Christmas Swords

Sylvia loves the Hallmark channel on TV. Last night I glanced at the movie playing while going about some other tasks. The story was about a blended family that was having trouble adjusting. Their problems went on for the required two hours before they were wondrously resolved and the family, plus grandparents, sat down for Christmas dinner, filled with thanksgiving and smiles. They thanked the Lord for their First Christmas together.

How nice, I thought.

This same week a friend asked me why Jesus would ever advise someone to sell his cloak and buy a sword. The reference is from Luke 22. Jesus and his disciples were gathered as if they were a family for the Last Supper before he was crucified. It was the Passover.

During the meal the men started quarreling about which among them was considered to be the greatest. Jesus pointedly reminded them they were thinking and acting like the politicians of this world. He was conferring on them a kingdom in which things were quite different. In Jesus' kingdom the greatest are those who serve, even as he, their king, came among them to serve.

Then he turned to Peter who was considered the leader of the group and told him he had prayed for him. Peter, quite unaware of his own vulnerability, promised to follow Jesus even into death. This was a promise he was totally unprepared to keep, as events would soon show.

At this point Jesus changed the topic. He asked them to recall how they never lacked anything while following him. When he sent them on a mission they always had food and shelter. They all agreed. But now it was all to change. No longer would things go so smoothly. With what was to happen to Jesus they would soon be in grave danger. Now they had better take a purse of money and carry a bag with clothing. Moreover they had better be prepared to defend themselves, even if it meant doing so with a sword. And, if they couldn't afford a sword, well, they had better sell their cloaks and buy one.

The reason I quote these two incidents, one from TV-land and the other from the Bible, is to point out that we followers of Christ are advised to ask ourselves what's going on when the world likes us and welcomes with open arms our celebration of the Savior's birth. By the world I refer to all who reject Jesus' claims to being Lord and Savior, God and man in one person. This crowd hates him, because he challenges everything about their way of life, their greed, pride, selfishness and idolatry. He calls them to turn away from all this, admit to it and humbly accept what he and he alone can give them, God's forgiveness and eternal life. Because they cannot and will not, they hate him and all of his followers. World-wide persecution of Christians continues unabated in our day.

Eight days after his birth Jesus' parents brought him to the temple to be circumcised, as the laws of the Covenant required. 33 days later they returned to complete the purification rituals for mothers who had given birth. While there an old man by the name of Simeon came up to them and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, pronounced a blessing upon them and the Child.

Then he said something most peculiar to Mary:

"Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too" (Luke 2).

What was this sword? It was the sword wielded by the Romans. Under the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate, the government pronounced Jesus guilty of sedition and sentenced him to death upon a cross. This was the sword that pierced Mary's heart, for she was unable to stop the vicious murder of the Son she had born.

The warning in all of this is clear. Let us not get too caught up in the syruppy mess the world around us calls Christmas. This Child whose birth we Christians celebrate is the same One who, a little over thirty years later, was despised, rejected and murdered by the very world he came to rescue from judgment and eternal death.

Questions On The Journey

We arrived at our beautiful vacation home in Pagosa Springs, Colorado yesterday. A second grandson arrived during the night. Two grandsons have already hit the slopes. Wolf Creek has a ten foot packed powder base. Other members of our family will soon begin their journeys to arrive here for the Christmas holidays. This is the tenth year we've been celebrating these family times in this house.

During the drive up I had a conversation with grandson Patrick who was along for the ride. Among other things, we talked about education, goals and making money. He has a year to go in college and is naturally concerned about such things. For that matter, aren't we all?

While I was pondering what sage advice this grandfather might give to his maturing grandson, I recalled something about life being a journey, not a destination.



Who first said that? I had no idea so I checked out Think/Exist and found some interesting quotes.

18th century Irish essayist, poet and dramatist Oliver Goldsmith wrote, “Life is a journey that must be traveled no matter how bad the roads and accommodations.”

