My story of the week:
This year we're putting together a children's Christmas program for December 23, even more haphazardly than usual because we are down one musician/ choir leader at church and because no volunteer really wanted to call themselves in charge. Anyhoo, one mother's girls were particularly excited about the program. One of her daughters had been Mary and wanted to play the part again. The younger daughter was also eager, but missed the first week of practice. She came back from the second week, however, a bit disappointed.
"Mom," she whined, "it's the same show as last year!"
"what do you mean, honey? I heard you practicing a different song than last year."
''No, mom! It's the SAME show! It's about Jesus AGAIN!"
Christmas is the one time of year people usually do not complain about repetition. We sing the same carols, hear the same story, and generally no one complains or asks why we didn't try out an entirely new liturgy for the occasion. Preachers sometimes torture ourselves thinking about how to make the same old story in some way fresh, that is, to make it about us, now.
But, in the end, it's not about us. It's about God's gracious love for the world, and it is indeed good news that we can get over ourselves.
On Christmas Eve we gather in candlelight, settle in next to our loved ones, listen to that very familiar story, and we listen to the angels' song. It's about Jesus again. Thank God.
