I don't hold the Census Taker as an enemy in the Christmas Story. I don't see him or her as an evil person or a misguided soul; nothing like that. But I do see that persona as a problem for Mary and Joseph and all the poor souls who were forced to come to be counted.
Luke wants us to understand that there were extreme requirements put on the Holy Family when the Christ Child was born. Luke, the Gospel writer, continually emphasises the idea that Jesus conformed to Roman and Jewish law. Luke sees Christianity as something that fits into the structures and powers of society. Luke wants us to understand there were severe demands made and those were adhered to by the Jewish people and the Christian community that arose from it.
There is a bit of the Census Taker in each of us and that is what I wish to address with the sermon the First Sunday of Advent. Nearsightedness will often blindside the farsighted. The unwillingness to look will preclude the inability to see. In the evolution of the season of Advent one of the most important things we want to be prepared to do is look and be prepared for the unexpected.
What can we expect? What might come to us that is unexpected?
Henri Nouwen wrote, "It seems that there are more and more people in our society who have less and less influence on the decisions that affect their own existence. Therefore, it becomes increasingly important to recognize that the largest part of our existence involves waiting in the sense of being acted upon. But the life of Jesus tells us that not to be in control is part of the human condition. His vocation was fulfilled not just in action but also in passion, in waiting."
Sunday we begin the process of waiting. We take the time to look at life from the perspective of expecting the unexpected.
Census Takers reduce people to numbers; reduce situations to what can be counted upon.
The "census taker" in each of us will have to step back and take a serious look at what is happening. Otherwise, it Christmas will come and go and it will be like all others when, in fact, this year Christmas will be different.
What do you anticipate will happen this Advent? What might surprise you?
Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of the blog click on the 'comments' box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
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