As the calendar turns to December, the church begins a new year. No doubt there are many interesting traditions and practices you do as part of your Christmas preparations. We unpack memories with our cherished decorations. Certain events, particular moments, come into view each and every year at this special time. Some may be joyous; others are sorrows. This may be a year without: a loved one, a particular tradition, a particular preparation.
One tradition I cherish is our family nativity set on the fireplace mantel. Since Christmas, 1999, this particular Wal-Mart purchased, Chinese manufactured collection of ceramic figurines has warmed our hearts through the years. If you were to visit our home on Prairie Avenue, you would find the backdrop already set up, with our lone shepherd and a small sheep wandering outside of it.
No Mary. No Joseph. No tiny Jesus. No wise men and their camel entourage. Just a shepherd and his lone sheep.
Are these parts missing? No. It is because their parts of the story have not arrived yet. The season is Advent, preparing, not Christmas. I do not know about you, but a month of preparation still catches me a bit unprepared to receive this timeless story in its fullness. God with us. God dwelling not in heaven, but here, on earth, the son of a teenage mother and his perceived older father.
We receive our two versions of the story from two gospels, Matthew & Luke. Both stories are usually conflated into one singular story, although the differences between each are striking. Each story has its own influences, its own persuasive power. They are not news reports; they are arguments that state the true son of God (and it’s not the Roman Emperor) came to peasants and among the poor.
A birth happens on one day most of the time. It seems odd to celebrate it an entire month, with every element of the story standing faithfully as part of the decorations. Yet, the story begins as a journey. A journey to Bethlehem.
Mary and Joseph will not be in our nativity until December 24. Oh, they are traveling through the house, mind you; spotted on a random shelf or piece of furniture. The wise men are traveling too; their gifts and their animals spotted in other places throughout the house. The figurine of baby Jesus will be placed in the nativity on December 25, the celebrated birthday. Our wise men figurines will arrive on January 6, twelve days after Christmas, beginning the season of Epiphany.
This year, try not to rush right into Christmas. Spend a little time with Advent, preparing the way. Advent is not to be like Lent; it is a season of hope, joy, expectation. If you are tired of Christmas by the time it arrives, then you have not practiced Advent properly. Choose to practice a little hope, joy, and expectation this Advent season. Christmas will come.
