Friday, December 25, 2020

What does Christmas mean to me?

What does Christmas mean to me?

Lord,
Christmas is the church's celebration of
your birth,
your first coming,
your incarnation,
your self-revelation,
your fulfillment,
your embodiment of hope, peace, joy, and love,
your eternal light shining,
your life giving,
your glory from heaven to earth come down.

But what is Christmas to me?
Decorations?
Devotions?
Gifts given?
Gifts received?
Old familiar stories?
Old comforting hymns?
Family?
Food?

Maybe it's something different each year.
Surely, it means something different to each one of us.

Lord,
I think for me
Christmas is the reminder 
to pause,
to wonder,
to hear clearly,
love.

Love born in a baby
Love in the strong arms of Mary
Love in the courageous care of Joseph
Love in the songs of the Angels
Love in the searching of the Magi
Love in the gathering of worshipers
Love in the stories
Love in the gifts
Love in the silence

Merry Christmas, Lord.
Thank you for the love shared.
Amen.