This year, I started hearing Christmas music on my car’s radio on November 1st. OK, I know everybody loves “The Holidays”, and I love the music of Christmas just as much as the next guy - depending, of course, on who the “next guy” is. But that was too early, even for me. The Christmas Season does not officially begin until Black Friday, right? At least that’s what I think. Since we have finally reached that magic moment, let the music of Christmas be heard everywhere! [Uhm, can a day known as “Black Friday” really be a “magic moment”? I guess it must be another Christmas miracle!]
As I type in my office, our church building is filled with people taking their time, their energy, and even their own money to decorate for Christmas. I am always amazed at the creativity and the artistry these wonderful servants demonstrate in making our worship and fellowship space so festive with trees and wreaths and garland and ornaments.
I am typing this on the first day of Hanukkah – the Jewish celebration that is also known as The Festival of Lights. Interestingly, the first day of Hanukkah this year happens to fall on the day after the first day of Advent – a Christian celebration that, like Hanukkah, extends over many days, and also has a connection to light. But, this year, the connection between these two Holidays is even closer than usual when you realize that the first day of Hanukkah actually officially began at sundown on Sunday, November 28. This means that the first flame of The Jewish Menorah was lit on the evening of the very day that the first candle of Advent, the candle of Hope, was lit. So – Happy “Adven-ukkah”, right?
Hanukkah? Advent? What’s all this about? And why does the preacher at a Church of Christ even speak of these things, let alone encourage his flock to think about and [shockingly!] participate in any such things?
Actually, I’m going to let another Christian pastor help me here. R.J. Grunewald, who, at the time, was the pastor of the Faith Lutheran Church in Michigan, wrote a blog several years ago about this. Listen to his words:
I think there is a beautiful marriage that takes place when we understand
Advent and Hanukkah. Hanukkah is a festival of lights and the celebration
of the miracle of light. Advent is about the celebration of light entering into
the darkest places of the world. Advent is about the coming miracle that is
celebrated in the incarnation of Jesus and the coming miracle that the darkness
never overcomes the light.
And it’s even in the midst of a Hanukkah celebration that Jesus makes clear who
He is. [See John 10:22-28]. Jesus shines the light onto Himself in order to let them
know that the Messiah has arrived.
The miracle of Hanukkah is about a light. The miracle of Christmas is about the
light. And in the midst of a world that is haunted by riots, racism, and broken homes,
only the light of the world can overcome the dark.
Hanukkah is the celebration of light emerging from a dark time in which God’s
people weren’t allowed to worship. Christmas is the celebration of the light of the
world entering into the darkness of our own sin in order to make us children of the light.
[Side note - Isn’t it interesting that Pastor Grunewald focused on issues – “riots, racism and broken homes” - that even now, seven years after he wrote these words, are still at or near the top of the list of problems we are facing as a Nation? Are we ever going to learn? Are we ever going to grow up?]
Did you notice a word that kept coming up in Pastor Grunewald’s discussion of Hanukkah and Advent and Christmas? If you said “celebration”, you are right! He sees all of these holidays/events as reasons for celebration. Do we find ourselves often skipping past celebration, and jumping right to criticism and judgment? It’s nothing new. In fact, that’s exactly what happened to Jesus when He, during His celebration of Hanukkah, was confronted by religious people who demanded that He say whether or not He was The Messiah. They didn’t like His answer, so they tried to kill Him.
I know that we would never take things that far. Oh no. We are far too civilized for that. But, what’s the difference really if our criticism and judgment destroy the fellowship that Jesus desires for His people to have as we live together in His light?
So maybe, if only for this most wonderful time of the year, we could resist criticism and judgment, and instead, join hands and hearts in celebration, I wonder what we might find? Perhaps we would find a friend. And wouldn’t that be a Christmas miracle?
Ambrose Ramsey | Pastor and Shepherd
