One focus of the Church’s Advent Season is the “voice crying in the wilderness”. John, the Baptizer, is one of the first to describe the coming of the Messiah. John says: “Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.”
John does not include what I automatically expect to be added: “He will baptize you whit the Holy Spirit” Matthew, Mark, and Luke each have the Baptizer contrasting his baptizing with water to Jesus’ baptizing with the Spirit. However, the fact does come out in the Gospel according to John when the Baptizer sees the Spirit descend upon Jesus he recalls what had been revealed to him “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit”
There is a lot of talk about the spirit during this time of the year. And there is a long history of tension between Christians celebrating the expectant birth of Jesus, and the spirit of revelry and carousing, of commercialism and general indulgence. At certain times the celebration of Christmas has even been outlawed by both the Church and State. They did want people of faith getting involved in pagan practices that pre-date Christianity itself.
Today there is still a battle over “the spirit of Christmas”. Charles Dickens made the phrase popular in his writing A Christmas Carol. You probably remember the three ghosts; the spirit of Christmas past, present and future. In his writing, this and other seasonal tails, Charles wanted to promote a celebration that was getting a bad-wrap. But Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” doesn’t mention Jesus at all.
The other day I found an article form a small California town. In the middle of December they will have a community performance of what they are calling “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and then some)”. Here is some of what it says:
What is your favorite Christmas story? Is it Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol”?
Is it the Dr. Seuss favorite “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”? Does your Christmas seem incomplete without ”The Gift of the Magi”?
If you can’t make up your mind, that’s all right, because the Community Players are presenting “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and then some!)” on stage for your holiday enjoyment. This hilarious romp is done with three actors in 90 minutes.
If you think performing every Christmas story ever told is a challenge, be prepared for the appearance of Gustav, the Green-Nosed Reingoat, Yukon Cornelius, Cindy Lou Who, Charley Brown, Frosty the Snowman, and even the Norelco Santa. You’ll see Virginia find out, once and for all, if there really is a Santa Claus. George will search for meaning in his life and Clarence will try to earn his wings. Don’t worry, there’ll be plenty scenes with Scrooge, all three ghosts of Christmas and Tiny Tim. Della will, again, sell her lovely long hair to buy Jim a watch fob and the Nutcracker will be danced.
The actors bounce jokes off each other, change hats, clothing and characters with rapid-fire precision.
The professionals say this is the most stressful time of year for most people. No one has to tell us that laughter is the best antidote for stress, and this show guarantees plenty of that. Taking a couple hours out of the madness of holiday shopping for some old-fashioned belly laughs is a sure-fire stress-buster and is guaranteed to make your season jolly.(from Visalia California ).
“Every Christmas Story Ever Told”, I don’t think so! All the stories recounted by the appearance of familiar characters give witness to our culture's secular “Spirit of Christmas”. But, that is not the Spirit of Jesus.
Jesus made dramatic reference to his Spirit when he read aloud from the prophecy of Isaiah. It was the one on whom the Spirit descended and remained who read: “The Lord has anointed me: he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor…”
Any who are baptized in the name of the Triune God have been gifted with the Holy Spirit; and the Spirit of Jesus remains with us!
And Jesus sends us out with the same mission and ministry described in Isaiah chapter 61. The good news we have to share is not that a cultural festival called Christmas has been slave from a Grinch, or that and angel has gotten his wings, or even that Virginia “believes”.
The Good News we have is that God’s love has saved us. Real sins (that hold us in chains) can be forgiven and we can be set free. Those who are broken-hearted, by the pain and suffering of this life, can be restored by the power of God’s love in Jesus. And the Spirit of God (“who loves justice”) can inspire us anew, to hunger and thirst for righteousness, just as Jesus did.
As the Advent Season moves on, may our hearts and minds be inspired by the Spirit of Jesus’ mercy, compassion, and love; assuring that we settle for nothing less!
