That’s my guess, anyway. In a neighborhood (and, lets face it, a nation) festooned with Yule trees, lighted bushes and rooflines, blow-up Santas, wire reindeer, Yodas, and Minions ... it may seem strange that one of Diana Rowland’s neighbors took umbrage at her use of dragons for Christmas decorations. The AP story reported that her anonymous neighbor left a note suggesting the dragons were demonic and that Rowland didn’t “know the true meaning of Christmas.”
OK, yes, inflatable dragons are different. But demonic? I guess that is one of those “eye of the beholder” things. If we’re going to have to restrict our displays to just manger scenes ... well, people can get creative, there, too. One recent manger scene was rendered Hipster style. Mary and Joseph are shown taking a selfie with the baby. The three wisemen are rendered as Amazon delivery people on Segway scooters. There’s a solar collector on the roof ... and a drone.
Don’t get me wrong. I love a well-crafted manger scene. But considering how little we actually know about the night of Jesus’ birth, it might be that we would have to remove several manger scenes for not accurately reflecting what scripture actually says about it. Were there hipsters at Jesus’ birth? Unlikely. Dragons? Also unlikely. Same for Minions. And Christmas trees, light strings, inflatable ... well, anythings.
In fact, little-to-nothing of modern Christmas decoration relates directly to the birth of Jesus.
If we find ourselves spending an inordinate amount of time thinking about how such things don’t capture “the true meaning of Christmas,” it just might be that our focus is in the wrong place. Instead of thinking about how wrong everyone is in their approach to this holiday period, we should invest those brain cells and emotional energy in meditating on what was (and is) really happening.
And to that end, I recommend Mary’s lovely speech in this week’s selection from Luke. It is often called The Magnificat.
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
(Luke 1:46-55 NRSV - http://bible.com/2016/luk.1.46-55.nrsv)
Magnify the Lord, keeper of promises.
Rejoice in God’s mercy.
Lift up the lowly.
Fill the hungry.
Mary knew where the focus should be this season.
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PHOTO: Steve Orr
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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
Fourth Sunday of Advent (December 23, 2018)
https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu//
Micah 5:2-5a
Psalm 80:1-7
Hebrews 10:5-10
Luke 1:39-45, (46-55)
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Join us Friday morning for DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast. As usual, we start at 8:00 at the Waco “Egg and I” restaurant. The hour that follows is packed with Bible, discussion, food, fellowship, and prayer. It is a blessing.
Merry Christmas!
Steve
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