First Week of Advent 2022
A Christmas season song has been running through my mind like a marathoner slogging through his 18th mile. Here are some of the lyrics:
It's the most wonderful time of the year
With the kids jingle belling
And everyone telling you be of good cheer
It's the most wonderful time of the year
It's the hap-happiest season of all
With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings
When friends come to call
It's the hap-happiest season of all
I know why that song has been so incessant in my mind. It’s because the song’s sentiment is NOT the sentiment of so many people, especially on December 25th. Two lines in the song cry to me – as they may cry to many of you: “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”, and “It’s the hap-happiest season of all.”
Those lyrics can sting because for many people December 25 is the “Most loneliest time of the year.” It is the “Sad-most saddest season of all.” But I have a suggestion that I hope can make December 25th a much less lonely and much less sad season for some. My suggestion centers around a tradition Jewish families perform during the Passover holiday.
Jews believe the prophet Elijah will come during Passover to prepare the way of the Messiah. And so, each year during the Passover meal, in anticipation of his visit, they set for him a seat at the table. His place setting is complete with their finest dinner plates, eating utensils, napkin, and wine glass. They also open their front door to see if Elijah is standing there, waiting to be invited into their home for dinner.
Of course, Christians know Elijah already came 2000 years ago to announce Messiah’s first advent. But it is to that Jewish tradition of setting a place for Elijah that I want to draw our attention because within that tradition can lie the answer to the loneliness so many will experience this December 25th.
Jesus said to everyone with ears to hear: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20)
This Christmas, instead of sitting alone at your table with your Christmas meal, why not modify the Jewish tradition regarding Elijah and the Passover meal? Set a place for Jesus. After all, He did promise you, “I will never desert you. I will never forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5) And He did assure you, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
Set His place at your table with your finest plates and eating utensils and napkins and drinking glass. Then, in your imagination, hear Jesus knock at your front door. Then go and physically open it to invite Him into your home.
As you sit and eat with Jesus, have a conversation with Him. Tell Him – out loud – what’s on your heart. Tell Him of your loneliness. Of your sadness. Tell Him of your joys and the times of laughter you have had. He knows it all anyway, but it will help YOU to tell Him out loud as He sits across from you at your table. Open your Bible and lay it beside your meal. Read Him your favorite passage or two. Tell Him what you think about what you just read. And don’t hesitate to ask Him whatever is on your heart. Then quiet yourself, expect an answer as He speaks by His Holy Spirit to your spirit.
Yes, you might think all this is nothing but childishness. But this is NOT a silly, make-believe exercise. Although perhaps it is childish, didn’t Jesus say: “Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all”? (Mark 10:15) The Savior is your best friend and your best lover. And He knows very well how December 25 can be for you the ‘most loneliest’ time of the year. So, try my suggestion. Practice the Presence of Jesus around your table this Christmas. Perhaps this Christmas will not be for you the ‘sad, most-saddest’ time of the year. After all, Jesus promised, “I have come that you may have life, and have it more abundantly.” (See John 10:10)