“Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that the Lord has shown us.” Luke 2:15
Dear People of St. David’s,
As the celebration of Christmas draws closer, I pray that you and yours are well. I pray that your souls and minds have some peace about them, even as most of us are scurrying around to get our Christmas celebration together: picking out one last gift, preparing to travel, or even praying for some kind of perfect sermon for Christmas Eve (that would be me).
The season leading up to Christmas is always an interesting and sometimes trying time in our lives. The church calendar is calling us to a time of quiet, reflection, waiting, and watching so we may make room for God to enter more deeply into our lives. The world around us, on the other hand, has been “Christmasing it up,” since before Halloween. Decorations are out, Christmas music is playing around the clock, and advertisers are beckoning us to buy their perfect product so we can have the perfect Christmas.
It’s hard to keep one’s spiritual balance on our best days, much less feel a sense of joy and wonder. Most of us struggle through the year to live our lives with God in some way while trying to be our best selves in a changing world. Advent and Christmas seem to tip most of our scales. The life and race that has been set before us seems daunting and nearly impossible to finish. Toss in the fact that the Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve this year are on the same day. We’ll have 11 worship services in twenty-four hours. The idea that we’re supposed to keep some kind of balance and run our race seems ridiculous.
Thankfully, we are not alone in our attempts to keep some kind of balance because God is always with us. That’s one of the great promises of Christmas. God came into our world and is with us now. God is here, supporting us, loving us, beckoning us, and empowering us to live our lives to the fullest, in whatever season or circumstance we may find ourselves. We who have been empowered by the Holy Spirit count it all joy, and face the life that is before us with confidence and grace, because God is right in it with us.
So, wherever you are in your preparations for Christmas, take a breath and let go of attempting a perfect Christmas. Christmas has already come. Instead, let me invite you to look around, say a prayer, and share your love with others. Look for who and what is giving you joy, come to church, and open your heart to God. Enjoy the season, for God is here with us, always.
See you in Church.
Grace and Peace,
The Rev. W. Frank Allen
Rector
P.S. You might want to come a little early, especially for the 3 p.m. Christmas Eve services. If you will, please introduce yourselves to the people next to you. God may have sent them here to join in this community of love and your welcome will make all the difference.