“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. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. ”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.”
– Luke 2:8-16
Merry Christmas! Everyone! No matter your state or lineage … it’s a moment for all of us … as the holy scriptures proclaim a story which has implications for everyone… past… present and future! John the Revelator wrote in his gospel… “God so love the world…” and the word used there for ‘world’ is the Koine’ Greek term… ‘cosmos’ and even a 5th grader knows how vast and expanding that is! So… merry Christmas… to all…as the love of God has come to us in Jesus… and where two or more gather in his name… there he promises to be present! So may your ‘gathering’ over the 12 days of Christmas be filled with joy and song.
I’m writing this on the morning of Christmas Eve eve… December 23… my mother’s birthday… with good thoughts of her and my Aunt Audrey… her younger sister, born on the same day! It was my mother who taught me to sing and to learn how to harmonize… a gift that goes far beyond words and tunes. I tell people … “it’s a big ‘whirled’ out there… walk with a purpose. Be light. Be love. Be you!” as each of us has a song to sing!
Last week I had the chance to ‘face-time’ my 3-year-old grandson in Florida. He told his dad… “let’s call Gampa!” and they did and we chatted face to face… something I was never able to do with a grandparent and when I think about it… I’m in the first generation of grandparents who can even claim such a thing… Whoah… and our conversation had a very wonderful ending…as my son said to his… “let’s sing Gampa a Christmas song…” and as that 3-year-old broke out into song… I heard the words… “The itsy-bitsy spider…” which is the moment when my son interrupted politely saying… “hey that’s not a Christmas song…” to which my grandson went on… “climbed up the Christmas tree…” lending us a huge face-time moment of laughter… before saying good-bye… right after we sang “Away in a Manger”… a song I’ve been singing since I was 3!
Then later in the day… it hit me… why can’t that be a Christmas song? It just needs some new words… as we all know the tune! So here goes…
“The itsy-bitsy spider climbed up the Christmas tree… on came the lights and filled his heart with glee! Bright shined the star as Jesus calls us friends! And the itsy-bitsy spider shared in Christmas once again…”
There you go! Merry Christmas. Everyone.
Later on in the gospel of John the Revelator there’s a moment where Jesus is gathered with his disciples and says…
“I no longer call you servants, as a servant knows not his master’s business. Instead, I call you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”
Merry Christmas! Be light. Be love. Faith matters!
