"He Asked What It Meant" (Luke 18:36)

In the book of Luke we read of an occasion when the Savior's passing caused something of a commotion from the throng of eager onlookers. As the Master traveled through the streets of Jericho his route took him past a blind man who sat at the wayside begging. This man likely had spent much of his life sitting in this same spot hoping the hurried onlookers would take pity on him so he could survive just one more day. The throng which always seemed to accompany the Savior must have caused quite a stir because, upon hearing the noise, this man turned to those around him and asked "what it meant." After being told the Savior was passing this man shouted and urgently sought for the Master's attention and healing power. It is not difficult to imagine the urgency which much of been found on this good man's face. At last he who came to "give sight unto the blind and light to them that sit in darkness" was standing just a few feet away. In spite of stern rebukes from his neighbors this man's continued to shout and plead for the Master's attention and cried "Thou Son of David, have mercy on me." Then, taking notice of this display of faith, he who is rightly called Merciful Father spoke the words and brought light to eyes misted in darkness.

As you and I go through the festivities and celebrations of this Christmas season it is highly probable that we will find ourselves in much the same situation as this blind man and we too will ask what it all means. What is the grander purpose behind the decorations, gatherings, music, and gifts? What is it about the month of December that captures the imaginations of children and adults alike? What is it about these few days that seems to constitute the focal point of our entire year? Well, the answer, of course, is Jesus Christ. His birth, his life, his sacrifice and the throne which he has now inherited. It is the thrill of what happened many years ago and the resplendent future made possible by the baby who's birth brought king and peasant alike to their knees in honor. The magic of Christmas lies in possibility. Children dream of the possibilities of what will be waiting for them on Christmas morning. Parents hold to the possibility and hope of providing to their children a wonderful and joyful season which will live in their memories for many years. But for those whose lives are nothing at all as they hoped them to be the magic of possibility burns even brighter. Hosts of people separated from their families and homes await the possibility of being reunited with those they love. Those carrying the pain of the past anticipate the possibility of old wounds being healed at a time of year which fosters such moments of forgiveness and reconciliation. The prodigal caught in the iron grip of sin clings to the possibility of a healing hand in the darkness and a loving word spoken by a perfect judge. Those who spend this season very much alone while attempting to hold a wave of sorrow at bay hold to the possibility that this moment will give them a deeper appreciation for the loneliness of all paths which the Babe of Bethlehem had come to walk on their behalf. And most of all a fallen world and each fallen person in it celebrates the possibility of redemption and exaltation which was provided by the king born that sacred, holy night.

During Christmas, perhaps more than at any other time of year, it is essential that we create time to "be still and know that [He] is God." The tragic irony, however, is that in a season when it is most crucial to have such moments of spiritual rejuvenation we are surrounded by a greater clamor of worldly distractions pulling further and further to sea. Through it all, however, consider just how prevalent symbols of the Savior are during the Christmas season. Entire streets twinkle brightly as they symbolize the Light of the World. Children are given candy canes calling to mind the Good Shepherd searching through the desert for his lost sheep and the crimson stripes which were required for us to be saved. At no other season of the year can we more easily be reminded of the infinite and unchanging love extended to us as when we are surrounded by evergreen trees testifying to all who have "eyes to see" that the "babe wrapped in swaddling clothes" is truly our constant, eternal Redeemer who "never sleeps nor slumbers." What an incredible time of year. What an opportunity. What a blessing.

Too many, however, will squander this sacred season as the spiritual is in engulfed by the temporal, the transcendent by the mundane. Others will go throughout these next weeks with hearts hardened, spirits shuttered and doubts consuming their minds. To each of these I say what the Master says in every moment of the year: "Come and see." Come to warmth of the Savior's hearth and the peace of his touch. Come to bethesda and allow healing to wash over the wounds and sins of the past. Come and allow the darkness to die with the birth of a King. And, please, do not allow doubt and stubborn indifference to obscure the true meaning of this occasion or to dowse the flame of faith.

In his book "Miracle on 34th Street" Valentine Davies fictional character states beautifully "I'm not just a whimsical figure who wears a charming suit and affects a jolly demeanor...I'm a symbol. I'm a symbol of the human ability to be able to suppress the selfish and hateful tendencies that rule the major part of our lives. If you can't believe, if you can't accept anything on faith, then you're doomed for a life dominated by doubt." Brothers and sisters, you and I decide how we will honor every opportunity given us in life, and that includes each Christmas season. If we choose to we may celebrate the birth, life and mission of the Savior in a "higher and holier" way. My invitation is to honestly answer the question posed by a blind man so long ago: "What does it all mean?" What does The Savior mean to us? What does his Gospel mean? What does Christmas mean to you?

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.