Christmas message from the Uniting Church
UNITING CHURCH in AUSTRALIA
Christmas Message – 2023. Does Christmas Make Sense?
When surveying people about ‘what Christmas meant to them’, many spoke about family, presents, pressure and holidays. When asked what they needed to be saved from, many said; the cost of presents, the pressure of having to do things they normally wouldn’t do, mixing with people they preferred to avoid, the frustration of shopping and the endless excessive preparation.
So, what makes sense of Christmas? What makes Christmas meaningful?
Why do we celebrate?
Statistics indicate higher suicide rates, increased domestic violence, relationship breakdowns, higher stress levels at work and at home and a real sense of disappointment at the end of the day.
So, what is the “reason for the season”?
Why do we endure the guilt, resentment, shame and grudges? Why do we put ourselves through the depression and despair that often accompanies the frantic activity? Why, at the end of the day, there is exhaustion and emptiness for so many.
The Bible tells us that Christmas is the celebration of Good News for everyone. Good News, for God loves us so much he is prepared to be with us forever, loving and caring for us in all circumstances. Even when we are affected by those things listed above, God’s present to us, Jesus, offers us forgiveness, confidence, and hope. Jesus fills our heart with meaning and a real purpose for life.
We don’t have to fill our lives with material things to make Christmas meaningful. We find meaning, purpose, hope and happiness can’t be purchased or earnt. They are gifts given to us by God when we allow Jesus to be central in our lives. When we start seeing others as Jesus saw them, and treat them with the same love, compassion, and respect.
But Jesus isn’t going to come and break down the door of your heart. Remember the angel said to the shepherds, “I bring you Good News of great joy.” They only brought the Good News, it was up to the shepherds to do something about it; and they chose to receive it, and to act on it.
That same message is for you this Christmas. The greatest “present” you can receive is the gift the angel announced, “to you a Saviour is born”. You can receive this gift, but you must open it to see what it contains; see how it can bring about changes in your life; and then do something about it.
Christmas only makes sense when you open all the presents and allow the gift of Jesus to transform your life, bringing about a renewed relationship with God, others and yourself.
Rev Jim Furze