And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:8-11
“Long before the Magi arrived with appropriately royal gifts, Jesus was heralded by lowly shepherds. Despite all human attempts to co-opt Him, the real Christ of Christmas defies commercialization. He can neither be packaged nor purchased.
While all the weary world recycles ways to remove Christ from Christmas, we can simply tell the truth. Linus did it back in 1965 when he recited part of Luke 2 to Charlie Brown. We can remind ourselves and those whom we meet that God’s love is the only essential gift of Christmas. We do not need reindeer, Santa, or even a budget, but we do need a return to the love that only comes from relationship with God…
Perhaps this Advent, we should contemplate the sub-culture that was the early church. What rocked the Roman world was not Christianity’s economic potential or its appeal to sophisticated consumers of religion. It was love. Followers of Jesus loved one another and their enemies as well. Instead of embracing the ultimately unsatisfying holidays or railing against them in anger, let us reclaim our holy days by finding ways and persons to love.”
Elodie Ballantine Emig on “Defying Commercialization” in The Glory of the One and Only Son (Devotionals from Denver Seminary for the Advent Season, 2017) 9.
Emig unwraps the commercialization and reveals the heart of Christmas for us. The love of Christ rocked the ancient Mediterranean world, and it is just what every person on the planet needs today.
What might “finding ways and persons to love” look like for you this Christmas? How might you join Jesus in defying commercialization and show love to someone generously, perhaps even to an enemy this Advent?
As the “super moon” rose over the local elementary school on our evening walk (pictured above), I could not help but think of the Magi who followed the heavenly sign to meet Jesus.
Just like the star pointed the way, so can we through our generous words and actions. When we find ways and persons to love, we remind the world “that God’s love is the only essential gift of Christmas.”