20th century novelist Don Williams Jr. writes, “The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.”

Greg Anderson (American best-selling Author and founder of the American Wellness Project., b.1964), writes, “Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.”

German born American social Philosopher and Psychoanalyst, 1900-1980, Eric Fromm wrote, “Let your mind start a journey thru a strange new world. Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before. Let your soul take you where you long to be...Close your eyes let your spirit start to soar, and you'll live as you've never lived before.”

One of my favorite authors, Ursula K LeGuin wrote, “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end."

I liked the Japanese proverb: "When you have completed 95 percent of your journey, you are only halfway there.”

Matsuo Bashō (1644 – 1694) the most famous poet of the Edo period in Japan, said, “Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home.”

I also discovered a study Bible titled "The Journey: The Study Bible for Spiritual Seekers." I haven't read it, so I cannot vouch for it, but the concept is interesting, because the Bible does have the answer to the most significant questions about life. And we don't know how to ask many of them until we get some distance down that journey.

Here's some questions that I'm dealing with in this my 70th decade of my journey:

+ How long will I continue on this journey?

+ Does it matter to anyone but me?

+ How will my journey end?

+ What's happening to all the people I've met and served on my journey?

+ How many of them will continue the endless journey with me in that country called Heaven?

+ What contributions may I yet make before this part of my journey ends?

Oh yes, I'm certain of arriving one day in Heaven. My Lord has guaranteed that. That's one of the great reasons why I delight to celebrate Christmas.

What about you? What questions are you dealing with as you continue on your journey?

The Christmas Mood I'm Not In

Last evening we went to yet another Christmas party. I say 'another', because the annual string of parties and gatherings has begun in this the busiest month of the year. Yet somehow I was not in the Christmas mood. I didn't pull out my brightest red and green shirt, my Santa Claus suspenders and my black socks with 'Oh Ho Ho' written all over them. Instead I put on a dull brown checked shirt with dark brown pants and went off to the party wondering what the Christmas mood is and why I'm not really in it.

I suppose I should be dreaming of a white Christmas with every Christmas card I write and hope that soon I will be walking in a winter wonderland with sleigh bells ringing. Why, in the neighbor's yard are images of a jolly fat man in red with a fur-lined collar landing on the roof with a bunch of reindeer, led by one named Ruldolph who is apparently suffering from a severe cold and has a shining sore red nose. And their children are apparently falling asleep with various kinds of candy dancing in their heads. Moreover, in this place where it hardly ever snows we are humming, "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow." But why?



The Christmas mood started earlier this year than ever before as the retailers hoped we would start parting with our hard-earned money well before Thanksgiving. They're worried, I hear, because of the stress on the housing market and talk of a recession. So they want us to rush on into the Christmas mood and buy hundreds of useless items for our families and friends. After all, this is THE time of the year when they make most of their money.

And yet I just couldn't put on those Santa Claus suspenders and get into the Christmas mood. I wonder why.

Maybe it's because I haven't programmed my mobile phone with cute, waving snowmen, festive music and Santa clauses crossing my way, heavily loaded with gifts while I play Sudoku. I can't even spell that word properly and I'm not even remotely attracted to the idea of challenging my limited intelligence by it. Maybe that's the reason.

Or maybe it's because I haven't gotten high on the latest drug of choice. That'll do it every time, I'm told. Then I could start singing "Here comes Santa, here comes Santa, right down Santa Claus lane." Oh, by the way, are you acquainted with Santa's brother Fred? Their father, the original SANTA, used to reside in Northern Europe, where he met his wife, SUSIE SANTA. Together, they produced nine sons over a period of 15 years, who all went into their father’s line of work!

I don't know. Maybe I'll have to give up on getting into the Christmas mood this year. Maybe I'll simply have to do my best to wait patiently for the CHRIST of Christmas to come soon and get us all out of the crazy nonsense that Christmas has become.