Christmas (as a season)

We sometimes approach Christmas with a certain sense of relief.

The presents are purchased, wrapped, and placed under the tree.

If not yet opened the anticipation of what those gifts purchased for us will soon recede as we unwrap various boxes or unseal various cards.

All of the hustle and bustle of the month leading up to this day is now in the past.

The stress of getting everything done should subside soon if hasn’t already.

And it is the same for the church, too.

We spent so much of Advent working Christmas fairs and organizing clothing drives, accomplishing tasks, celebrating or attending multiple services just yesterday, that on the day we remember Jesus’ birth, it seems as if, well, it seems like today is almost a day of rest.

Certainly there is still much to be done, yet, there is much less to be done since we’ve spent so much time doing all the things since Thanksgiving.

It is a good feeling to have, I admit.

It has been a busy month and especially a rather busy week these past days, yet I must warn you: It’s not over.

None of this is over.

In reality, it has only just begun.

Now, I’m not talking about Christmas lunch, I am not talking about the gifts about to be unwrapped if they are not already opened.

I am talking about the rest of the story.

The baby has been born.

We sang about that yesterday evening, yet our story continues.

It continues today when the shepherds first visit Jesus to see what has taken place to witness that which the Lord has made known to them.

And we find them after their journey, after they visited that child in a manger, evangelizing.

They were evangelizing to the very family God has entrusted with the care of the infant savior.

Imagine the shepherds saying, “The angels told us of the good news, that the child born on this day is the Lord, the very Messiah himself!”

All of the hullabaloo and the excitement, the noises uttered of oohs and ahs.

Mary took in all of the jubilation, all of the glee and silently let those blessings land upon her and her child as she pondered those words on her heart.

And then the shepherds took their leave.

In-laws and cousins hit the road.

Mary and Joseph left too as they returned home settling into a new routine where once it was just two of them now became three.

And life became normal and changed and good.

Things left out were placed back where they should be.

A new cradle perhaps was placed in a spot where Jesus would sleep, first over by the window so the warming rays of the sun would caress his infant skin.

But then, maybe it would be better off against the wall facing the window so he wouldn’t get chilled by the night desert air.

Finally, they found a place for the baby to lay, not perfect but not too hot and not too chilly as well.

The drama of the travel down to Bethlehem, the appearance of the angels, the beauty of everything new transitioned into the glory of routine.

At this point in the story, we might say one part had ended.

The rest had just begun.

Still, after leaving this place this morning we might have even more stuff to do before we can realize that rest, that sense of relief.

Perhaps Christmas dinner will be shared later and while the menu has already been prepared and what prep work can be performed has been performed, we might still be looking forward to a day of houseguests and chatter and meals that will leave us stuffed and tired.

Only later, only when our guests have returned to their own homes, when others have gone off to bed, will we be able to put a wrap on all the unwrapping and say, this day is done.

And I promise you, while the day is done, our life together in community and fellowship and sharing Christ’s message, has only just begun.

For the next twelve days of the Christmas season, we will celebrate Christ’s arrival.

For the next twelve days we are asked to reflect on what that arrival means to each of us.

How does Jesus enter into your hearts?

What of his birth inspires you to greet your neighbor with Christ’s light?

This is what newness brings, or, at least, it should.

How do we celebrate this new beginning?

Let’s look to the shepherds to perhaps find an answer to those questions.

When they witnessed the specter of an angel they were terrified, absolutely stunned by fear and then the angel spoke, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people…”

And the angel told them of the Messiah’s birth and where the child would be found.

Then the angel sang with a multitude, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

Witnessing this, the shepherds’ fear turned to courage as they left their fields to seek out this newborn; to seek out who the Lord had made known to them.

They sought, they found, they left.

But that was just the beginning of the story.

After leaving, the shepherds returned.

They returned to their fields changed and because they witnessed God active in the world, they returned glorifying and praising God, they returned witnessing to all that they saw telling one and all the wonder that occurred that night.

They were the first evangelists and now is the beginning and now is when we must become the latest evangelists.

How will this birth impact you?

To whom will you witness and praise God for all that has occurred?

Whose burden will you lift?

Whom with hunger will you feed?

When the quiet comes, when the hubbub of this day has calmed, when all of everything is done and the sun has long past the western horizon, know that we are only at the beginning.

A new child born, a new day dawns.

Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Amen.