There has been such a wave of tragedy in the Midland area in the days and weeks leading up to Christmas that I just had to take a time-out from it all. There has been so much anger and violence in our nation over the past few weeks before the holiday season that I just had to stop, for just a minute, and think about the true reason for the season, the meaning of what will transpire in just eight days, or seven if your family celebrates on Christmas Eve. By the way, if you do not celebrate Christmas at all, please disregard this post, and please take no offense. To each, his own.
Just about two thousand years ago a child was born in Nazareth, that child of course was later to be known as Jesus, Emmanuel, the Good Shepherd. The story of his birth is what most people think of when they think of Christmas. The name of Jesus' birthday anniversary celebration was first known as Christ's Mass, but was shortened over the years to the name of that day we love so much, Christmas. This day became a holiday (a holy day, as it were) in which we celebrated our gratitude for Christ's great gift to us by giving gifts, or presents, to our friends and loved ones to show them how much we loved them, as Christ loved us so much. But though we celebrate the day of Christ's birth, the great gift the Good Shepherd gave us was not his "birth" but his LIFE.
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, showed us how to live in peace and how to love our neighbors as ourselves. More than this, he showed us that it was POSSIBLE for people to love themselves, and to love their neighbors as they loved themselves. Jesus showed us, by his own example, that we can live in a world where so much is going "wrong," where there is so much violence, so much hate, and we can yet have peace, an INNER peace, neither created by the world nor destroyed by it. Jesus showed us how to find peace in every day we live, and how to be content in every state in which we may find ourselves. He never told us that our day to day lives would be free from tragedy or ill circumstance, but He did show us that we had hope in Him while things were going "bad" for us, that we could still find joy when bad things and unhappy circumstances surrounded us. He taught us to be thankful when things were good, and even more thankful to the Father when things were not going so well, because even when things are at their worst, God holds us in his hands.
That "Christmas Day" celebrated by the shepherds of the field, and later by the Magi, two thousand years ago, gave us a special day to celebrate. But it was the Good Shepherd's life that showed us how we should live, how we could live. And the greatest gift of all that the Good Shepherd gave us was not His birth, not His life, but His greatest gift came on us that day, that sad day that He went to His death on the cross. While hanging on the cross, the Good Shepherd demonstrated to us that most profound truth, that no greater love has a man, than to die for those he loves. The Good Shepherd demonstrated this truth by giving His life on the cross for all the people then, and for all the people from then on. It is this gift, this greatest gift of all, that is truly the Reason for the Season.
Yes, the past few weeks have been especially tragic times in Midland, but I suppose that the same can be said by many people across this nation of ours, and around the world. Tragedy never seems to take a holiday, and we may feel that we are surrounded by so much heartache. But it is the Good Shepherd's gift, a gift that surrounds us all year long, not just during the "holiday season," that allows us to have hope, and find joy. We love our friends and relatives, and we show this love especially at this time of the year, by giving gifts, symbols of our love, to those for whom we care. The Good Shepherd showed us how to give not just things, but ourselves as well, to those we love.
Well, I am glad for this little detour out of the hustle and bustle, and the heartache, to remember all that I am blessed with, and all those who bless me every day, not just during Christmas time. There are still eight days until Christmas, but the greatest gift ever given just keeps on giving. And during the holiday season, we get a double-dose of this gift. As I wrote yesterday, my heart goes out to those who are hurting right now, and I hope they are even now feeling the arms of the Good Shepherd holding them. Christmas will be a much more tearful time for some people this year, yet even in their sorrow, they will still be able to celebrate the greatest gift ever given.
God bless all of you, and God bless America.
Just about two thousand years ago a child was born in Nazareth, that child of course was later to be known as Jesus, Emmanuel, the Good Shepherd. The story of his birth is what most people think of when they think of Christmas. The name of Jesus' birthday anniversary celebration was first known as Christ's Mass, but was shortened over the years to the name of that day we love so much, Christmas. This day became a holiday (a holy day, as it were) in which we celebrated our gratitude for Christ's great gift to us by giving gifts, or presents, to our friends and loved ones to show them how much we loved them, as Christ loved us so much. But though we celebrate the day of Christ's birth, the great gift the Good Shepherd gave us was not his "birth" but his LIFE.
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, showed us how to live in peace and how to love our neighbors as ourselves. More than this, he showed us that it was POSSIBLE for people to love themselves, and to love their neighbors as they loved themselves. Jesus showed us, by his own example, that we can live in a world where so much is going "wrong," where there is so much violence, so much hate, and we can yet have peace, an INNER peace, neither created by the world nor destroyed by it. Jesus showed us how to find peace in every day we live, and how to be content in every state in which we may find ourselves. He never told us that our day to day lives would be free from tragedy or ill circumstance, but He did show us that we had hope in Him while things were going "bad" for us, that we could still find joy when bad things and unhappy circumstances surrounded us. He taught us to be thankful when things were good, and even more thankful to the Father when things were not going so well, because even when things are at their worst, God holds us in his hands.
That "Christmas Day" celebrated by the shepherds of the field, and later by the Magi, two thousand years ago, gave us a special day to celebrate. But it was the Good Shepherd's life that showed us how we should live, how we could live. And the greatest gift of all that the Good Shepherd gave us was not His birth, not His life, but His greatest gift came on us that day, that sad day that He went to His death on the cross. While hanging on the cross, the Good Shepherd demonstrated to us that most profound truth, that no greater love has a man, than to die for those he loves. The Good Shepherd demonstrated this truth by giving His life on the cross for all the people then, and for all the people from then on. It is this gift, this greatest gift of all, that is truly the Reason for the Season.
Yes, the past few weeks have been especially tragic times in Midland, but I suppose that the same can be said by many people across this nation of ours, and around the world. Tragedy never seems to take a holiday, and we may feel that we are surrounded by so much heartache. But it is the Good Shepherd's gift, a gift that surrounds us all year long, not just during the "holiday season," that allows us to have hope, and find joy. We love our friends and relatives, and we show this love especially at this time of the year, by giving gifts, symbols of our love, to those for whom we care. The Good Shepherd showed us how to give not just things, but ourselves as well, to those we love.
Well, I am glad for this little detour out of the hustle and bustle, and the heartache, to remember all that I am blessed with, and all those who bless me every day, not just during Christmas time. There are still eight days until Christmas, but the greatest gift ever given just keeps on giving. And during the holiday season, we get a double-dose of this gift. As I wrote yesterday, my heart goes out to those who are hurting right now, and I hope they are even now feeling the arms of the Good Shepherd holding them. Christmas will be a much more tearful time for some people this year, yet even in their sorrow, they will still be able to celebrate the greatest gift ever given.
God bless all of you, and God bless America.
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