Christmas On!

 

I need to thank Carolyn Arends for bringing the following John Blase poem to my attention.

In the face of seasoned waves of evil

that we would sing that old noel,

that we would hang lights on branches,

that we would give gifts to others

even if that gift is only ourselves --

this, this is a defiance seemingly impotent

against the principalities and powers who

daily conspire to convince us that

we are alone and love is a lie.

But do not be deceived for the demons themselves

tremble at such quaintness.

Sisters and brothers,

Christmas on.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

This is the reason I still get a lump in my throat at the end of the silly song by the Royal Guardsmen about Snoopy and the Red Baron. The Red Baron forces Snoopy's "World War I flying ace" to land, then pops open a bottle and makes a toast, "Merry Christmas, my friend!"

https://youtu.be/0-hWZGIWe_U?si=T6p-ot5xLcOrJbBl

Truth is...We are not alone. Love is not a lie. Yahweh did not send his son into the world to condemn us, but to save us. Yes, no matter how jaded and divided our culture becomes, I will Christmas on like nobody's business.

Following Jesus When Heaven Speaks and Earth Scoffs

 

According to Jesus' biographers, not everybody thought he was anything special. Even with huge crowds following him around to hear him speak and receive healing, Jesus definitely had his detractors.

Mark 2:3-7 (CSB)
They came to him bringing a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they were not able to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and after digging through it, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

But some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts: “Why does he speak like this? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Matthew 12:22-24 (CSB)
Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and unable to speak was brought to him. He healed him, so that the man could both speak and see. All the crowds were astounded and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”

When the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man drives out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.”

Dear Jesus,

You were falsely accused. Your parentage was questioned. Your clear claims of divinity and demonstrations of power were called unholy and attributed to Lucifer.

And you took it all with a sense of peace and calm born from your inner conviction and absolute confidence of who you were.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...I need to forget about wanting man's approval or applause and live my life in step with the Spirit  -  doing what he urges; shouting from rooftops what he whispers in my ear. (Matthew 10:27)