Jesus is harder to unwrap ...

by Bishop Claude Miller

As I think on our family traditions and rituals at Christmas, there is one I have not thought about much at all - the gathering around the Christmas tree and the unwrapping of the gifts - it just happens. On Christmas Eve someone will usually say “lets open our gifts now and not wait until tomorrow.” The rationale, the level of excitement and anticipation would be dissipated and we would all sleep better - but we always wait until Christmas Day. Following the Christmas morning service, and our Christmas brunch we gather around the Christmas Tree and someone volunteers to call out our names and hand us a beautifully wrapped gift, saying “this one’s for you Dad or Mom, or...”

For weeks prior to Christmas morning the frenzy of Christmas shopping is intense as we try to meet the expectations of those who will receive our expressions of love wrapped in multi-colored paper and ribbons. There is a marked contrast between the traditional exchange of gifts at Christmas and the words of that much loved hymn we sing during the Christmas season, “Love divine all loves excelling, joy of heaven to earth come down,...” God knows that his love is the only gift needed. That gift that came to us wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger - “this one’s for you...”

Marjorie A. Menaul writes “Jesus is harder to unwrap than the presents tied up with paper and ribbon. We won’t get Jesus unwrapped on Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day, or the during the twelve days of Christmas. As he lived on earth - the child of Mary and Joseph and Israel - the gift of God-with-us kept getting unwrapped, layer after layer. It was unwrapped as Jesus grew and taught and healed and lived and died and rose. We continue to unwrap it as the church struggles with times that change and human nature stays the same.” Our human nature that puts self first at the expense of others.

As we unwrap the beautiful expressions of love from our family and friends let us be reminded of God’s unfailing gift of his Son. And that God’s love coming- among- us might rekindle in our hearts a true love of compassion and mercy for all who dwell on the margins of our communities and society. Jesus proclaimed, when he taught in the synagogue, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, and to set at liberty those who are oppressed ...”

Our prayer at Christmas should be a prayer of thanksgiving for the gift of God’s love to the world. And may that incarnate love find a humble dwelling place in each of our hearts. Hearts that seek to serve him in this broken world.

May the Prince of Peace be your gift this Season.

Yours faithfully,

+Claude