A MARY CHRISTMAS

The story of two sisters who welcomed Jesus as he passed through their town, can teach us a lot about cherishing HIS presence. It is particularly appropriate as we move towards the last days of holiday shopping and preparations; It becomes so easy to turn our focus towards minor details and miss the opportunity to concentrate on the real cause for celebration - Jesus Christ.

As translated in The Message, the scriptures detailing Jesus’ visit with Mary and Martha read as follows:

"As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. She had a sister, Mary who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said. But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. 'Master don't you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand.' The Master said, 'Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it - it's the main course, and won't be taken from her.'" Luke 10:38-42 (The Message)

Wow! Poor Martha scurried with every ounce of her being to make sure she was the "hostess with the most-ess," for Jesus. However, she missed the opportunity to sit before HIM. Could this be you this week or next week as Christmas Day draws near? I have been there for sure. However, with only seven days left in the Advent season, this passage is a timely reminder for us to stop and enjoy the presence of Christ in our lives. There is so much to thank him for. Resist the temptation to get drawn into the usual last minute frenzies that include things like running back to the mall to balance out the number of gifts you got Person A and Person B, or worse yet, because you realized you spent $100 dollars more on Child or Cousin A than Child or Cousin B. Maybe your frenzy includes stress over the number of green vegetables relative to the number of starches on the menu, or cakes versus pies or China versus paper plates. Whatever's driving your anxiety, take a minute to release it and choose NOT to sit at the head of the table or the base of the Christmas tree next Thursday(exhausted of course!), without having sat in the presence of our Lord and Savior this holiday season. Like Mary, sit at HIS feet, hang on to/meditate on HIS Word and HIS promises and well before the presents are unwrapped or the turkey is carved, receive your "main course," and the gifts that cannot be taken away.

Thank God for the gifts he gives all year long. Thank him for his only Begotten Son, thank him for the gift of eternal life, the gift of abundant life and the gift of salvation. It is easy slip into the preoccupations of Martha, but I hope you’ll join me in these last days leading up to the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in being more like Martha’s sister and resolve to have A Mary Christmas, because guess what? Jesus is visiting your home too!

God Bless.