Rector's Reflections

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!' So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God. -- Galatians 4:4-7

The holidays are often times in which we socialize with friends and family, observe long-held traditions, and settle in to what is ideally a comfortable space in our lives. Of course, human life being what it is, the "perfect" Christmas is largely an illusion. We might be mourning a loved one, getting over an illness, or having to deal with family members who are--a challenge--to deal with, especially with a bit of holiday cheer thrown in. Christmas is also often a time in which expectations are impossibly high and there is often a let down feeling following Christmas. Then, too, by now the "after Christmas" sales are in full swing and the world has moved in to New Year's Day or even Valentine's Day!

But the wonderful thing about the fact that Christmas is twelve days long is that we can settle in to celebrating the anniversary of the birth of the Christ child and not to jam everything into 24 hours. That celebration is not merely the celebration of the birth of Jesus, but the celebration of our own adoption into God's family through baptism. The wonder of Christmas is that just as God came into the world as a human child, that child's birth, life, death, and resurrection enabled us to be God's children--so familiar that we can call God, the Creator of the Universe, "Abba!" ("Daddy!"). It is that familial and familiar relationship with God that give our lives purpose and power. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and rejoice!