The Proud Family & The Meaning Of Christmas.
Christmas is near. This time of year means something different for each person. For autumn lovers, it’s the finale to weeks of resting, nesting, and enjoying pumpkin treats. Christmas slows us down and draws the year to a close. Each year brings challenges and triumphs. The weeks leading up to Christmas Day offer relief, a time to relate with more grace and compassion. Commercially, gifts are the highlight of the season. We are marketed different products and services to spread the 'Christmas Spirit.' However, the birth and life of Jesus is the antithesis of promotional sales.
The Gospels of Matthew and Luke provide two different accounts of the birth of Jesus Christ. In Matthew, the wise men follow a star to locate the promised King. Born in humble conditions, the three men arrive at a lowly stable and worship him. Imagine that, a young child being worshipped by tall figures on a cool, serene evening, surrounded by a sea of stars in the sky above. The fulfilment of a promise, one that would take a couple of decades to reach completion. If there’s one thing that the Christmas story teaches us, it’s the importance of time and waiting. Jesus’ birth was only the beginning of a greater plan for the redemption of the world. The risen Christ forms a movement, leading to the adoption of thousands, then millions of Christians adopted into one family.
No quick fixes or shortcuts. A promise made to Abraham, passed on to Jacob, Moses, proclaimed by Elijah and delivered by John the Baptist. 'Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand' (Matt 3:2), perhaps the kingdom couldn’t have been any nearer than on that evening in Bethlehem, the day Jesus was born. As a new believer, one of the things I struggled to comprehend is the idea of a promise arriving before seeing the fulfilment of it. Converting to Christianity seemed to be the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. Losing community, a faith system, and identity—it was very difficult. There were so many things I had to believe before experiencing them. I had to be patient, that isn’t very hard for me, but it was incredibly confusing. This might sound fantastical and whimsical—it took me by surprise too. The Israelites waited for over four hundred years before the Messiah arrived. Their story from captivity (Exodus) to exile (Chronicles) is filled with many moments of God’s redeeming love. When Christ arrives, the freedom humankind needed required a simple step: faith to believe. To believe in Christ, in God who sent him, and to receive the Holy Spirit. To those who don’t believe, faith is unusual, difficult to prove, and belief without rationalism is suspicious.
The Proud Family Christmas episode illustrates unexplained circumstances in an unusual way. After visiting a homeless shelter, the Proud family meets a homeless family. The family end up spending Christmas together In their interactions, the homeless family share their festive tradition of Kwanzaa. As they participate in this special tradition, the families are united despite their different values. When the family leaves, the Proud’s return to the shelter only to find that the homeless family is no longer there. Instead, a different homeless family appear. The scenarios in this episode are unexpected. However, the lessons and experiences are very clear. The time shared between both families was facilitated by several values. Grace allows us to extend ourselves to people who are different from us (The Proud’s inviting the homeless family to their home). Compassion enables openness to receive and give generously (sharing a meal and learning from different cultural experiences). Mercy allows us to make mistakes and learn from each other (dealing with misunderstandings and difficult topics). Faith gives us the hope to endure difficulty, especially when our circumstances are difficult (the different homeless family at the shelter that the Proud’s helped).
To share in the Christmas story is special. To believe in the Christmas story is the beginning of a hope that endures this lifetime and the next. Whether you are a Christian or sharing in the tradition, slowing down might be advantageous.
Ponder on the moments of grace, mercy, and compassion experienced in the year. Prepare to enjoy the time we’ll share with our friends and loved ones. Pray for a future filled with peace and enough to share with others. Its been a joy to write for Almost Gen Z this year. Thank you for joining me. I wish you strength for today and hope for tomorrow.
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