CHRISTMAS I

December 27, 2020

“But Wait . . . There’s More!  (Christmas, That Is)”      

Whether or not we’re watching television with rapt attention or have it on as background, the commercials are a guaranteed presence.  The wonderful gadgets and new and improved products that will make our lives much better are often available for $19.99, which may or may not sound overpriced for the item.  Then comes the enthusiastic phrase, “But wait . . .” and we learn that if you buy one, you’ll get one free, or if you purchase two, the shipping and handling are included at no extra cost.  My inner skeptic can’t help but wonder just how good this deal really is.     

So, how, you might wonder, can there be more Christmas, as December draws to a close?  Is it really a great opportunity or just a sales pitch?  Like everything else that has taken place over much of the past year, Christmaspresented us with new problems and concerns. We had to celebrate in ways we hadn’t done in the past, and we really didn’t want to do it this time around.  Yearning to celebrate Christmas the same way that we always have, it’s easy to forget that each year is bound to be a little different from those of the past.      

A number of old Christian traditions celebrate the twelve days from December 25 to January 6 with special meals and observing the feast days of various saints.  These observances take us from the birth of the Christ child to the arrival of the wise men in Bethlehem.  Although our manger scenes and other depictions of the birth of Christ include shepherds, wise men and various animals, the reality of these events took place over a period of time, rather than being compressed into one very busy night.      We do know that all those centuries ago, neither information nor people traveled quickly, and we don’t know how long it took for the shepherds to arrive in Bethlehem after hearing the angels’ good news.  They walked wherever they needed to go, and it might have been some distance from where their sheep were pastured.  The wise men, said to be from “the east”, were probably Zoroastrian priests from Parthia or Persia, and they likely traveled in a camel caravan, a slow and tedious journey.  It’s pretty safe to assume that it took a significant amount of time.     

For those of us who prefer to hear accounts of important events that start at the beginning and progress in an orderly fashion, the Gospels can be a little frustrating.  Matthew and Mark get to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry as an adult quickly, Luke provides an organized timeline, and John is poetic and inspirational.  Matthew is the only Gospel providing an account of the visit of the magi, and gives us an interesting picture of the government and politics of the time.     

We could benefit by choosing a more measured pace, using these days to experience Christmas more intentionally, and focus on the message that God came to earth in vulnerable, human form.  We read in Luke 2:19: “But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.”  The thoughtful, spiritual maturity of a young woman who was the mother of our Lord is a model for us all during this season of Christmas. 

In thoughtful celebration,

Your friend in Christ,

Mary Rogers