by Michael Podrebarac
I once heard a radio sermon which was a sobering reminder of how easy it is to lose sight of the real meaning of this holy time of the Christian year.
The sermon was titled, “The People Who Missed Christmas,” and it included the following folks who, despite being right there at Jesus’ birth, missed it altogether. And it served as a reminder of how easy it is for us to “miss” Christmas as well, if we’re not careful.
An innkeeper missed Christmas because of preoccupation. Preoccupied with the throngs of people who had come to Bethlehem to register for the Roman census, he forfeited the privilege of hosting the birth of the incarnate Son of God in his own home. We, too, can become preoccupied with the details of the season and miss hosting the birth of Christ in our hearts if we’re not careful.
King Herod missed Christmas because of jealousy. When asked by the Magi about the newborn King of the Jews, he was filled with bitter and fearful envy, and even used the murder of the children of Bethlehem to try and thwart God’s will from happening. We can also be jealous of God’s sovereignty over our lives if we’re not careful.
The priests and the scribes missed Christmas because of indifference. Although they were the ones whom Herod consulted, and although they knew by heart the prophecies, they never went to Bethlehem to see for themselves what might be taking place. They were content and self-satisfied with the way things were, and all of Jerusalem with them. As such, the “welcome committee” of Christmas consisted of the gentile Magi, some lowly shepherds and a couple of eccentrics from the temple named Simeon and Anna. We, too, at times can be slow to welcome Jesus into our lives if we’re not careful, especially when we grow complacent and comfortable and simply satisfied with the way things are.
The Romans missed Christmas because of idolatry, for they preferred their own false gods (in whom few placed any real trust) as well as their idols of conquering power and absolute authority. We can find ourselves worshiping the idols of power, status, money, pleasure, etc., if we’re not careful.
Finally, Nazareth itself missed Christmas — the essence thereof — because of familiarity. When Jesus proclaimed himself as the fulfillment of the Scriptures, they tried to seize and kill him. Their faith was so weak that he was unable to perform more than a few signs in their midst. A presumptive familiarity with Our Lord can also render us weak in conviction if we’re not careful.
Let’s not be like those folks who missed Christmas! Let’s be careful, and keep Christmas!
