Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:2 NIV)
As I write this it is the day after Thanksgiving. Yesterday we had 17 people around the table for dinner – mostly out-of-state family who came in for the holiday. Today we are in recovery. We don’t have anything we HAVE to do. We slept in. The fridge is stuffed with leftovers. The china is waiting to be put back in storage. The dishwasher has been run twice and is caught up. The turkey carcass has been set in the pot to make broth. The weather forecast is for 8″ of snow by Sunday, but today is just cloudy and cool. The people are functioning at about half speed, and that is truly just fine.
But, as you know, in our culture this weekend marks the rush toward Christmas. With Thanksgiving falling so late this year, we suddenly have only four weeks to cram in unfinished presents, cooking, parties, travel, programs, Hallmark movies, and All the Things.
Or not.
Which leads us to an important question: Are all these things really a part of Christmas?
“Christmas” comes from the Old English phrase Cristes mæsse, which literally means “Christ’s Mass,” or the worship service or festival celebrating Christ. So in its root meaning, Christmas is not about presents, trees, or parties—it’s literally a celebration centered on Christ.
Recently I came across this quote by pastor and author Stuart Briscoe:
“The spirit of Christmas needs to be superceded by the Spirit of Christ. The spirit of Christmas is annual; the Spirit of Christ is eternal. The spirit of Christmas is sentimental; the spirit of Christ is supernatural. The spirit of Christmas is a human product; the Spirit of Christ is a divine person. That makes all the difference in the world.” – Stuart Briscoe
The spirit of Christmas is annual, sentimental, and human formed.
The spirit of Christ is eternal, supernatural, and Divine.
This season, may we be people discerning in what we do, loving in how we do, but focused on Christ in each moment.
Eternal God,
Thank you for showing yourself to us as the Christ – the Messiah – the Son of God. Thank you for the gift of Jesus, eternal, supernatural, fully human, and fully divine. Thank you for these Advent weeks before Christmas where we remember your first coming to earth and wait for your second coming. Thank you for the gift of this thoughtful, reflective, penitent time. Help us to be discerning people and not rush into the annual, sentimental, or human formed parts of this season, unless we are led by the Holy Spirit. Lead us into all Truth so our hope can be set on the grace you give us through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2 NIV)
Do not love the world or anything in the world. (1 John 2:15 NIV)
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. (1 Peter 1:13 NIV)