The Meaning of Christmas

There is, in my opinion, an overused and often misused phrase about the “true meaning of Christmas.” Every proverbial Tom, Dick, and Harry claim to possess, then proclaim, that truth. Every year I wonder who am I writing this reflection to, and who am I writing it as. Is it as a pastor of a United Church congregation writing to his flock, or as a clergyman with his presence in the life of a wider community by virtue of some volunteer work, jokes and encounters on the streets, and many funerals and weddings for the proverbial “unchurched”? I ask myself by whose and what authority do I speak and write to you on a such important matters as faith, life, death, and life after death? While we wrestle with these questions, I will share with you my take on the meaning of Christmas, I will share with you, my truth. Do with that what you will.

According to Polish tradition we do not put away the Christmas tree till the Epiphany at the earliest, and Baptism of Jesus at the latest. Because that denotes the Christmas season. Bluntly put, the Christmas tree reminds us of what has happened, not of what is to come. That is what Advent is for, with Advent wreath, candles etc. Within the Christian, liturgical, calendar there is an embedded ongoing story, and an invitation to reflect on, and learn from, that story. Events such as Christmas, or Easter, or Epiphany, or Trinity Sunday are milestones on our journey of faith, the story of our salvation. Yep, chances are you are looking up the last two events on your internet search engine.

My point is, let us not make Christmas be all-and end-all event that, frankly, began two hours after the echo of the Remembrance Day service bugle faded into silence. Jesus in the crib, just like Jesus nailed to the cross (yes, one and the same) are but moments in history. Question is how they shape our story, how they affect us, and how do we respond. In my opinion, it is not enough to put up Christmas tree and sing “Joy to the World.” It is not enough to claim being saved because He died on the cross.  What matters is how we live our lives in-between and outside of these (and other) events. What matters is how our lives mirror the life that began in the manger and ended at the cross. Because that is how we make clear what Christmas, or Easter, mean to us.  I am not ashamed to admit that sometimes words fail me, or that someone simply said it better. So here are the ultimate words, in my opinion, on the meaning of Christmas.

When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and the princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flocks,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among people,
To make music in the heart.
Let the work of Christmas begin! Let’s begin it together!
- Howard Thurman (1899-1981)

Yet before we begin …. may the innocence of the newborn child be your lot, may Jesus’s passion for the poor and downcast be your lot, may His passion and conviction about the Kingdom of God be your lot, and may the journey that begins at Christmas become your adventure.  Unless, of course, you are not a Christian, and this is strictly secular festival for you to spend with your family while hoping for a better world. Then a very Happy Christmas to you as well and save me your roasted turkey carcass if you are not using it.

I pray God’s blessings and love on you all.

Your brother Piotr
The Rev. Piotr (Peter) Strzelecki VDM
St. Paul’s United Church