Christmas Must Be Easter Too

At this, the fourth Sunday of Advent, most folks are chomping at the bit to get to Christmas Day.  Children are counting down to the night their stockings will be brimming full.  Kitchens are buzzing with baking and decorating scrumptious morsels.  Evergreens glisten with tinsel and lights warming the corner of living rooms. Frantic travelers take to the roads and the skies.  The time for celebration is drawing near.  Working in a church means that there is a bit extra to do in the office and with the congregation.  The next few days will bring me to preparing a few sermons.  For one in particular, we'll be considering a favorite hymn.

What child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The babe, the son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and donkeys are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spears shall pierce him through,
the cross he bore for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
the Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king, to own him.
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The babe, the Son of Mary.

The beautiful melody makes this one of my favorite carols of the season.  However, it's the words that are truly inspiring.  It has all of the elements to tell the story of Christ's birth . . . Mary, baby, shepherds, angels and gift bearing visitors.  Nestled with all of those iconic images of the perfect nativity scene are striking words.

Nails, spears shall pierce him through,
the cross he bore for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
the Babe, the Son of Mary.

If you're just singing along and not truly absorbing the lyrics it's easy to simply skim over those words.  In the midst of creating a peaceful atmosphere of infant Jesus, we're abruptly reminded of nails, death and the cross.  We're abruptly reminded that as we are joyful for the birth of Christ we are also simultaneously bound to him in his death. 

We can never simply celebrate the birth of Jesus.  To reduce the incarnation of God into this world as simply an arrival trivializes the redemption he came to offer.  Christmas must be Easter too.  To celebrate Christ's birth into this world is to celebrate the hand of God reaching out to offer sanctification through the suffering of the blameless.  With the manger we must acknowledge the cross.  We must tell the whole story of God's work in the world.  As we rejoice at stable door, may we also weep at the foot of the cross and wonder at the stoned rolled away. 

Prayers for you as you celebrate God's incarnation into the world and, in addition, his death and resurrection for the sake of all creation.  Happy fourth Sunday in Advent.  Amen.