Steve here with a short Christmas homily.
I just looked up "homily" and came up with two potential definitions:
1. A tedious moral discourse.
2. A religious discourse which is intended primarily for spiritual edification rather than doctrinal instruction.
I will let you decide which of the those definitions to apply to the following.
We went to Renee's church last night (Phinney Ridge Lutheran) for a delightful Christmas Eve service. The children's choir was out in full force, along with wonderful instrumental music and great singing all around. People were dressed in the festive best and there were smiles all around. What's more, even the communion bread was homemade and there was real wine! How cool is that? I realize that you aren't supposed to rate communion on how good the elements taste, but thought I would throw that in just as an aside. And one more thing: there was no sermon! Apologies to all you hard-working pastors and ministers out there who burn the midnight oil to come up with interesting sermons each week. Just saying that last night, I was happy to skip it. So instead, you dear folks get one this morning. It won't be a long one.
I just wanted to say that singing the songs about Joy to the World, Away in a Manger, and those dear heralding angels really drove home the point of what all this Christmas hullaballoo is about. God stepped out of eternity into time to bring any who ask into a state of grace and love through His dear Son. Lost souls being found. And that's the Christian message pure and simple. A huge corollary to that, is that we, too, are creatures of eternity. One day each of us will breathe our last and at that point, we will step from a world of time into eternity. That's an awesome thought.
In the recent weeks and months, being faced with the terror of a cancer that just doesn't want to give up easily, it is a welcome meditation to reflect upon the fact that life here on earth is but a vapor as St. James so eloquently wrote. And that, my friends, is something worth rejoicing over.
As Gabrielle faces a very daunting and scary scan on the 29th, this is a good time to step back and realize that God is behind everything and that He has Gabrielle, and all of us, in the palms of His hands. What better place to be than that?
Merry Christmas! Or as Tiny Tim would say, "God bless us everyone!"
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