Don’t Let the World Diminish Your Joy

I love Christmas—I always have.

As a child, I was captivated by the wonder of Christmas.

The Christmas lights, the music, the TV specials—it all evoked a sense of joy that lasted throughout the season.

A part of me will always be a child at heart, especially at this time of year.

That includes an abiding belief in Santa and the spirit of gratitude and joy that he embodies.

I had the great joy of playing Santa for a bunch of children on Sunday.

It was one of my life’s ambitions fulfilled.

Each child that sat on my lap reminded me to be grateful for the many gifts I have and for the profound privilege I had to share a bit of that Christmas wonder that I know so well.

Each child that hugged me filled my heart with an indescribable sense of joy.

By the end of the day, I had seen over 200 children.

My heart was absolutely overflowing with gratitude, joy, and love.

But it didn’t last.

Events stole my joy.

I guess that’s the price we pay for growing up.

The prophet Isaiah talks about “people walking in darkness” and “those who dwell in a land of deep shadows”.

We live in a complex world.

Very few things are cut and dried or black and white.

Both/and is a reality that we Lutherans are supposed to embrace.

Although our faith provides hope, we acknowledge there is also despair.

Although God grants us peace, we often face conflict.

Although the birth of Jesus brings us great joy, sometimes the world brings us sorrow.

Although we are commanded to love, we often fall short.

On Monday, I joined some of my clergy colleagues at Delaney Hall for a prayer vigil.

If you are unaware, Delaney Hall is the ICE detention center in Newark.

Regardless of what your political views are on immigration, I would hope we could agree that the moral foundation of this country prohibits us from violating human rights.

It pains me that in these divisive times, I have to qualify what I am going to say with, “I hope we could at least agree on that”.

Because I grew up in a country that welcomed refugees.

I grew up in a country that was a beacon of freedom for people living under dictators.

I grew up in a country that called out human rights violations when we saw them.

And yet, we are living in times when people are being disappeared by masked government agents.

And those people are being denied legal counsel.

Their families are being denied visitation.

The government is playing a shell game with human beings to prevent their families and their lawyers from finding them.

Not criminals.

Innocent people.

Over 800 people were transferred from Delaney Hall in the past few days.

Civil rights organizations are fearful that the movement of detainees is to make room for planned raids.

Massive sweeps in immigrant communities as families gather for Christmas.

And there are no longer protections for sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, and churches.

So, those raids may target the very locations where people gather to worship—to celebrate the birth of the Christ child.

For those of you who think I’m being paranoid or unnecessarily alarmist, I honestly and truly hope that I am.

But there was an ICE agent photographing the clergy assembled to offer prayers—myself among them.

The media is documenting people without criminal records being detained and deported.

They are reporting the government using deceptive practices to capture people—picking them up at immigration court appointments and food pantries as well as lying and using invalid warrants to gain access to residences and businesses.

Watch organizations are documenting human rights violations in detention centers here in the United States—never mind the state-run torture facilities that we now use through contracts with other countries.

Is it any wonder that I say events have stolen my joy?

Merry Christmas, indeed.

I am forced to remind myself that the baby Jesus was born into an occupied country.

A country without justice for its citizens, especially the poor and the marginalized.

A country where peace was maintained through violence.

A country where the powerful were so determined to maintain their grip on authority, that they threatened the life of a newborn.

Forcing his family to flee to another country.

Where they were refugees.

We know precious little about Jesus’ childhood.

But we can be fairly certain it was difficult.

Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were strangers in a strange land.

Removed from their families and their community.

Separated from the seat of their faith.

And yet, that faith sustained them.

What we know about Mary and Joseph is that they were people of great faith.

Mary’s faithfulness led her to bear God’s child.

Joseph’s faithfulness led him to stand by Mary, despite his own fear and confusion.

He stood by her to protect and provide for her and her child.

Together they raised Jesus to adulthood—raised him to be a faithful Jew.

To love God and love his neighbor.

They raised him to be a brilliant light to people walking in darkness and to those who dwell in a land of deep shadows.

The raised him to be Wonderful Counselor, the Strength of God, Eternal Protector, Champion of Peace.

They raised him to provide hope, peace, joy, and love to the world.

And there, my friends, is the both/and.

Despite being born into poverty in an occupied land, Jesus was born to be the light of the world.

Despite being forced into exile by a violent despot, Jesus was born to be the Champion of Peace.

Despite being beaten and crucified for the crime of proclaiming the Kin-dom, Jesus was born to be the Strength of God.

Both/and.

Jesus is hope amidst despair.

Peace amidst conflict.

Joy amidst grief.

And love amidst hate.

We live in a complicated world.

No matter how deep our faith is, it is hard to always live in hope, peace, joy, and love.

Because we live in a both/and world.

The Kin-dom is both now and not yet.

So, when you feel despair, remember that hope is of God.

Despair is fleeting but hope endures.

When you are feeling unsettled, remember that shalom is of God.

That inner feeling of discord is temporary but the wholeness we receive from God is permanent.

When grief is overwhelming, remember that joy is of God.

It is human to grieve but we carry within us that divine image in which there is joy.

And when the hatred of this broken world makes you want to cry out, remember that tiny baby born in a stable two millennia ago.

A helpless infant born into a harsh world.

God’s unconditional love enfleshed.

Come to live among us as our Redeemer.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given!

Hallelujah! Glory be to God!

May this contemplation on God’s word keep our hearts and minds on Christ Jesus.

Amen.