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Prepare Our Hearts for Christmas
t’s Christmas time. Oh, what a wonderful time of year. The angels thought so, for they
declared it on that miraculous night so long ago:
“Fear not, for behold I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For
unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”….and they went on
to praise God by saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom
he is pleased.”
I can just imagine how excited the angel must have been to deliver such good
news. It didn’t stop there though for then suddenly there appeared a multitude
of the heavenly host praising God. Oh, how I would have liked to have been be
a part of that choir. I wonder if they ever questioned whether mankind would
realize the depth of their announcement. Were they tempted to say, “Did you
hear what I said? Are you listening?” Have you ever had exciting news to share
and you’re hoping it would be received with the same enthusiasm that it is
given? This was a momentous moment; God was stepping into his creation, as
the Christ child, to walk with us and through us in this life on earth so that we
may know Him. The angels were overjoyed to put it mildly.
Christmas is a celebration for all those who believe in Christ as the Son of God. Celebration by
definition is an act of observing a day or event with ceremonies of festivity or rejoicing. This
requires preparation if there is to be any lasting significance. It’s not uncommon to hear the phrase
“Preparing our hearts for Christmas”. That sounds good, but what does it mean exactly? We
prepare for the Christmas season in traditional ways: with presents to buy and wrap, cookies and
other goodies to bake, cards to send, the tree to decorate, family gatherings and company
Christmas parties. We deal with the busy malls, few too parking spots, and often bank accounts
stretched to the limit. Sunday mornings spent at church services with candles to light, carols to
sing and nativity displays set up as a visual reminders of our belief that Christ was born on
Christmas Day. To say it’s a busy time of year would be an understatement. It all looks good on
the surface but does it mean our hearts are truly prepared for the miracle of Christ’s birth?
Humm… I’ve heard the story of Christmas all my life. I’ve even participated as a child in the
Sunday School pageants as we re-enact the story. But does that mean it has impacted me beyond
the superficial veil that can separate what is in our hearts from what we reveal about ourselves to
the world. Do I realize that with the arrival of Christ birth it is now possible for Christ to be birthed in
me? Have I discovered it means relationship with the Living God? Do I grasp the vastness of this
proclamation; that I have been reconciled with God through Christ and my sins are no longer held
against me; that I have been adopted, accepted and chosen? It’s difficult to truly celebrate
Christmas if you don’t know these truths to be true about you. You could never be offered
anything better; it’s the Son of God, the baby lying in the manager on Christmas Day living in me!
I use to sit quietly with lights turned down and listen to Christmas music, watch the lights on the
tree and quiet my mind from the business of the day. I looked forward to that every year but did
that outward sign of quietness and peaceful atmosphere mean that I really was preparing my heart
for Christmas? Back then that’s where my faith lay. I still enjoy those activities but it is not enough
now.
I want something different this year. I see too many people frazzled by their busy life styles. I see it
in myself as well. I see eyes that look weary, smiles that aren’t genuine, pretenses that all is well
when it is not. I see a world in such need: terrorism and war, poverty, broken relationships,
pandemics, corruption and homelessness all vive for attention in our newspapers. It’s a difficult time of
year in some distinctive ways for many. It’s not something most people want to acknowledge, after all
who wants to say Christmas is a sad time for them, or a greedy time, or a lonely time, or a tearful time,
a questioning time, or just too busy a time of year to really enjoy. So this year I am searching for
something different. But I’m not looking out into my world as far as the ribbons and wrappings go, I’m
looking for substance and growth in my faith. For that I need to look within, to discover Christ who
lives in me in a new and dynamic way. God drew the shepherds and wise men of long ago to the
manager to see Christ the new born King, and he is still drawing people to this most Holy Day. He is
drawing me and you, and it all starts with Christ as a baby in the manager.
So with the reassurance that “seek and you shall find”, I asked God to prepare my heart for Christmas,
for the coming of the birth of Jesus. To fill my mind and my heart with the wonderful realization that
Christmas is for me, it’s for you. A personal invitation to come and worship, to fellowship with the
Great I AM. What a journey my mind and heart are taking. My senses cascade within; as I experience
all the highs and lows mankind has been hard wired to know. Surprisingly amidst the wonder is still
the tug to get ready for Christmas in the secular way like always.
As I reflect on the story of Christmas I
birth of Christ. I’ve often looked at
of Mary and Joseph, so this time
Shepherds and the Wisemen came
“I want something different this
year. I see too many people
frazzled by their busy life styles.
think about who was drawn to the
Christmas from the perspective
focusing in on King Herod, the
as a bit of a surprise for me.
