Thought for Today
Exodus 16:31 The house of Israel called it manna; it was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.
Judges 5:10 "Tell of it, you who ride on white donkeys, you who sit on rich carpets and you who walk by the way.
Matthew 17:2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white.
Mark 16:5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.
Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? The ‘bah-humbugs’ of the world will tell you that the song really had nothing to do with celebrating the birth of Jesus. “’White Christmas’ is a song reminiscing about an old-fashioned Christmas setting. Written by Irving Berlin for the 1942 musical film Holiday Inn, the song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 15th Academy Awards. Introduced by Bing Crosby, it topped the Billboard chart for 11 weeks and returned to the number one position again in December 1943 and 1944.” Having just come in from clearing our driveway of the 2”-3” of snowfall we received last night, I am tempted to agree with the “bah-humbugs.”
Those of you reading this who live in Texas or California probably aren’t dreaming of a white Christmas. I do remember at least 1 white(ish) Christmas when we lived in Texas. Oddly, when I drove into town to pick up my mother in the southwest part of town, they had gotten more snow than we did on the north side of town.
The ‘bah-humbugs’ will tell you that Jesus almost assuredly was not born during the winter. Snow is not unknown in Israel, especially upon the mountain tops. But neither 2000 years ago nor today would shepherds have their flocks grazing in the fields in the dead of winter. What would those sheep graze? During the winter in Jesus’ time, the sheep were brought into towns and kept in pens where they could be fed stored fodder.
Those same ‘bah-humbugs’ might even tell you that the early Christians coopted pagan winter solstice or other holidays to encourage worship of Jesus and discourage pagan celebrations. There were numerous winter solstice and other pagan holidays in almost every land.
Yet the song “White Christmas” has become a staple of our Christmas season music. We also sing songs about sleighbells ringing and about traveling over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s home. Many winter resorts do offer sleigh rides . . . for a price. But, I wonder how many of us today have ever seen a sleighbell other than in an antique store.
This season does seem to bring all the ‘bah-humbugs’ out of hiding. Most of us have encountered them. They seem to delight in deflating any hint of excitement or pleasure, in ruining any sense of joy.
But, this season they miss the point by a mile. All of the joy, all of the excitement, all of the wonder is not about the day. Whether we celebrate Jesus’ birthday on December 25th or on June 21st or on any other day of the year, what we are celebrating is the birth of the Son of God. What we are celebrating is the living proof of “John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”
Today, our congregation will worship in our traditional Christmas Eve service of Lessons and Carols. So too will many other congregations. Tomorrow, whether we gather in churches, homes or anywhere else, Christians around the world will give thanks to our Creator God for his love, manifested in the birth of his Son, that babe in the manger.
Tomorrow, Greta and I will celebrate with family. We will celebrate with a traditional Christmas meal beginning with guacamole, followed by barbequed brisket, chicken and sausage served with potato salad. And, of course, there will be pecan pie for dessert. A traditional Christmas meal.
I hope and pray that you all will have a Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Frohe Weihnachten, Joyeux Noel or however you say it.
Stay safe, experience the joy of the birth, trust God,
Pastor Ray