The Joy & Sadness of Christmas

A sad song like that seems almost out of place in the midst of Christmas festivities, but it expresses how some people really feel about this season. It reminds them of broken relationships, and the togetherness of others serves to accentuate their own sense of aloneness. Loneliness is, without question, one of life's most painful experiences. And in some form, at some time, every one of us has to deal with it. Young people often feel the loneliness of being misunderstood. Heads of households, business executives, and government officials frequently feel the loneliness of leadership. Many older people feel the loneliness of having out-lived most of their contemporaries. Those who are poor feel the loneliness of need. Many in broken homes feel the loneliness of rejection. Those who have lost a loved one feel that ultimate loneliness that comes with death.

For many people, the Christmas season underlines these feelings of loneliness. But strangely enough, it also has a special message for the lonely. When the angel spoke to Joseph about Mary's pregnancy, he gave the Baby two names. The first, of course, was Jesus, the name with which we are most familiar. But the other was Emmanuel, a Hebrew name which means "God is with us". In other words, Mary's Baby was God's way of saying to the world, "You are not alone."

Every one needs to hear that message. We are very small creatures, inhabiting a very small planet in one corner of a very large universe. At times every thinking person has to feel very much alone.

A few years ago we followed with interest the final reports of Voyager 1. From millions of miles away, this man-made satellite took close-up pictures of the plant Saturn and radioed them back to earth. Then it continued its journey beyond our solar system and out into the limitless reaches of space. Along with all its complex scientific equipment, Voyager I carried a phonograph disk, containing a message from the United States and Secretary General of the United Nations. That recording was sent on the assumption that somewhere, someday, someone far out in space might find that satellite and wonder where it came from. It is a fascinating thought. Is there life on other planets? I don't know. But I do know there is someone out there. We are not alone in this giant universe. The God who made it and controls it has sent us a message through his own Son. They called him Emmanuel, which means "God is with us".

The coming of Christ is not only a universal message, it is a personal message. God is not only telling the world of his presence in the universe, he is telling you and me of his presence in our lives. God is with each one of us, individually and personally. That is the hardest part of the Christian gospel to believe, when you stop to think about how many people there are in this world. What is the latest estimate? Four billion?. It is hard to see how God could really be with me.

I came across a bit of verse in which the poet was wrestling with that same problem. He expressed it like this:

That is the clear teaching of the Christian gospel. We can never understand the meaning of Advent until we personalize it. Christ not only came into the world; he came to people, one at a time, and shared with them the glad news: "God is with us." This does not mean that you and I will never be lonely, but is does mean that we will never be alone. God is always there.

Great companionship, even on a human level, is not easy to live with. Some of us have been fortunate enough to learn that from our parents. We had a father who was loving and kind. We had a mother who was gentle and sweet. But to call them loving and kind, gentle and sweet does not entirely cover the case. They were also strong and wise. They expected and required certain things. When those expectations were not met, they knew it, and we knew it. To enjoy their approval and be happy in their company required a certain quality of life.

So it is with the Divine Companion. We cannot lead shabby, selfish lives, and then stroll casually into his presence, as if he did not know or did not approach it with moral seriousness. Some things cannot stand the test of his fellowship.  That kind of companionship isn't easy to live with, but it's the only kind that will meet our real needs. We can find casual friendship almost any night in any bar in any town. We can enjoy it for an hour or for an evening; and walk away from it just as lonely as when we came. What we need is someone who cares. That is what we have in God; not a casual friend but a constant companion.

This Christmas season, let us remember and celebrate our Lord's other name, Emmanuel. It means "God is with us". Let our actions reflect that truth in the New Year.

Condensed from A Clergy Handbook, Volume 2, Gold Label Publications, Dallas Texas