Getting Ready For Christmas
Stories
Lectionary Tales for the Pulpit
Series V, Cycle C
Object:
During the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.' " (vv. 2-4)
A little boy was preparing for Christmas by writing a wish list to send to God. His wish lists to Santa had not been fulfilled, so he planned to go over Santa's head to a higher authority. He started out by writing, "Dear God, I've been a really good boy this year."
Then he remembered that God was all knowing. So, he crumpled up the letter and started over. He wrote, "Dear God, I know I haven't done everything I should have, but I really tried to be good." He stopped there and crumpled up that letter, too. He knew he had not tried all that hard.
As he sat there thinking about what to write, his eyes gazed upon a nativity set. The boy quickly ran out of the room and came back with a towel and a shoebox. He carefully picked up the figurine of Mary, gently wrapped her in the towel, carefully put her in the shoebox, and then hid it in the closet. He immediately went back to the table and wrote: "Dear God, if you ever want to see your mother again...."
You know, sometimes we do all the wrong things to prepare for Christmas. As adults, we would recommend that the boy should behave well to get what he wants instead of holding Mary hostage. And it would be good advice.
Consider this: God also has advice for us to prepare for Christmas. Now, most of us are probably deep in preparation: shopping for loved ones, putting our own gift list together, decorating our homes, and a myriad of other things as December 24 approaches. As important as all these things may be, we often overlook the most important preparation of all.
In today's Gospel Lesson from Luke, we find that preparation. John the Baptist preaches a sermon to prepare the people for the coming Christ. When Christ comes, the world will be forever changed. For the people to be ready, they too must change. John proclaims the change and preparation with an invitation to a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
The key for preparing for Christ's Advent in John's day was repentance, and repentance is the key for preparing for Christ's coming in this and every Advent season. Our preparation for Christ entering our lives cannot just be shopping for Christmas gifts, decorating our homes, and sending cards. To really be prepared for the Christ Child, we must engage in the spiritual discipline of repentance. Is your heart ready to receive the Christ Child anew?
A little boy was preparing for Christmas by writing a wish list to send to God. His wish lists to Santa had not been fulfilled, so he planned to go over Santa's head to a higher authority. He started out by writing, "Dear God, I've been a really good boy this year."
Then he remembered that God was all knowing. So, he crumpled up the letter and started over. He wrote, "Dear God, I know I haven't done everything I should have, but I really tried to be good." He stopped there and crumpled up that letter, too. He knew he had not tried all that hard.
As he sat there thinking about what to write, his eyes gazed upon a nativity set. The boy quickly ran out of the room and came back with a towel and a shoebox. He carefully picked up the figurine of Mary, gently wrapped her in the towel, carefully put her in the shoebox, and then hid it in the closet. He immediately went back to the table and wrote: "Dear God, if you ever want to see your mother again...."
You know, sometimes we do all the wrong things to prepare for Christmas. As adults, we would recommend that the boy should behave well to get what he wants instead of holding Mary hostage. And it would be good advice.
Consider this: God also has advice for us to prepare for Christmas. Now, most of us are probably deep in preparation: shopping for loved ones, putting our own gift list together, decorating our homes, and a myriad of other things as December 24 approaches. As important as all these things may be, we often overlook the most important preparation of all.
In today's Gospel Lesson from Luke, we find that preparation. John the Baptist preaches a sermon to prepare the people for the coming Christ. When Christ comes, the world will be forever changed. For the people to be ready, they too must change. John proclaims the change and preparation with an invitation to a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
The key for preparing for Christ's Advent in John's day was repentance, and repentance is the key for preparing for Christ's coming in this and every Advent season. Our preparation for Christ entering our lives cannot just be shopping for Christmas gifts, decorating our homes, and sending cards. To really be prepared for the Christ Child, we must engage in the spiritual discipline of repentance. Is your heart ready to receive the Christ Child anew?
