Monday, December 19

Luke 2:8-14

Roland Minton

When our kids were young, we would gather as a family to watch animated Christmas specials. It was a nice time of family togetherness, giving us adults a mental return to our youth, when life seemed simpler. (Unfortunately, old habits die hard, and we may have forced too many Claymation specials on our maturing children.) For me, the most enduring of the animated specials is “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” I love Vince Guaraldi’s jazzy soundtrack, and the sweet story of a young misfit trying to understand Christmas. A scene that has always stayed with me is when Charlie Brown has bought his scraggly tree, been hooted out of the play and cries out for help. When you are up to your neck in Christmas duties, presents to buy, travel arrangements to make, crowds to deal with, don’t you sometimes want to throw up your hands and say: “Isn’t there anyone who understands what Christmas is all about?” It is unlikely that a young boy carrying a blanket will step onto a stage and give you Linus’s answer. But, I love replaying in my head his reading, with the cracked tones of a child’s voice underlining the simplicity of the message. When you are sore afraid, remember the true meaning of Christmas, which shall be to all people:

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.