Advent Joy

Children get confused at Christmas. TV and radio and every other form of media relentlessly seek to convince them and the rest of us that Christmas is about buying, giving, and getting; about Santa, elves and reindeer with bright, shiny noses; about snow, holly and mistletoe – ho, ho, ho.

Then for a short spell on Sundays, and if parents are conscientious they’ll also hear this at home, however briefly, that the real meaning of Christmas is Jesus, born in a manger a long time ago.

Children are confused by this, as are many adults. Is Christmas about Jesus or about the presents, decorations, and parties? Well, yes.

What I mean is this – when we have occasions for joy, such as the delight of seeing the surprised look on someone’s face as they open up a gift you gave them, then there is something of Jesus in that. So, the parties, festive music, and colored lights all are geared to signal a time of joy and gladness (Behold I bring you tidings of great joy . . .).

But there can also be a superficiality, a thinness, to our festivities. The exchange of presents at an office party can feel like a requirement and insincere. The endless songs of “rockin’ around the Christmas tree,” have a shallowness that makes a mockery of the joy that will be for all people. And often the forced gaiety of the season is difficult to swallow for those who are hurting, whether through grief, or loss of job, or illness. We can become cynical about it all – bah humbug.

The thing about joy, at least the joy that is associated with one’s relationship with God in Jesus Christ, is that it is not something you can buy at the store. Joy is a gift, indeed. We cannot manufacture it. We can only prepare to receive it. And joy comes, not because of the music, or because we have drunk plenty of Christmas punch, but because God wants to bless us, and does so repeatedly, even in the midst of grief, loss and pain. And it often comes as a surprise, too, not because of our buying, planning, baking, decorating, etc.

An angel comes to an unmarried, teenaged girl – “Surprise, you’re going to have a baby.”
A man has a dream telling him to marry that girl, tho’ she is pregnant and the baby is not his – “Surprise!”
The girl goes to visit her cousin who is a member of AARP – “Surprise, I’m pregnant, too!”
Angels appear to shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night – “Surprise, there is a Savior born in a stable in Bethlehem.” (Why wasn’t this announced on CNN? – Or the equivalent in that day? – “Surprise.”)
Strange travelers bearing royal gifts come to see this baby after traveling a great distance from “the East” – “Surprise!”
And this is only the beginning of the surprises – the gifts – the joy – a joy that remains long after the presents have been forgotten, broken or outgrown; long after the decorations have been put back in the attic, and the bills for the festivities have been paid. This joy does not depend on Santa, or elves, or reindeer. Thank God.

Trim the hearth and set the table – and prepare to be surprised by joy this Christmas.