There is a ―Peanuts‖ comic strip in which little Lucy and
Charlie Brown are contemplating the coming of Christmas.
Lucy opens her Bible and begins to read . . .
―And in that region there were shepherds out in the fields
keeping watch over their flocks by night . . . and an angel of
the Lord appeared to them. And the glory of the Lord shone
all around them. And they were filled with fear . . . and the
angel said to them, ―Be not afraid for behold, I bring you good
news of great joy which will come to all the people‖ . . . And
suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly
host praising God and saying, ―Glory to God in the highest
and on Earth peace among men with whom he is pleased.‖
Then Lucy sighs a gentle sigh and says to Charlie Brown,
―Like I‘ve said before, that‘s what Christmas is all about.‖
And Charlie Brown replies, ―You‘re right! So who needs
Santa Claus?‖
(Dear Charlie Brown:
Why not infuse everything we do in the Christmas Season
with the Christ-Spirit — even Santa Claus?)
Advent has called us to look forward to a promise that we
can indeed begin all over again, we can indeed find meaning
even in our anxiety, and have a better future. Unfortunately,
in the midst of the wrapping and baking and decorating of
Christmas preparation, the Savior will come to us only if we
take the time out to experience the depth of our need and give
our need over to God so that God might be truly with us in our
need. Blessed are they who, even in their need, trust that the
Lord‘s words to them will be fulfilled. Come, Lord Jesus!