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Wednesday, December 5, 2001 Despite changes in the world, Christmas remains constant In the aftermath of the recent events, how can Christmas ever be the same...yet how could it possibly be any different? A couple of years ago, at this time of year, we feared Y2K. We were worried that all the computers in all the world would be shut down and leave us helpless. Then, last year, we were facing a most unusual time in history when after a national election, we still had no president. And now this year! Our hearts and emotions are still raw over the event of 9-11, anthrax, and Flight 587. Our nation is at war! Our military folks are once again in harm's way. We see destruction all over the world but none so personal as the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, a burned out crater in the earth in a lonely field in Pennsylvania, and a burned out neighborhood in Queens. In our world, we see hungry faces; hungry for food, love, a helping hand or maybe just a little human understanding. The economy is delicate, unemployment high and mounting national debt that will take generations to repay. Our hearts are still draped in the black fabric of mourning how can this Christmas or any Christmas ever be the same? Because Christmas never changes; only our perception of Christmas. The commercialization of Christmas for over twenty centuries has waxed and waned according to circumstances; but Christmas itself has never changed, nor will it ever! Christmas is a true fact, an event in history and no matter how it is celebrated; the purpose of Christmas Day will never change. Around 60 A.D., a devoted follower of Christ, a physician named Luke, carefully and painstakingly examined all the records, questioned the eyewitnesses and interviewed the companions of Jesus in order that he might record for history the life of Christ. He acknowledged that there had already been much written and agreed with their authenticity; but he wanted to give a different view through the eyes of a physician. Luke begins with the angel's announcement to a saintly old priest, Zacharias, that he would become the father of John the Baptist, who would be another Elijah, one who would be the forerunner of the Christ, the Messiah, the Prophesied One the Savior who would come to save the world. Luke tells of the appearance of the angel to Mary. He tells of the birth of Christ. John was born to an older, barren woman; Jesus to a young virgin. Angels made the announcements to Zacharias, Joseph, and Mary. Angels appeared to the shepherds. The wise men were supernaturally guided by a star. An angel told an humble maiden from a lowly home in an obscure village in Galilee that she had been chosen to be the mother of the Son of God. No doubt Luke got this story straight from Mary. Some might scoff at the virgin birth; but if we are to believe in the deity of Jesus and His resurrection from the dead, why would it be a stretch to believe that Mary was a virgin? We marvel that medical scientists can implant an embryo into the womb of a virgin today; and yet for centuries many could not believe that God had this power. Jesus entered the world supernaturally and He exited this world supernaturally. In between, he lived pretty much as you and I. He breathed, he ate, he grew tired, he suffered and he bled. The prophets foretold that He would be born of the house of David and in Bethlehem he was. But Mary lived at least 100 miles away from Bethlehem. God even used the census of the Roman Empire to insure that Mary would be in the right place at the right time. Can you imagine the uncertain future facing this young teenage girl, about to give birth a hundred-mile trip by foot and donkey the crowded streets the lack of lodging physical fatigue, the uncertainty, the financial burden, the obscure stable (probably a cave), as a resting place! The possibility of being stoned by Jewish law? She had hay for a bed and an animal feeding trough for a cradle. We became great-grandparents as God blessed us this past October with identical-twin baby girls, Kylee and Kaylee, born premature in a clean hospital with excellent nursing and medical equipment. It is so hard to visualize them lying on straw in a stable. The scriptures do not record the exact date of Christmas Day Jesus' birthday nor does it record the exact day, month, and years of other important events. Maybe because it was the event and not the date that was the important factor. Can you imagine settling down for a long winter's nap, under the stars, covers tucked tightly under your chin as you lay amongst your sheep fast asleep? When from out of nowhere a heavenly band appears in the sky overhead, singing and praising God? No wonder they were afraid. This would be enough to rattle the nerves of the most stout-hearted. Could you doubt the message coming from such an event? Luke must have talked with these shepherds much like CNN reporters do when something extraordinary happens. They want details; and so did Luke. Many babies are born some realize great importance in the world and some bring shame and disgrace on their families. So what is the significance of this child's birth? This was no ordinary baby this baby was Jesus the only true Son of God. It is believed that a monk named Dionysius Exiguus made the new calendar based from the birth of Christ. Today our very newspapers reflect the importance of this Child's birth a birth that changed time and changed the world forever more. It is supposed that Jesus learned the carpenter's trade from Joseph. We know he was educated in the Jewish faith and knew the scriptures very well. His education was of utmost importance. Although divinely related to God, he was intertwined with man. He was truly God and man. Aramaic was the language of the common people Jesus' language. He was instructed in Hebrew, the language of the Old Testament; and Greek was the universal language of His time but mostly Jesus spoke the language of God; from whence came His wisdom and knowledge. Times, ages, nations, events, and wars change. They come and go; but God never changes God is immutable. He is always the same in His nature, His character and His will. He has never lost His original design for mankind; nor have earthly events changed His course. He never changes and He can never be made to change. People, places, things change but God remains the same! When we fully understand the meaning of Christmas, we know that it will never change either. Some may celebrate the spirit of giving and associate it with the gift of the Magi some will celebrate the fantasy of Santa Claus some will celebrate the festivals of lights as a symbol of hope. Because of the events our nation has endured this year, there will be many vacant chairs at this Christmas dinner hearts will mourn for these vacant places but as Paul says, "To be absent in the body is to be present with the Lord!" Jesus said that we will always have the poor among us (the poor in mind, body, and spirit) and for that reason I think it imperative that we remember them all year long not just at Christmas time. We will always have heroes among us God bless them all but the real hero and the true, spiritual meaning of Christmas will never change but we must. That is the reason the Christ child came to change the world. He came to change darkness into light; sorrow into joy; lack into plenty; evil into good; injustice into justice; hate into love! He came to give us abundance in life; peace in death; and eternal life in Resurrection! As the Walston family gathers, we will celebrate the wisdom and faithfulness of the aged the strength and perseverance of the mature and the innocence, joy, and delight of the young. We will trim the tree, share the gifts both material and spiritual; sing the carols read the scripture of that long ago first Christmas day play games, eat, laugh and visit into exhaustion. We will celebrate the Christ Child, His teachings; accept His sacrifice; remember those who have gone on before us to share in His glory. We will celebrate the new lives He has given us and celebrate the ongoing of those whom God has called home! We will weep with the sorrowing; rejoice with the joyful and hug each other more tightly and more often. JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!
Patricia Walston Fayetteville
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