Christmas Stories

MON., DEC. 21, 1987, 6:12 AM
FARM, STUDY

Yesterday you heard a Christmas story that seemed almost inappropriate as a sermon on the last Sunday of Advent. It certainly was a modern variant of the Christmas story, and creating and telling such is both dangerous and desirable. Hear, o son, as I develop this theme in the dark of the morning.

One major theme of Christmas stories is that I, as Almighty God, (or in some nameless sense) do something unusual or miraculous for someone’s benefit. The person or persons may not deserve this heavenly intervention, but it is given to them as a gift. This follows the theme of My story, in which Jesus was conceived in a miraculous way and came into the earth in very unusual circumstances for one Who was to be known as the Son of God and the Son of Man. Angels heralded the birth, which was miraculous. Though it took place in a town shepherds came “to see this thing that had come to pass,” and that was unusual.

The Santa Claus story in its myriad forms also should include these elements. It is unusual for children’s gifts to originate in some far norther place, with small, unusual creatures called elves as those who create toys. It is miraculous that Santa can traverse the entire world (even the Western world would be enough) by air in a sleigh, entering each dwelling to bring gifts… all before Christmas dawns.

Another important element is that God has mercy and gives, even undeservedly. In My story the Jewish people were not deserving, even as they had been chosen by Me and had heard prophesies of a Messiah Who would come. Yet I, as God, came in this small human form to this undeserving, unappreciative people. Oh, some did appreciate, but the gift was not a complete success. Other stories focus on giving, sometimes to those who seem to deserve and sometimes to those who do. Gifts may be small… to magnificent. But Christmas stories always should include some amount of giving and receiving.

Yet another element is that of some imminent tragedy. In most stories that tragic condition is avoided or prevented, but in some it still may happen. In My story there as a king who was threatened by the prophesy of a new king born and who would have destroyed Him. The wise men were souls of integrity, so this did not happen (oh, there had to be some angelic intervention, too), but subsequently many other babies were killed, the tragedy brought on by My birth. Rightly, this part is seldom told, but it is part of the story, as Matthew tells it. Other Christmas stories usually end happily, but there still may remain the possibility of tragedy or danger after the warming event has passed.

Most Christmas stories have some singing or some music as an element. In My story the angels proclaimed and sang, and in other stories the music of Christmas is a small or a large part. In your favorite filmed story the giving to George was accompanied by “Hark, the herald angels sing,” and the giving was enhanced by everyone singing.

In your Christmas story of 1976 the tragedy came first. Peter’s death preceded, but then came his warm, wonderful memorial service, the wedding of Michael and Wendy, and the large family gathering for Christmas at the Farm. It was unusual to juxtapose such events, and rather miraculous that a death could so meld into the spirit of wedding and of Christmas.