I'm away in Colorado through New Year's and without the services of my dedicated videographer - but an audio of my homily can be found above and the text for the same, below. If a widget doesn't appear above, click on the link here.
Do you watch the news? And if you do - do you need a little Christmas? And if you need a little Christmas, do you find it hard to wait for Christmas?
Waiting for Christmas isn't easy. It certainly isn't easy for children. It's not even easy for adults - even if you're only waiting for Christmas to be over!
Well, I do watch the news - and I definitely need a little Christmas.
And while I'm waiting, I wrote my annual What I Want for Christmas Letter. But I don't write to Santa Claus. I go right to the top - to God. So while you're waiting, I'd like to share that letter with you. (At this point I unrolled my Letter to God!)
Dear God,
I don't mean to sound impatient Lord, but just like the song says, "I need a little Christmas - right this very minute….”
And here's what I want for Christmas…
• I want peace, Lord, and lots of it. • I want peace in every land and place where daily life is threatened by war, violence and terrorism. • I want peace for the innocent and the poor who are so often war’s first victims. • I want peace for our troops who stand in harm's way, willing to lay down their lives for others. • I want peace in my own nation: an end to the hostility that divides us - and the return of civil discourse that leads to unity. • And I want peace for my family, my neighbors, for my friends, and peace for me, Lord. • And I want the kind of peace that really lasts, the kind of peace that only you can give…
And that's why I need a little Christmas, Lord, because it's your birthday, and you are the Prince of Peace.
And a homecoming Lord - a homecoming is on my wish list. • I want a homecoming this Christmas for the church, for this parish. • And I want a real homecoming, not just on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but a homecoming that lasts Sunday after Sunday into the new year, bringing home those who've been away from church, who've been wounded by the church, those who no longer trust the church.
And yes, Lord, there's more.
For people in troubled marriages and broken families - and for parents everywhere who worry about their children - I want those gifts that all of us need: patience, understanding, compassion, healing, and forgiveness, reconciliation. Give us the love and humility we need to be kind to one another - even to be kind to those who aren't kind to us.
And at the risk of being greedy, Lord, there are still more gifts I hope to find under the tree or stuffed in my stocking.
Gifts like: • Truth to help us all make good decisions and wise choices. • Jobs for the unemployed. • Health care and healing for the sick. • Housing for the homeless for anyone seeking shelter. • Food for the hungry. • Gentle care for the elderly. • Respect and reverence for all living beings. • Justice for your oppressed. • And freedom for those held captive.
I know I'm asking for a lot, Lord. I want so much. We need so much. But please don't think me selfish. • Bloodshed stains so much of the earth. • Two thirds of the world's people are underfed or starving. • And so many lack even the humble shelter of your stable.
We need a little Christmas to remind us that it's your birthday, Lord, and that you and the poor wait for us: we who have already so much - who have more than we need. You wait for us to figure out and change whatever it is that keeps the poor, poor while the rich grow richer.
And believe it or not, Lord, there's still one more thing on my list. • I want a Christmas star in the sky again. • A star guiding all of us home to you. • A star shining on the path that leads to peace. • A star pointing us towards the truth of your word. • A star illuminating our minds with wisdom and common sense. • A star enlightening our thinking, our thoughts and decisions and choices.
We need a little Christmas, Lord, to remind us that it's not all about the toys and the new clothes and electronics we might want or might hope to get.
It's about how much we already have - and need to share. What we need to give, give away generously - give to those whose needs are so much greater than our own.
Writing this letter reminds me, Lord, that many of the gifts I'm asking for are already mine to give, to share with those around me: in my family, among my friends at school, and at work, in my community and wherever in the world people are in need.
Some of the best gifts, some of the most important gifts don't really cost a lot of money - but to give them means I'll have to spend myself, Lord, spend myself for others. As you, Lord, spent yourself for me.
Well, that's my Christmas letter. My wish list to I’m sending to God.
There's no Christmas tree here tonight, no “stockings hung by the chimney with care.”
But there's a table in our midst where even tonight we'll find here the very same gift we received on the first Christmas over 2,000 years ago.
Here in the Eucharist, at this table, we'll find, we’ll be given, we'll receive - the Son of God.
Jesus, born in a stable in Bethlehem, who came to us in the flesh, comes again tonight in his Body and Blood, in Communion.
Pray with me that this gift will open our hearts to the Christmas gifts we really need - and more importantly, to the gifts we need to give others.
So we don't have to wait until December 25th for the Lord to come. He's already here… with us… tonight… right this very minute… in our prayer… in our hearts… in his Word… at his Table… in our waiting…
Yes, we need a little Christmas - now...
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