Ransom

The other day, I ran into a craft store whose name starts with “M” and ends with “ichaels” (nope….not naming names….not me). I must have missed out on a memo because clearly, that store was the meeting place for all disgruntled, angry, bitter, and harried women. Carts ramming each other, scowls on every face I saw, sighs and tapping feet and crossed arms…. While I had run in to get little jars for anointing oil, I came out emptyhanded and downtrodden. It didn’t end there, as I was cursed at as I backed out of my parking space…for what, I still don’t know.

It made me sad and stayed with me far longer than it should have. I wasn’t upset that someone had spoken angry words at me; no, I prayed for the woman as I drove away and asked God to be visible and moving in her life. I wasn’t upset that I hadn’t found the bottles I was looking for; no, I made a call and someone else took care of it.

I was sad because this – this harried, bitter mess – is what we have made Christmas.

Christmas. The birth of Jesus. The advent of the Prince of Peace. The arrival of our Creator God here on earth, come to save us from sin and death and bondage.

And this? This is what we’ve made it? A time of rushing and spending and doing? A season of parties we don’t really want to go to, traffic we don’t want to sit in, money we don’t want to spend, and food we don’t really want to eat? The birthday of God in the flesh, our Emmanuel, has become a ritual of hedonism and grumpiness. To-do lists and credit cards. Hectic schedules and songs we sing but clearly, don’t believe.

Is this why He came?

I don’t want to be a downer. I don’t want to become grumpy and sad because of the grumpiness and sadness. I simply want to issue a challenge to you and to me this Christmas.

Can we refocus? Can we revisit what it’s all really about? Can we realize our very real captivity to materialism and sin and depression and embrace, for once, the One who came to stop it all? Can we celebrate His arrival for what it is – an end to darkness and hopelessness? The breaking of chains and the beginning of a new life?

Oh come, oh come, Emmanuel. Come, and ransom us. Let us rejoice.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.