December 2012: Insignificant, Unworthy, Weak... and Chosen by God!

It is very significant that the first celebration of Christ's birthday is with shepherds. They lived in the fields with their animals. They weren't respected. They had no power or prestige. Yet, for some reason, God's angel came to them first and said, "Unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ, the Lord."

When God came down and made His announcement to shepherds, it was as if he was saying, "According to the ways of this world you are insignificant and unworthy. But you will no longer judge your importance by what the world says. For you are to be My messengers of great news. For born to you this say, is the Savior."

God has always used the insignificant and unworthy to carry his message. He does so, so that the glory of the message can be seen. Had God used a powerful emperor, people may have followed because they wanted his favor. Had God used an eloquent speaker, people may have followed because of his personal charisma. Had God used a great teacher, people may have followed because they figured he was just smarter than they were. Instead, God used the things which were small in the eyes of this world to carry His great news. When God decided to select a mother for His Son, He went past the rich and famous. He went past the powerful and noteworthy, and went to an insignificant village called Nazareth. He found a peasant girl. She did not dress in designer clothes. She did not have a sophisticated education. But God selected her to be the mother of His only begotten Son. So when the Christ came, He was not born in a fancy hospital, surrounded by the emperor's doctors. Rather, He was born in a humble stable wrapped in rags and lying in a manger. The world looked down at its nose at the manger and said, "How insignificant. How humble." And in doing so, it missed the most significant event of history.

Sometimes we may think that for God to move in our lives there must be the miraculous. Yet many times, God uses the simple and quiet things of this world. God uses people despite their weakness, despite their imperfections. In fact many times He works through them. God is able to use the weak, the insignificant, the unclean, to do great things in life.

Why does God use imperfect people? "Because He can."

But it is important for us imperfect people to realize that we are in fact weak. Why is that? The way God empowers us, the way God brings success in His Kingdom is not the way the world thinks of success. The world thinks you must focus on your strengths to be successful. "Only the strong survive." Well, in God's Kingdom, it is the exact opposite. Only the weak survive! Huh???

God uses the weak to do His will, because His power is made perfect in our weakness. We are to live in our weakness, to live in our insignificance, because that's what it means to live in faith. Regardless of the circumstances that you find yourself in, regardless of the trials you are facing, God will provide the strength to carry on. As St. Paul says, "For when I am weak, then I am strong."

As you celebrate the humble birth of our Savior, may you remember the God's power is made perfect in weakness. Merry Christmas.

December 2010: The Roast Beast of Christmas

When I was young, every year we used to watch Dr. Seuss' "How The Grinch Stole Christmas." The Grinch lived on a mountain near a town called Whoville. The Christmas merriment of the people in Whoville was annoying him. So spitefully he makes plans to steal their Christmas joy. He steals all their decorations, every last present, all their Christmas food, even the roast beast. In his dark heart, he chuckles... "Now that you have nothing to celebrate about.... Finally some peace and quiet."

It is important to note that the Grinch is not just trying to restore the peace and quiet of his home. If truth be told, he is jealous of their joy. He is trying to steal what he thinks is the source of their joy... the presents, the Christmas decorations, the roast beast...

The next morning he waits to hear the sounds of sorrow as the people of Whoville realize their Christmas things are gone. But as the Grinch extends his ear toward Whoville it is not the sounds of sadness that he hears, but rather sounds of joy--"Fa-who-for-ay; da-who-dor-ay; welcome, Christmas, Christmas day."

At first he is furious. What's happened? All the presents are gone. All their Christmas food is gone. Even the roast beast is gone. How can they be happy? How can they still celebrate Christmas? He puzzles about this. And this is the turning point of the story. Suddenly a thought enters his mind. "Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more." This is where Dr. Seuss hits the jackpot. This is the realization to which every person who does not have a living relationship with Christ, must come. This is also the focus to which every Christian, who feels burdened by the hustle and bustle of Christmas, must return. "Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."

The world only sees the presents, the decorations, the parties and the roast beasts of Christmas. But that's not the real Christmas. "It will come without ribbons. It will come without tags. It will come without packages, boxes or bags." The joy of Christmas is much more than any decorations, food, or presents. Christmas will come because the true meaning of Christmas is nothing more than a message. And this is the reason why no Grinch can take away Christmas. No Grinch can take away the spectacular good news that was proclaimed on that first Christmas night! "For born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Jesus was born a human baby to save us. Jesus was born to live the perfect life that we were unable to live. Jesus was born for the cross to bear the punishment for sin which we were unable to bear. Because He was born, we know the love of God. Because he was born, the door to eternal life was opened to us.

May you have a Merry Christmas.