocrites and snakes.
But observing Advent, which I am doing for the first time in my 20+ years of celebrating Christmas, makes the idea of repentance inescapable. The colors and patterns of the liturgy call to our remembrance the leaner season of Lent that leads up to Holy Week. As during Lent, the Gloria is painfully absent these days, and our churches and ministers wear purple, the liturgical color of penitence. The Scripture readings exhort and encourage, but also rebuke and warn. The days grow shorter, darker and colder. Churches throughout the area are hosting special Advent services that center around the sacrament of reconciliation. Week by week, we light one more candle on the Advent wreath, and the darkness and coldness retreat just a bit further.
Christmas without Advent is almost like eating dessert before dinner. The joy of Christmas is deeper and sweeter after we have spent four weeks in preparation, clearing the dusty corners of our hearts and emptying our lives of all the clutter that hinders us from throwing open the doors to welcome Him.
If we do not pay heed to the prophets' call to "Repent!" then it is harder to join in the angels' song of "Rejoice!" We approach Christmas, hoping to warm ourselves by a cozy holiday campfire, but instead, the Lamb of God brings with Him an unquenchable fire that not only ignites our hearts, but consumes some of the sins that we prefer to label as "character flaws" or weaknesses. We purpose to clear out a spare room for Emmanuel's visit, but He comes instead to set up permanent residence in the entire house.
The mention of fire and repentance may awaken in us a sense of dread, but the message of the Incarnation answers, "Do not be afraid!" Emmanuel. God is with us. God has entered our human condition, and has embraced us. And when we welcome Him and His Kingdom with open arms, "He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found."
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!"
So...
Have a Merry (and Penitent) Christmas!
Love,
~Rachel
Although my Christmas cards will contain messages of peace, love and good will, the mischievous part of my nature pictures the reaction I would get if I sent out a custom greeting that included an excerpt from the heartwarming Gospel reading of this past Sunday, and perhaps signed my name under the message, "Have a Merry (and Penitent) Holiday Season!" As much as my family and friends may love me, I doubt that would go over very well, especially if they think that I'm hinting at comparisons to hypocrites and snakes.
But observing Advent, which I am doing for the first time in my 20+ years of celebrating Christmas, makes the idea of repentance inescapable. The colors and patterns of the liturgy call to our remembrance the leaner season of Lent that leads up to Holy Week. As during Lent, the Gloria is painfully absent these days, and our churches and ministers wear purple, the liturgical color of penitence. The Scripture readings exhort and encourage, but also rebuke and warn. The days grow shorter, darker and colder. Churches throughout the area are hosting special Advent services that center around the sacrament of reconciliation. Week by week, we light one more candle on the Advent wreath, and the darkness and coldness retreat just a bit further.
Christmas without Advent is almost like eating dessert before dinner. The joy of Christmas is deeper and sweeter after we have spent four weeks in preparation, clearing the dusty corners of our hearts and emptying our lives of all the clutter that hinders us from throwing open the doors to welcome Him.
If we do not pay heed to the prophets' call to "Repent!" then it is harder to join in the angels' song of "Rejoice!" We approach Christmas, hoping to warm ourselves by a cozy holiday campfire, but instead, the Lamb of God brings with Him an unquenchable fire that not only ignites our hearts, but consumes some of the sins that we prefer to label as "character flaws" or weaknesses. We purpose to clear out a spare room for Emmanuel's visit, but He comes instead to set up permanent residence in the entire house.
The mention of fire and repentance may awaken in us a sense of dread, but the message of the Incarnation answers, "Do not be afraid!" Emmanuel. God is with us. God has entered our human condition, and has embraced us. And when we welcome Him and His Kingdom with open arms, "He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found."
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!"
So...
Have a Merry (and Penitent) Christmas!
Love,
~Rachel