For many years I, like many other Christians, lament that Christmas is too big, too much, too out of control. I have preached that we have forgotten what the season is about.
However, this year I have felt something different. I feel that we need Christmas to be big and out of control. We need it to be filled with over-the-top celebrations. We need the big parties and the big presents. We need things to be over the top because things seem so out of control these days.
I foolishly thought the pandemic would be over by now, and we would be back to what we normally do. But the truth is that this year is even harder to decide what the right thing to do is.
Last year there was no doubt that we wouldn’t be having Christmas eve worship in person, in our building. There was no doubt that I wouldn’t be able to see my family. There was no doubt that we would not be going to or having Christmas parties. This year we have to struggle over all those decisions.
We have to balance the health and safety of ourselves, those we love, and our neighbors. We have to balance all that with our need to be together, to celebrate, to rejoice.
I so want to go overboard this year with lavish parties and gatherings. I so want Christmas to be big. That has not been possible this year. So instead I am counting on something more — a miracle.
That is what Christmas is also about. The miracle of God’s love for us, our love for each other, and peace on earth. I am holding out this Christmas for something big to come from our smaller celebrations.
Perhaps this Christmas people will be a bit more kind to one another. Perhaps our politics will become less divisive. Perhaps we will care for those who will be sleeping in shelters or in their car. Perhaps love will be born into the hearts of all people, and we will understand each other more.
Perhaps we will study war no more. Perhaps people of different religious beliefs will respect each other’s faith. Perhaps we will do the work of dismantling systematic racism in our institutions.
I realize these are big things to ask, but as I said, I am holding out for a big out of control Christmas. I am holding out for peace on earth and goodwill for all people. I am holding out for a miracle. I wish it for all of you too.
(Rev. Jonathan Hopkins lives in Concord.)