Spiritual Life Management

December 10 , 2013

Santa and Savior

First of all, there is nothing wrong with Santa. He is modeled after a medieval Bishop of the Church (Nicolas). He is generous and jolly. He is, and the whole idea of him is...fun. And, I still believe in him enough to worry that I might get coal this year if I say anything against him! But I wouldn't anyway.

Still, there is a danger of thinking about God-and especially God in Christ-as being like, Santa Claus. I mean thinking that our Savior is some sort of gift-giver from on high. And, of course, part of Christ's very nature fuels the confusion. We ARE always surrounded by the gifts and blessings that we receive from heaven. In some sense, our very lives are even a part of that gift. Plus there are friendships and sunsets, blessings and bounty, and countless other things that we enjoy.

It isn't that Christ is not a gift-giver. He is. But in a different way.

The danger is to think that Christ, like Santa, drops in and drops out.

Think about Santa. Sure he watches all the time, but really his job is a once-a-year drop in. Once a year, he slides through the chimney to deliver the gifts. Santa is a source of gifts.

Christ is the gift himself.

There is no greater gift ever given...and given to the whole world. God gazed down and looked at the mess that we had made of things. He looked at our lonely hearts. He saw our inability to help ourselves. And he sent his Son as a gift to the world. He sent a Savior. And he sends him still.

It is okay to think of Christ as a gift-giver. It's probably unavoidable. But let's be sure we do not reduce him to ONLY a gift-giver. A Santa is not a Savior.

And besides that, our Lord desperately wants us to become the real gift-givers, to each other; and back to God himself. This Christmas please consider what gift you can become. You don't have to save anybody, that work has been done already. But you can make a difference. Steph+

Scripture

Exodus 23: 16-19 -"You shall observe the festival of harvest, of the first fruits of your labor, of what you sow in the field. You shall observe the festival of ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in from the field the fruit of your labor.....The choicest of the first fruits of your ground you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God."

Tradition

From The Book of Common Prayer: Collect for the Second Sunday in Advent - "Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen."

Advent Hymn #64, first verse - "O heavenly Word, eternal Light begotten of the Father's might, who in these latter days was born for blessing to a world forlorn."

Reason

Question: I have been giving careful thought and prayer to filling out my Commitment Card. What if an unexpected financial issue or other event happens after I have made my commitment?

Answer: Our Commitment Cards are completed in good faith and we commit a certain amount of our funds for the coming year as well as commit our time and talents to working, praying and growing. The Cards are not contracts. Our commitments can always be adjusted up or down based on changes in our income and/or in our lives.

When looking at our commitments, it is important to prioritize so that we return to God the first of our fruits. Now, most of us are not farmers and we are not harvesting actual fruits. Think of it this way, when we sit down each month to pay our bills - the first check we should write is for our pledge to San Jose Episcopal Church. And when we plan our activities for each week - our calendar should first show our commitment to worship together on Sunday morning and also our commitment of our time and talents to one or more of the many ministries.

The Rev. Stephen C. Britt, Rector,

The Rev. Karen Workman Booth,

Associate Rector,
Mrs. Elizabeth Williams, Stewardship Committee,

San Jose Episcopal Church

7423 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, Fl 32217