The newspaper sat out on our driveway well into the day today. Most mornings, one of the first things that happens in our house is that someone brings in the newspaper. I got up and started doing a variety of other things. Then I realized that I had not gotten the newspaper. Once I noticed this, I became aware that I did not want to get the newspaper because I knew what was going to be on the front page and I did not want to see it. Finally late in the morning my husband, Jeff, brought in the paper. And later in the day, I glanced at the paper, but couldn’t bring myself to read the full account of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary. There were plenty of other things I needed to be doing today.
So, we proceeded with baking Christmas cookies. Then we went shopping for the 17 year old student we are adopting for Christmas and got him a plaid shirt, a Guy Harvey t-shirt, a football, chocolates, socks, and underwear. Then it was on to the grocery store and preparing snacks to bring to the church Christmas caroling event later in the day. I spent about an hour putting some things on eBay – some china and glassware, that might make good Christmas gifts. Then, it was off to sing Christmas carols to the homebound members of our church family.
I realized that everything I was doing was holiday oriented. What about proceeding with holiday activities in the face of the horrendous shootings? Is it crass? Is it denial? Is it apathy? Is it numbness to violence? Is it self-interest. This doesn’t directly affect me, so why should I worry about it? It’s not my problem.
When I think about the deep themes of Christmas, like our focus for the season, Glad tidings of great joy to ALL people, I realize that we NEED to celebrate Christmas. In the face of this terrible tragedy, we need to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We need to celebrate our faith. We need to carry on with our celebration of the core values of Christianity that are at the heart of the Christmas story. We need this because this is the hope that drives away despair. Jesus was born precisely because the world is violent and out of control and people do heinous things to each other. That’s why he came. To show us another way. To offer healing from our desire for vengeance and retribution. If the world was all peace-love-dove, Jesus would not have been needed. He came precisely because he offers an alternative to the way we let things get out of hand. He came because the world is a mess. Jesus offers the antidote to power-seeking and the tyranny of self-interest. Jesus is precisely what we need to heal and to face the future with hope in the wake of the Newtown killings. Our faith that another world is possible gives us the strength to go on.
The shootings at Sandy Hook bring home just how much the way of Jesus is needed today. We need his message of anti violence, of pacifism, of acceptance, of justice, of healing, of self-giving, and of transformation. Nothing is beyond the scope of his redemption. We need to celebrate the way of Jesus through this holy season now more than ever. Our activities may take on a new tenor, a different cast, an altered mood, but nonetheless, celebrate we must. Christmas is about the birth of the one who is glad tidings of great joy to ALL people – even people reeling from the Newtown killings. Especially people devastated by the killings.
Prayer: This season, we need the Prince of Peace more than ever. We need the wonderful counselor. We need the vulnerability of the baby in the manger to help us rediscover our humanity and heal. We need Christmas. Amen.
Lakewood United Church of Christ 