12-25-25

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
December 25, 2025
Throughout the Season of Advent, we have talked extensively about expectations. If you are reading this, it might be because you have just taken a break from putting together some toy that had really bad instructions or maybe you got up early and your Christmas plans are much later in the day. Or maybe… (there are about a million possibilities). In the end, my hope and “expectation” for all who are reading this to be reminded that the Good News of Emmanuel is that God is with us. That gift is not because we passed a test, achieved an excellent score on the righteousness scale, or because we purchased some really good gifts. God came into the world in the form of a child to communicate, among other things, the nature of God—past, present, and future. God is forever present to us, seeking ways of showing up to impart the message that we are loved unconditionally by a God whose love is limitless, works outside the pettiness of human beings, and refuses to give up on anyone. In a world that is trying to sell us a very different version of Jesus, especially at this Christmas time, take a moment and allow yourself to be captivated by the beauty and power of the Christmas Story. At no point did an angel announce, “God thinks you’re finally deserving of this gift.” Instead, the angel proclaimed, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” It is a gift for all people, and as you’ve heard me say many times, all means all. There is no asterisk or footnote with the exceptions. People add those, but God never has and never will. Merry Christmas! You are loved!!

Glory be to you, O God who resides in the highest heaven while also choosing to show up among us. It is an act of awe-inspiring grace, and we cannot believe it is a one-and-done act. If this gift we know as Jesus is the Incarnation, the visible expression of what is not visible to us, then we are only beginning to understand the transformative power and far-reaching character of your love. What an amazing day! May the joy we experience continue to reside within us every single day of the year. Amen.