I see it in myself as well. I see
eyes that look weary, smiles
King Herod is the guy you could
describe as “it is all about me”
mentality, who sat on a throne of his
own making… his own interests
that aren’t genuine, pretenses
and his own desires. A selfish life
based on worldliness. He could
that all is well when it is not.”
never be relaxed or feel at peace with
this kind of life, because he
always felt threatened that it would be challenged and/or snatched away. Christ’s birth posed that very
threat. He reacted the only way he knew how, in fear, with destructive and self-protective decisions.
King Herod wasn’t about to expose himself and become vulnerable. He had a heart full of pride, a
hard heart, a selfish heart, and heart unwilling to acknowledge let alone surrender to the God of the
universe. He is the villain of his time, a cruel man bent on living life on his own terms. You’ll notice
King Herod in Matthew chapter 2 did not make the journey to Bethlehem even though it is recorded
that he was greatly troubled at the news of the birth of King of the Jews. He never knew a Christmas
morning.
To grow spiritually requires a journey. Thankfully, the journey continues for us and Bethlehem awaits
our arrival. God in his great wisdom reveals to us the journey of two groups of people to the birth place
of Jesus: the Shepherds and the Wisemen.
I like the Wisemen. Learned men, and wise in the esteem of the world. They are scholarly, seeking
answers and willing to be lead. These were men who practiced astrology, the study of sacred writings,
and the pursuit of wisdom. But what I admire the most is the fact that God chose these men, pagan
men to journey to Bethlehem and discover the Christ child for themselves. Upon arriving at their
destination the sight of Christ causes their hearts to be touched, they bow down, and worship. In their
worship they give their best: gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
The presence of the Wisemen doesn’t surprise me. They are after all learned scholars. Our world
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respects and admires the educated man, history proves this. The mind that can reason and debate is
a very prestigious trait. We expect Wisemen don’t we?
At the other end of the continuum are the shepherds, do we expect them? Their presence is in sharp
contrast to the wise men coming from the east. Being part of the Jewish nation, the shepherds were
not held in high esteem. Yet, the great men of faith in the Bible were also shepherds: Moses,
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and King David. Jesus himself is referred to as the Good Shepherd. How
fitting for there to be shepherds watching over their flocks by night, the night Christ was born.
Shepherds were in the lowest social class of their time. They are hardly thought of as wise in human
terms or educated. Shepherds have no wealth to speak of. But, like all Jewish people they were
waiting for the Messiah. They respond in fear when they first see the angel declaring the birth of
Christ but their fear doesn’t stop them from following the star, they allow their hearts to be lead. The
wisemen gave their treasures in response to seeing the new born King; the shepherds gave from
within, and began glorifying and praising God just as the angels had done. Both gifts ultimately
originated from within the heart; that space within us that acknowledges and honours God.
It’s typical when a child is born to look and see if they resemble either of the parents or maybe a
close relative. At times the resemblance can be uncanny. When the baby was first visited by the
wisemen and the shepherds I wonder if they stood in awe realizing they were seeing the very face of
God. I also wonder if the people we met on our daily walk see Christ in us, after all we have been
made in the image of God.
God goes to great lengths to show mankind that his plan for redemption is for everyone, wisemen
and shepherds, rich and poor, Jew and Gentile alike. He models that over and over again throughout
scripture. God, revealed through his Son, doesn’t command or insist we to come, rather he invites as
he extends his arms wide and beckons us to come and see that He is good.
The night can be a scary time to journey and difficult to see our way, but God reassures us his light
shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. Not then and not now. God breaks
through our darkness to say his Son; Christ is the light of the world, my world and yours. Your heart
knows this to be true and so does mine. As we journey to the birth of Christ, we recognize our own
birth in Christ, babes in faith. It’s just the start of the journey. As babes we must now travel towards
the cross where we come to know for ourselves that we too have crucified with Christ and it is no
longer I who lives but Christ who lives in me. God will lead us the entire way; he won’t abandon us
nor leave us.
After the presents are unwrapped, too many cookies are eaten, the family dinners and get together
are finished and I crawl into bed on Christmas night I will sleep peacefully remembering what really
transpired this Christmas. My heart is filled with fresh gratitude and awareness knowing I received the
best present ever…Christ, and I will sing with the heavenly hosts, “glory to God in the highest, peace
to all mankind”.
So, come, now is the time to celebrate, there is so much to celebrate.
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