Wednesday, December 23, 2015

MERRY CHRISTMAS --- TAKE HOPE

I'm more of an Advent than a Christmas day person but I do admit that I like the Christmas season. 

I like the lights and the trees and the decorations and the music and the food and the presents and the laughter. 

I like it that people get generous at this time of the year and I like it that for a time, brief though it be, our culture reaches out and touches others, especially children, and attempts to bring a season of hope to them. 

HOPE---What a great idea.  It may just be, in summary form, the purpose of the existence of the Church. 

What the world does once a year ought to be normal, everyday living in the Church the baby of Bethlehem founded.  Givers of hope, that's who we are; Sharers of hope...Benefactors of hope...Present in the world to bestow to others the one thing most needed in the human experience...HOPE. 

Long after the holidays the Church will still be open for business, sharing the Good News.  And, we'll do it not for any financial gain, as does a world gone materialistically mad.  We'll just do it for Jesus.  Why?  Because "we cannot help speaking about what we've seen and heard" (Acts. 4:20).


Merry Christmas; may you be filled with the God of hope.