'Twas the Day After Christmas When Sunday falls on the day after Christmas, if often means low attendance; so I’m pleasantly surprised today. But the last time Sunday fell on the day after Christmas, I decided to take a chance and do something a little different for the sermon. So I decided that I’d share it again this “day after Christmas.” Now I used as my inspiration, a poem we all know by Clement Moore, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, we call it; The Visit of St. Nicholas is its real title; and basically it’s a poem about Santa Claus. Now the original Santa Claus, so the legend goes, was really a very popular 4th century bishop of the town of Myra, in Asia minor or Turkey today. And, as the story goes, Bishop Nicholas (later to be called St. Nicholas), would travel in his red bishop’s robe on Christmas Eve, leaving gifts at the front door for the children of his parish. And I do believe he and his red garment are still very much alive today. Now Clement Moore wrote a very lovely and entertaining update of St. Nicholas, and because of the popularity of his poem, Santa Claus, as the name evolved, has become a central figure of our Christmas celebration today. And I like Santa Claus, but I do find it just a little disconcerting that a minister, as Thomas Moore was, wrote a Christmas poem that is completely secular from beginning to end, without any mention of Jesus Christ or the nativity in the poem. Well, I’ve entitled my poem, for today’s meditation, ‘Twas the Day After Christmas, and it has no Santa Claus.
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‘Twas the day after Christmas, And the afterglow linger-- bright, dancing eyes and little fingers which opened gifts with shouts of glee carefully placed ‘neath the Christmas tree.
“So cute, this little lamb, my favorite gift,” said daughter Ann. The down blanket was Mom’s delight. Says she, “it’ll keep me warm throughout the night.”
We had visitors on that special day. Grandma and Grand pop came our way, and Uncle Charlie and Aunt Sue— they came to visit us, too.
But why all these gifts and guests and cheer? And why do we do this year after year? It’s a story we all should know, and it started back 2000 years ago.
‘Twas the day after Christmas
and the afterglow linger-- bright, dancing eyes and little fingers of a beautiful baby born this day, lying beneath a blanket of hay.
Mary and Joseph were filled with joy, what a gift was the little boy! The animals, too, seemed to understand-- the donkey, the camels, even the lamb.
That family too had visitors that night; shepherds came, speaking of an angelic sight, and wonder of all, they were also told that kings were approaching with gifts of gold.
So their makeshift house was full, that eve. Such a story, surely, no one would believe. But Mary and Joseph knew more than they said about this child on the manger bed.
‘Twas the day after Christmas
Mary and Joseph, alone with their child asleep in the manger so gentle and mild. But in the back of their minds, they gaze: ‘What child is this, God asks us to raise?’
Much was foretold about this event. Mighty prophets and angels were sent. They knew that ahead lies a ministry; but much yet remains a mystery.
The shepherds, gone to their flock that night filled more with awe than their initial fright, were wondering, too, what this episode meant-- the manger, the baby, the angelic event.
The Wisemen, also, had traveled far, following for months a holy star. They were seekers of wisdom and mystery revealed; but the truth of the baby was still concealed.
But today, today we know the fuller stor-- how such humble beginnings ended in glory; for this baby so innocent and mild no longer, for us, remains a child.
We know how he grew in wisdom and stature, How he taught the scribes with insight from Scripture; how he began his public mission following the event of John’s baptism.
We follow him down the hills of Galilee, teaching the lessons that can set us free: how we should love friends and enemies both; how charity and prayer lead to spiritual growth.
He taught us most about God’s wondrous love, and how God’s grace is a gift from heaven above. The stories and parables stay in our mind. He taught us the truth, and how to be kind.
But his teachings are only half the picture. To see how he lived makes us even richer: how he listened, and loved, and healed, and prayed. How we should live is the example he gave.
To know him in life was to know the great loss, when the wood of the manger became the wood of the cross. Then, on the cross, the message was clear how much he loved us and held us dear.
But there’s more—oh, if Mary had only known how on the third day a new seed was sown; how his resurrection announced eternal life and confirmed our hope that this was the Christ.
And how, from despondency, the Disciples went out to announce to the world, as if with a shout-- “The Gospel is true! We can spread the word of all that we’ve seen and all that we’ve heard.”
‘Twas the day after Christmas.
So many gift both received and given; “‘tis more blessed to give,” it is written. But is it? Is that always the case, with a gift so filled with love and grace?
On this day after, should we not rather receive God’s greatest gift, so we believe. For when Jesus becomes our Lord and Savior, life finds meaning, and color, and flavor.
Look at the Christ, Here is the model of fullness of life, if only we follow. Look at the Christ. We see God’s love then, now, and forever from heaven above.
Look at the Christ. He says, “It’s true— God’s love is a gift that is given to you.” Look at the Christ, our Lord and Savior. Receive the gift, oh sister and brother.
‘Twas the day after Christmas
The shepherds return to their hillside flocks; the children have opened their Christmas socks; the Wisemen now travel in countries far; and in the heavens, no special star.
No angels, no announcements today; and all of our guests have gone away. But meet this not with tears and chagrin, for the real work of Christmas must now begin.
To share the gift is now ours to do-- that’s what Christ asks of me and you; to share our love with family and friends; and with those we’ve hurt, to make amends;
to heal the sick and feed the hungry; to give hope to a world that’s broken and angry; to know in our hearts, we’ve done our best; and then allow God to do the rest.
‘Twas the day after Christmas.
It’s easy to see. The world is different. We all agree. For in our darkness his come a great light with the birth of Christ on that holy night.
And as Christians, one thing we believe, it was the greatest gift we’ll ever receive. And if there’s one message we need to hear it’s to share the gift throughout the year. |