Friday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

The most important thing about Christmas is finding what we're looking for. If we are looking for the wrong thing we may find it, but it won't be what Christmas really has to give us.

The myth and mystery of the birth of the Christ Child is the foundational truth behind the first Christmas. It is an event that is shrouded in uncertainty. Some scholars doubt any of the biblical history that purports to convey the story. There is no substantiation of the fact that there was a census or that Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem. There is little to suggest that the Roman king wanted to eliminate Jewish infants. There is no proof that there was a star that led the Magi to see the child and nothing about the gifts of the Wise Men that we assume to be part of a Christmas story. In fact, the Magi's journey to the manger would have happened two years after the birth of the child not at the birth of the child.

The fact that there is no substantiation of the story historically and the fact that the first Gospel (Mark) did not even mention the nativity and the fact that there is nothing other than Luke's birth story in the bible may be an important part of the story. Jesus' birth was not recognized because people were not looking for the birth of that kind of messiah. People were hoping for a military leader and looking for someone who could change the flow of history immediately. That would not be seen in the birth of a baby and it would not be evident in someone thought of as "the prince of peace".

What we are looking for and what we are hoping from Christmas is important in terms of what we are able to realize.

What we will want to be able to see and we may be able to see it; what we will want to be able to receive and we may be able to receive it depends on if we understand that Christmas will come in its own time and not on our schedule. We can best receive it to be in an attitude of surprise. Secondly, what we will get to experience is dependent upon our expectation that there is something that is incredibly good about to happen. If we think there is nothing good that will happen there will be nothing good.

So we approach Advent with the idea that something will surprise us and that will be incredibly good.

If we lack that approach we will miss it.

That's the reason children have a better chance at catching Christmas than we adults do.

What do you expect will happen?
Will it be incredibly good?

Has it happened already?

If so, what is it? Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the congregation click on the "comments" box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Charles Schuster