…If anyone had reason to feel weary, it was Simeon and Anna. After a lifetime of devotion to God it would be easy to retire and pass the torch to the next generation. Yet they remained faithful to the end and in their final days sang out the hymns of joy and praise that the world might see the light that had entered their darkness.

Christmas is not about a temporary season of hope and joy amid despair. Though the strings of lights may come down in a few weeks, we do not have to return to darkness. When we sing “the weary world rejoices”, is not only on that single Holy Night.

Weariness is temporary. Rejoicing is forever!

In her song of praise, Mary clearly proclaims the Good News of the Gospel of Peace. God lifts up the lowly and fills the hungry. Good news indeed.

That is, unless you are among the powerful brought down from your throne or among the rich going away empty handed. Honestly, I’m not so sure someone like Herod considered this very good news.

One of the greatest struggles in our society is the notion of a zero-sum game. We have been conditioned to believe that we never have enough and that for someone else to get more somehow implies that we get less. If everyone has equal status and is provided all they need, then no one is more worthy or esteemed or privileged than another.

Jesus breaks the chains of oppression, but for those of us who benefit from oppressive systems, do we really want him to?…

…We sing a lot this time of year about worshipping and bowing before Christ our King, but the more surprising question of Christmas is, where are we to find this king and to whom is the invitation to honor him sent? In the Emmaus and Pilgrimage community we often say a prayer that goes something like this. “Lord, bless the one who needs a touch from you the most and bless the one who has the tremendous problem of thinking they have no problems at all.” It’s funny how we sing about God knowing our need and our weakness while we ourselves are often the first to say we don’t need anything and are the last to admit our weakness. As Matthew West writes in his latest song, “Truth Be Told,” we say,

"I'm fine, yeah, I'm fine, oh, I'm fine, hey, I'm fine"
But I'm not, I'm broken
And when it's out of control I say it's under control
But it's not and You know it…

…The good news of the Christmas story is that God meets us first in the manure, not in the mansion. Well, it’s good news, that is, if we’re actually willing to step into the mess and kneel before the newborn king in the manger.