Author: Higher Things

Jonathan Kohlmeier

The music stops. The lights fade. The trees come down. Unwanted gifts get returned.

That’s what happens now that Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning have passed. That’s what happens everywhere but the church. The church continues on in its lonely celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord.

While the Christmas themed candy and decorations go on sale in stores, the church is just beginning its twelve day feast in celebration of the Nativity! Not with pear tree dwelling partridges, golden rings, leaping lords, or piping pipers but with the Word made Flesh, the body and blood of Christ given for the forgiveness of sins. The church joins with the angels and archangels and the whole company of heaven in celebrating the coming of Emmanuel in the flesh.

The world looks on and laughs, “Don’t they know Christmas is over?” “How can they celebrate Christmas without gifts?” “Feast of the Nativity? Doesn’t look like much of a feast to me.”

The world gets it wrong. It fails to see that Christmas is the celebration of the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us. That Word made Flesh still dwells among us in His gifts! No, the gifts don’t sit nicely waiting under a tree to be opened. The gifts that were won on the Good Friday Tree are delivered directly to you, freely! The old Adam is daily drowned in your baptism. The words of absolution are delivered directly into your ear. The Christmas feast of the body and blood of Christ are placed into your mouth.

But the church’s Christmas celebration doesn’t stop after this twelve day feast either! In the Nicene Creed, we continue confessing that Jesus Christ “for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man.” At the beginning of the Divine Service, we join in the Christmas song of the angels, “Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” The Word is delivered into our ears in absolution and in the lectionary readings. Your mouth becomes a manger, the place where Christ is, as His body and blood under the bread and wine are placed into your mouth.

That’s the church year! All the seasons run together. We continue praying the Advent prayer of “Come, Lord Jesus.” Those prayers are answered when He comes and is revealed in His gifts. He has mercy upon His people, in the forgiveness of sins won for us on the cross. His gifts enliven us to serve our neighbor.

Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas throughout this twelve day feast! Merry Christmas whenever you sing the Gloria in Excelsis and say the Creed! Merry Christmas as the Word made Flesh is placed into your mouth at the communion rail! Merry Christmas as you receive the Lord’s Gifts, all year round!

Jonathan Kohlmeier is a member of Mount Zion Lutheran Church in Greenfield, WI and the IT Assistant for Higher Things. His favorite Christmas hymn is the From Above conference hymn, Of the Father’s Love Begotten.

Rev. Mark Buetow

One of my favorite things this time of year is the lights. Christmas lights. Maybe it’s because it gets dark so early now here in the Northern Hemisphere. Maybe it’s because I don’t generally like things dark. But I do enjoy sitting with no lights on in the house but the Christmas tree and trim lights. I like driving down Main Street in our little town, seeing the light poles adorned with twinkling lights. I eagerly anticipate the candlelight singing of “Silent Night” in the church lit only by candles and Christmas tree lights. Perhaps I like the lights so much because they are a reminder of Jesus, the Light of the world.

The prophet Isaiah says that “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” (Is. 9:2). When the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, St. John writes that He is the “True Light coming into the world. The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it.” (John 1:5). Later, Jesus says of Himself, “I AM the Light of the World.” (John 8:12). Jesus. Light. Dispelling darkness. Making things bright. Brighter than Christmas tree lights. Brighter than Rudolph’s nose. A Light so bright it destroys the shadows and darkness even of sin, of despair and of death.

We live in a dark world. It’s dark with sin. People do whatever they want. The selfishness of sinners knows no upper limit. The cruelty and hatred we exhibit can always sink lower. We live in a world dark with sadness. Suffering. Sickness. The inevitable rush toward death. We live in a world dark with despair. Some people are so hurting that they see nothing but darkness all around them. A darkness they so much want to fall into and maybe, seeing no hope, will try to plunge themselves into. We live in a world glaring with the harsh lights of a holiday that few understand. Outwardly, the world cranks up the wattage until it can match the Griswold’s house from “Christmas Vacation” while inwardly it is dying of sadness and gloom with bah-humbuggery and disgust at the whole thing.

Into that darkness, angels appear over Bethlehem. Into that darkness, the Word-made-flesh shows His face from a manger. Into that darkness, the Father places a star to guide magi. Into that darkness Jesus walks, head on. To the darkness of Good Friday. To the darkness of a newly cut tomb. Into darkness. To light it up like Christmas lights and candles. To shine the light of Himself to send death and sin scurrying, retreating, fading, wiping out shadows, darkness gone.

Into your darkness too. Whatever that darkness may be. Despair. Doubts. Unbelief. Sins inside yourself. Sin around you. Families falling apart. Death stealing your friends. Hurt and sorrow around you. The great emptiness of the world’s Christmas. Into all of it, the Light of Christ shines for you. It’s light in your Baptism, brightening by the absolution and shining forth in the Supper where the flesh and blood of the Light of the World almost glow and radiate forgiveness. Peace. Light. No shadows there. No darkness. Can’t be. Those are the gifts of the Light of the World. Jesus is the Light of the World. His gifts bring Light to rescue you from every darkness there is.

That’s why I like Christmas lights. They remind me of Jesus. And whether they give you a sense of wonder and peace or not, whether the whole Christmas extravaganza is something you relish or could do without, know this: Wherever there is darkness, the Light of Christ shines. Nothing can put it out. For He shines to bring His Light to you that you may be forever comforted and never afraid of the dark.

Rev. Mark Buetow is pastor of Bethel Lutheran Church in Du Quoin, IL. He is also the Media Executive for Higher Things. Which means he writes a lot, edits a lot, tells Stan and Jon what to do a lot, and puts out a video short each week.