Second Sunday of Advent: December 8, 2024

“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.  He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. … If you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others?  Do not even pagans do that?  Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  Matthew 5:43-48

Illustration by Tuuli Ritchie (Age 12)

My daughters love to make homemade Christmas presents for me and their dad.  Over the years of their childhoods, we’ve been given gifts made out of Play-doh, Kleenex boxes, broken toys, and enormous, undryable amounts of glitter glue.  Please don’t ask me if I’ve kept all of the gifts.  I will remind you that it’s the thought that counts, and I’ve kept all of the thoughts.

While I realize that it’s important not to get caught up in the commercialization of Christmas and lose the true meaning, I think using our divinely given creativity to bring joy and light to others is important.  When you put Christmas lights outside your home, even if they don’t meet Clark Griswold’s standards, you will make a child smile.  If you bake cookies and take them to the office or drop them off at your local fire station, you are spreading good cheer.  Hang a goofy reindeer decoration on your rear-view mirror, and you might think twice about blowing your horn at the distracted driver who doesn’t hit the gas at the green light.

We all have some capacity to bring light into this world.  The wider we can shine that light, the better.  The sun shines on all of us.  Christ came to this broken world and died for all of us.  When the lights are turned off during the Christmas Eve service, all those tiny candle flames break through the darkness.  Let’s reflect the light this Christmas.

Heavenly Creator, thank you for starry skies, flowers that bloom in the winter, and the laughter of children.  Help us mature in your Spirit and creatively demonstrate your fruits: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Amen

Courtney Ritchie 

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