December 24, Christmas Eve: Luke 2:1-20

At Christmastime, are we too busy to think about Jesus? We simply cannot spare the time to trot out Luke’s well-worn birth narrative, recounting for us once again how God breaks into human history to offer a unique son and to promise that this son is the one who can make us whole and complete—the one who can restore our long-lost joy in the simple yet profound things that infuse our lives with meaning. Who has time to think about the Jesus of scripture at Christmastime?

We know all too well this history and his story. This time of year, even passersby who don’t know the language and theological claims of our faith can recognize the familiar scenes and signs of our story, from decorated church lawns to over-the-top home displays. We’ve pretty much seen and heard it all. We’ve sat through enough reenactments of the crèche in church basements and fellowship halls to skip this year’s performance with the flimsiest of excuses—even when our children are in it. We’re just too busy getting ready for Christmas to think about Jesus.

What is lost when religious hope is no longer at the center of our holiday celebration? According to Harvey Cox, Christ­mas becomes a family reunion, Easter a spring style show, and Thanks­giving a time when there is no one to thank. In the midst of our drummed-up joy and quickly fading delight over unwrapped gifts, we sense that something is missing.