A Weary World Rejoices
The best-selling book in the English language is the King James Bible. The second best-selling book, or something close to it, is the “Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. Made and remade a hundred times over, the world knows the story of Scrooge, Tiny Tim, Marley, and the three phantoms who change Scrooge’s perspective on Christmas and indeed life. The ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future show Scrooge that Christmas is a joyful time of year, and that this joy is rooted in the Christmas message that we are not alone; God is with us, and we with each other.
Dickens crafts each ghost in relation to joy. The ghost of Christmas past appears as a child with fire burning on his head. We are told this fire signifies the passion of life. Christmas is often associated with childhood and nostalgia. These are seasons when passion runs high. When life is new and exciting. The Ghost of Christmas Past calls to mind these times and holds out hope that that ambiguous Christmas spirit may simply be the awe of rediscovering life. The Ghost of Christmas Present is joy and jolliness personified. Wrapped in a green cloak, wielding a horn of plenty, and topped with a crown of holly, this ghost means to visualize the outsized and even absurd nature of Christmas. With a hearty, not nostalgic greeting, he takes Scrooge to many homes on Christmas. None of these homes compares to Scrooge’s in stateliness or value, yet all dwarf the former in terms of joy and even goodness. Finally, the Ghost of Christmas Future stands juxtaposed with his supernatural compatriots. By drawing strong parallels to the Grim Reaper, Dickens brings to mind that which ought to give us pause: death. Death conjures both the need to make merry now and the need to be found righteous at one’s death. Christmas, with its celebrations and charities, offers a dual occasion to prepare for one’s death. The travels of the ghosts shed light on the bleak streets of Victorian England, even as they find those who are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Pollution, poverty, or even extreme comfort are all poor excuses for not having a merry Christmas.
We find ourselves weary at Christmas time. In our world, the snow does not fall, the chestnuts do not roast on the street corners, and the choirs do not wear top hats (No, Todd, don’t get any ideas). We are in some ways the better for it. Nostalgia is an enemy of joy. One can keep Christmas perfectly well while sitting on the porch of their patio home on an 80-degree day in Phoenix. Yet, we are weary and perhaps a bit numb. Like Scrooge, we get used to saying humbug at Christmas. A humbug on the company “Holiday” party, humbug to the same movies and songs about reindeer, and a humbug on all the gifts. This is ok. The Gospel is good news for Scrooges like us. The Gospel does not ask us to embrace the commercialization of Christmas. Christianity does not ask us to rejoice at gluttony, greed, envy, worry, and the worst excesses of American materialism. If you are over Christmas, that may be ok.
Christmas still ought to be a joyful time of year for the Christian. This begins by seeing God in the simple baby in the manger. He is the righteousness which we seek. Like the simple homes of “A Christmas Carol,” Jesus is simple. He also brings joy. When we hear the story that God is with us, shoulder to shoulder, and believe, how can we not be encouraged? When we hear that kings and shepherds alike bowed down to the baby boy, how can we not be inspired? The Gospel, in a broad sense, does ask those with plenty, or little, in their barns here to store up treasure in heaven. Yet, we look, and the greatest gift is already here. There is no greater gift we can give. We can’t out give God. He gives Himself to us ingrates. We are called to receive this gift together. In this news, we will choose to rejoice, for this purpose we will keep Christmas, and out of gratitude to God, we will be merry. From my family to yours, I wish you a very merry Christmas.
God bless us, everyone,
Pastor Kurt