One of people’s favorite traditions of the Advent and Christmas seasons is to sit back and enjoy the litany of Christmas movies and specials that are available. As I turn on my TV set, I’ve discovered that there are entire channels devoted to Christmas movies.
One of the attractions of these movies is a sense that all is well with the world – somehow peace and goodwill do prevail despite the tension about all that may go wrong in the plotline. Whether it’s Home Alone, Miracle on 34th Street, Elf, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, or the Santa Clause, all of the characters have the spirit of Christmas to thank for things turning out well in the end.
Sadly, the real world isn’t wrapped up that neatly. Evil and suffering are present during this season as much as they are any other time of the year. The image above is of a memorial at the Sandy Hook Elementary school after a gunman killed 26 people including 20 children on December 14, 2012. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!
Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth is a powerful reminder of the messy world that God has come to inhabit. Just when we imagine the Holy Family celebrating a Silent and Holy night, adversity comes in the name of King Herod – a power hungry, insecure puppet king hell bent on securing his place in the world at the expense of anyone who gets in his way – even a newborn baby.
Why would God want such a character in the story of Jesus’ birth? What does he tell us about this newborn King? What does he tell us about ourselves and how we receive him? Join us for worship this Sunday in person or online as we learn to appreciate why we Keep Herod in Christmas.
