By Jonah Yoder, a senior interdisciplinary major from Goshen
This week’s theme: Love Revealed
It is finally here; Christmas Eve. After all of our preparation and patient waiting for Jesus to be born, the day is finally here!
But why do we wait? Why do we spend weeks preparing the way for Jesus, when he has already come and saved us from our sins thousands of years ago? Is it possible that we spend so much time focusing on the Advent season, and the coming of the Christ Child, that we miss our opportunity to celebrate the gifts He has given us?
I had never thought about Advent in this way until recently, when I had a conversation with my mother. The Christmas season is a very important time of year for my family. We have countless traditions that have been a part of our Christmas celebrations for as long as I can remember. We go caroling, decorate Christmas cookies, one of my personal favorites, sing Christmas hymns at church, and so much more.
Each Sunday, at church, we would sing songs of waiting and anticipation for Jesus’ birth; and every Sunday my mom would sit there, frustrated; sometimes to tears. When I asked her what was wrong, she shared about how she was frustrated with how we spend weeks and weeks waiting. We focus so much on humbling ourselves, and preparing the way, that we miss the actual event that we are preparing for, Jesus’ birth. We don’t get the chance to celebrate it together until it has already passed.
When I sit and think about it, that makes sense. Why do we use language like, “watching and waiting,” and, “make way for God’s justice,” when Jesus has already been born, and died for us thousands of years ago? We shouldn’t be waiting until Christmas has passed to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We should be celebrating with excitement and joy in the weeks leading up to it. God loved the whole world enough to give up his only son so that everyone who believes in him has the opportunity to rejoice in God’s love. With that one action God gave us all the opportunity to find love through Jesus. Let us rejoice now in the knowledge of Jesus’ coming rather than waiting for something we know has happened.
May God bless you all and your family and may you have a very merry Christmas!