As I write this column the day after black Friday, I cannot help but be sad about the way the secular world seems to celebrate the birth of our Lord.

There were mobs and injuries as the Christmas shopping season began.

I had a conversation with someone about the fact that December 25 was originally a pagan festival of Saturnalia and that we only adopted it as Christ's birthday to discourage new Christians from celebrating the pagan holiday and the help them focus on Christ.  We were toying with the idea of giving that date back to those who would make it less that a Christ filled holiday and finding a new way and a new day to celebrate our Lord's birth or maybe just reemphasizing another Christian Holy day.

But we as Christians are not called to separate ourselves from this world even when it gets hard to be Christian in the midst of secular materialistic values.  We are called to be in this world and yet not of this world.  I believe that we are called to continue to celebrate Christmas in a way that honors the birth of new hope for this world.

When we live in this world but differently we invite others to notice and to join us.  We have enough resources and wealth in this world to share with those we love and also with those in need.

The ELCA and many other organizations are offering alternating giving opportunities for Christmas.  I invite you all to look at them.  Find ways to honor our traditions and the Lord and give generously to all.

By our lives and our gifts we can offer a glimpse of the Hope that was born and the Peace that was promised when Christ came among us as a child.


Lord,
Fill us with the joy of our savior's coming and show us how we might share that joy with those around us.
Amen