GOD'S FAVOR

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What makes Christmas Christmas for us?
  • Singing carols?
  • Christmas trees?
  • Decorations?
  • Lights?
  • Presents?
  • Special foods and treats?
  • Hallmark Specials?
  • Shopping?
  • Credit card debt?
  • Parties with family and friends?

If we didn’t have any of those things, would it still be Christmas?

I think so, because Christmas is something that transcends all our traditions. Christmas is about God’s favor.

Some people think that if God favors us, we’re going to get all everything we think we deserve. God is like Santa Claus, and if we’re been good little boys and girls, we’ll get everything on our list.

Other people think that if God favors us, we’re God’s favorites. We belong to an exclusive group, a chosen few who truly deserve God’s love.

God’s favor is an expression of God’s unconditional, inclusive love for all of us, no matter what part of the world we live in or what our first language is, the belief system we’re born into, our lifestyle choices or who we love. God’s love is not based on how much money, influence, status or power we have or how smart and educated we are.

As it says in the Christmas favorite, “O Holy Night,” an experience of God’s favor is to know we are loved, and that, in God’s eyes, we each have infinite worth.

According to the story of the real Christmas, the first Christmas, God’s favor means God’s presence with us acting for our well-being and providing for our needs. Listen again to Gabriel’s first words to Mary:

“Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”

The night of Christ’s birth, angels declared God’s favor to local shepherds out in the hills – God had put on our humanity to be born into and to live with us in our messy, chaotic, painful human condition.

They sang,“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

The first Christmas card I got this year says, “The magic of Christmas is not in the presents but in His presence.”

I don’t know about magic, but I know that peace as well as love, joy and hope is in His presence. Especially hope, the hope that no matter how weird and insane the world gets, no matter how much grief and trouble comes our way, or how uncertain the future is, God is with us. Christ is with us, acting for our well-being and providing for our needs.

That’s what Christmas is really about – God’s favor for us.

Have a merry and blessed Christmas!

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