Not very Christmasy

John Irving, in his novel, “A Prayer for Owen Meaney”, relates the hysterical story of a Christmas pageant at the local Episcopalian church. I will leave you to read it to discover why it is so funny (and there are many reasons). Owen, whose irrepressible vision for the pageant takes over, at one point complains about the singing of one of the verses of “We three Kings of Orient are.” His objection is that the last couple of lines, “Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying; Sealed in a stone-cold tomb,” don’t sound “very Christmasy.” Owen is right. They don’t.

The Gospel reading for the second Sunday in Advent is about the heralding work of John the Baptist and his message of repentance. I suspect that Owen Meaney would find this text similarly un-Christmasy:

“His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” Matthew 3:12

Both John Henry Hopkins, who wrote “We Three Kings” and the creators of the lectionary were right to put the birth of Jesus, the Incarnation, in the larger context of his full redeeming work. In the hymn we are reminded of his crucifixion and death and, in the Gospel text appointed for this day, of his coming again in glory to judge the earth. What has become the heartwarming (and perhaps rather sentimentalized) picture of Mary, Joseph and a cluster of devoted animals gazing lovingly at the inf ant God, is only part of the picture. As an aside, I’m not convinced the actual experience of Mary and Joseph was as idyllic and picturesque as the nativity scenes that adorn our mantelpieces. Childbirth in the best of circumstances is a messy business. It is unlikely that it was improved by the presence of cow dung.

The Will Ferrell character in Talledega Nights addresses his prayers at mealtime to “Baby Jesus.” As our thoughts in this season turn to Christmas it is very easy, like Ricky Bobby, to think only of the cute baby and to forget that his birth has implications of cosmic proportions. And between the charming stable scene and the final glory of heaven is the further messy business of the cross and his judgment.

There is chaff in our lives - useless, wasteful, unlovely and unholy things that fill up space, but provide no value to us or to others. Jesus you who are Babe, Lord and Judge, we ask you to bring your winnowing fork among us. Shake us Lord.

Come Lord Jesus, come and clear the threshing floor. Remove the chaff from our lives and the life of your Church, that all that is not of you may be burned and that all that is good, true and holy may be blessed and affirmed. Gather us, with all your saints, that we may dwell now and forever in your presence.