The Adventures of Christmas Muestra

December 13th

In the movie “A Christmas Story,” what does Ralphie want more than anything? A Red Ryder BB Gun. He tries to convince his parents, his teacher, Santa and the audience that he needs this gun. Without the Red Ryder, Christmas will be ruined. When standing in line to see Santa, he can’t wait for the other kids to hurry up and move along; what they are bothering him with can’t be nearly as important as what Ralphie needs to ask for. All he obsesses about is what he wants… even though everyone tells him he’ll shoot his eye out. On Christmas morning, he tears through other gifts, tossing them aside. Nothing else will make him happy. Now, notice that he never thinks about what his little brother would want. He never thinks about what gift his mom or dad might like. 

Some of us wake up on Christmas morning much like we go through life: in search of meeting our needs, checking off our wants.

Many of us have an unspoken wish list of what we want for Christmas. As we open gifts, we check that list off. And if we don’t get something, we are mildly depressed. When you go into Christmas or life constantly wondering, What am I going to get? What's in it for me? We will usually be disappointed.

In biblical times, when a king conquered an area, people were supposed to bring him gifts. The Magi reaction to Jesus' birth was not only expected, but normal. This is what David is referring to when he wrote Psalm 68:18.

Now listen to the way Paul quotes this verse: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” (Ephesians 4:8)

Notice how Paul changes the verse. Originally people brought gifts to God. Here, Paul says that God gives gifts to people. And the gifts Jesus brings are so much greater than gold, frankincense and myrrh. He brings Peace, Joy, and Hope.

Are you more concerned with God’s wish list and that of those you care about? Or just your own? Like Jesus, Christmas should remind us to focus more on giving than getting. This can include letting a shopper take the parking spot closer to the building.