December 21 Post

Come Jesus, come. Be born in us anew. Still us to your good news. Let all striving cease. All silent, night.

God’s love was announced by a baby in a manger. God’s love was proven by his body on a cross. God pursues you right now. God knows you, knows your thoughts, and your actions. No matter where you come from, no matter what is going on in your life, or who has let you down or abandoned you. God has sought you out, and brought you here to say, “I love you.”

This Christmas, we continue God’s Eternal story by loving one another as God loved us. God wants you to acknowledge that you’re scared, but “do love” in the world according to your capacity anyway. That’s how God’s story continues. Not just with what happened so long ago back then, but by what happens now and next.

Come now to Christmas. Take your place in God’s great love story revealed through Mary and Joseph and a baby named Jesus by showing up wherever you can, bearing love. As God writes the next chapter through you, remember this from I Corinthians 13:

“If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny balls; but do not have love, I’m just another decorator. If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime; but do not have love, I’m just another cook.

If I work at a soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity; but do not have love, it profits me nothing. If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels, and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir’s cantata; but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the spouse. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love does not envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens. Love does not yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love does not give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who cannot. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails.

Toys will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust; but giving the gift of love will endure forever.” Amen

God’s grace, mercy and peace be with you,

Anna Rev. Dr. Anna V. Copeland Senior Minister, The Community Church of Vero Beach

(Author of Christmas I Corinthians– Claire Jordan, 2001 Permission to reprint but not for commercial purposes.)