"The Craziness of Christmas" - Luke 1:47-55 - December 15, 2002

I heard recently about a family that is not buying any gifts this year for Christmas. They aren’t decorating their home, nor are they having any parties. Instead, the entire family is going on a cruise in the Caribbean. Instead of "chestnuts roasting by an open fire," they will have margaritas by the swimming pool. Seems like a crazy way to spend Christmas.

When it comes to Christmas people have certain expectations. The lights go up on the outside of the house. The town square is decorated with wreaths and bows on the lamp posts. The malls are filled with Christmas trees and, of course, a Santa is there with a line of children. Even the church sanctuary is decorated with extra candles and greenery. However, there is nothing crazy about these since they are what we have come to expect. It’s that time of year.

In the past few weeks a number of people have said to me, "You must really be busy during this time." Actually, I’m not. I do everything in my power to work in advance. My Christmas shopping is almost completed. I make it a practice not to schedule extra events because I am aware that the congregation is busy. When people ask me if I’m busy, it’s really they who are busy. In fact, they are exhausted. They need others to say they are busy too, because that helps to justify the craziness of the season.

Christmas has become totally crazy, if not out of control. I read an article this past week which reminded people to make sure they bought a Christmas present for their pet. Do you think your cat knows what Christmas is? My wife and I were going over our Christmas card list the other evening. I said, "Why are we sending them a card, we don’t even like those people?" "It’s because they sent us a card last year," she replied.

We do these things because it is expected. They are a tradition and over time tradition becomes the law. We expect to see nativity scenes, thousands of light displays, and Christmas trees. We expect to hear Christmas carols on the radio and we expect to see Christmas specials on television. (Except for Christmas day, since no one will sponsor anything that late in the season because its too late to buy their products) We expect to find it difficult to find a place to park and we expect long lines at the cash register. It’s a crazy time of the year.

Mary, mother of Jesus, who is partially responsible for all this craziness in the first place, sang the very first Christmas carol. It wasn’t "I’m dreaming of a white Christmas" or "Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer." It was the "Magnificat," magnifcat anima mea dominum, meaning, "My soul magnifies the Lord."

Mary didn’t sing a folk song, lullaby or Handel’s "Hallelujah Chorus." Mary sang a song that was absolutely revolutionary. It’s a wonder she wasn’t thrown in prison or burned at the stake. Mary sang about a God who made the proud humble, dethroned the powerful and bankrupted the wealthy. On the other hand Mary sang about a God who has lifted the lowliest in society to lofty heights and blessed those who were hungry. Perhaps Mary’s message was not widely known since it took place in a private conversation with her cousin, Elizabeth. Notoriety was not something Mary sought. She understood her role as "handmaid of the Lord." In other words, one of societies’ most powerless individuals became the instrument of God’s power and grace.

As Rev. James W. Crawford, pastor of Old South Church, Boston, wrote; "Mary turned the world upside down." Power will not make us more secure but rather less. Instead of satisfying us, wealth and abundance will make us empty. Humility, not pride will lift our spirits. Mary’s song, like the message from the angels to the lowly shepherds is good news. Mary is focused on the lowly, those who are suffering, the lonely, the oppressed, and the disenfranchised. Mary’s message is all about a God who gives hope to those in the world who have no power.

I had the privilege of doing a "house blessing" for our newest Habitat for Humanity home that was recently completed. It was truly a labor of love as hundreds of volunteers contributed their time and resources. The couple for whom the house was built could not afford a home, let alone be eligible for a mortgage. The Habitat program enabled them to have a home for their family which includes five small children. As I was leaving the children came over to me and they all hugged me at once. It was a tremendous affirmation of the way in which God had lifted the powerless and surrounded them with love. Mary’s soul has been magnified once more.

Christmas is crazy but not for the reasons we might think. We overbook ourselves with parties, dinners, buying gifts, putting up decorations and following a host of traditions. Consequently we are overwhelmed and too busy to fully comprehend Mary’s words. Her Christmas message was all about the birth of hope for people in despair. Rev. John Manzo, Pastor of St. Mark’s UCC, New Albany, Indiana, once stated in a Christmas sermon; "Mary speaks of a world gone crazy. The lowly and the poor will be lifted up. The rich and the mighty will be knocked down. The proud, instead of maintaining their dignity and their pride will be scattered. The child in her womb was going to turn the world upside down."

God has not forgotten the lonely, the faint-hearted, the sick, the poor and the lowly. They will rise above the powerful, the successful and the popular, as a savior will be born in their midst. The angels will announce his birth of humble origin to shepherds. When the Christ child matures he will announce that he has come "to preach good news to the poor, proclaim release to the captives, and liberate those who are oppressed."

Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio