Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church
1948 The Alameda
San Jose, CA 95126
San Jose, CA 95126
It is early November, just past Halloween. Already it has started. The first Christmas sales have been spotted. Some stores ring out with Christmas Carols. The Christmas decorations have appeared on some of the houses that I pass. The rush is on, and it seems to be rushing even more this year.
It has become such a cash cow for businesses that the real reason that we stop and listen in awe (and give gifts) has been shunted to the side. Yes, there will be an occasional manger scene on a lawn. Yes, people will say “Merry Christmas” (or being politically correct: “Seasons Greetings”). Yes, you will hear the mighty acts of God sung about, but more often you will hear about Santa Clause and Rudolph.
Our Lord has gotten lost, it seems, in the celebration of his own birth. That is one very large reason why we will observe with every ounce of our beings the season of Advent at Holy Redeemer. The plans are to concentrate on what these four weeks leading up to Christmas are all about. So, take November to live out the remainder of the church year – thank God for all of the saints, give Pentecost on last look, celebrate the reign of Christ. Then dive into Advent (rather than being pulled by others into an immediate Christmas).
Think of the rich blue and how it cries out to us with God’s future now. Linger in the gateway of Advent as past, present and future blur into one another and the clarity of God’s abundant grace washes over you. Don’t wait for Jesus to be born. Live in the now of Advent and celebrate God with us at this point in time.
If you do, then Christmas, when Jesus comes to the manger and the angels sing and the shepherds visit, will be wondrous – and not just a day to stop on the road between the acquisition of presents and the returning of those that you do not want.
For unto us a child is born – Christ, the Lord!
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