牧者心聲  Pastor's Message

11/29/2009

I Hate Christmas!


        Matthew 24.36, 44: “No one knows about that day or hour… so you also must be ready.”


        Now that Thanksgiving and Black Friday have passed, it is official! The Christmas shopping season has begun! With that, I am reminded of a specific song on an album that I used to listen to in college. It’s a pessimistic attitude towards this “holiday” season. But, this music tells us that something is lacking if the only thing the band sees is “a season to be jolly” or “Christmas/office party.” The song even points at the irony of everyone heading out for Christmas shopping, where the shopping lines are slow. No wonder the chorus is: “I hate Christmas, I’m glad it only comes one time a year.”

        Is this what the Christmas season is about? What IS Christmas? What of Advent? What IS Advent?

        In short, Christmas comes from Christ + maesse, or Christ’s festival. It is a celebration of Christ’s birth.

        As for Advent, this suggests a period of preparation for the second coming—the coming of Christ into the world. It is something like Lent for Easter. In the Christian calendar, Advent is the period that begins four Sundays before Christmas.

        Wait… is that… today? That’s Right! Advent starts today (11/29). So, what are we supposed to do? There are many options, from Advent wreaths and candles, foods, to caroling and the Christmas tree. All of these point to the 25th, Christmas Day, which we all know Christ’s birth. But we also need to remember that in waiting in anticipation of this day, we are also waiting in anticipation of the day when Christ will return. In a sense, this is Advent.

        Take the opportunity now (unless service is still underway) to read Matthew 24.36-44. Pray and reflect on what Jesus is prophesying about himself and his future return. This isn’t shopping. This is something that’s really worth talking about!



      Brother Benjamin Chung