One of the worst sermons I have ever preached was on the “Christmas doldrums.” I preached it on Christmas Eve. Every time I think about it, I feel so ashamed I want to go and apologize to the beautiful saints of Trinity Lutheran Church in Livingston, Texas, for their great patience in putting up with this poor learning preacher.
The fact remains, however, that for many, the Christmas season doesn’t always feel like a time of joy. And often times, that has to do with family. Families can be a great blessing; they can also be a great difficulty and trial. Great families can fall apart; sundered families can come together. You just never know what might happen around the holidays with your family.
This issue of The Lutheran Witness covers the wide gamut of emotions and realities related to the family. We talk about the Holy Family, and how Jesus, Mary and Joseph serve as the model for Christian families today. We delve into the church as a family and how we can operate — especially during these holy days — as one. For many, part of the reason Christmas is difficult is the absence of family; a former editor of LW shares how you can invite single people in your church into your homes during Christmas. I’d encourage you to make it a regular part of your daily lives outside of December as well. This issue also takes up a challenging question: How do you honor your parents when they have done (or are doing) dishonorable things to you? It’s a hard question.
In the end, the solution to the struggle of difficult families during Christmas or even the Christmas doldrums is not the glitz and glamor of the season; it’s not even gatherings with family that leave you with a peaceful glow for the next 11 months. Rather, the solution is, indeed, what little Gospel I managed to preach over 12 years ago: The joy of Christmas “is a joy of realizing that our fundamental position before God has changed. God has become one of us; God has joined Himself to us; God has become man, in Christ Jesus. He is truly Immanuel, ‘which means, God with us’ (Matt. 1:23).”
That’s the joy and gift of this Christmas season: God in the flesh. Jesus, son of Mary and adopted son of Joseph, Son of God and Son of Man. He has become part of our family, and by faith, He makes us children of Abraham and children of God. That’s a family we will always be part of, even if our families here on earth are more trial than glowing joy.
In Christ,
Roy S. Askins
Executive Editor, The Lutheran Witness
