"Making Christmas Last!"

A sermon preached by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) based on Titus 2:11-14.

Rev. Barrington Bates recalls walking down Eleventh Street in New York’s Greenwich Village on Christmas morning couple of years ago. She was headed to church, to prepare for the 11:00 a.m. service. To her disappointment, she said that there, at the curb, was someone’s Christmas tree laid out for the trash truck to carry off. She said; “It was 9:30 on Christmas morning and one of the neighbors, had already taken down the decorations and the lights; and carried one of the central symbols of Christmas to the curb for the Department of Sanitation.
A cartoon in the New Yorker magazine says it all. In the middle of the floor is a dried up, withered, Christmas tree. The calendar on the wall reads December the 26th. Dad is sitting in his chair with an ice pack on his head. Mom is in a bathrobe and her hair in rollers. The floor is a virtual mountain of torn wrappings, boxes, and bows. Junior is reaching in his stocking to be sure that there is no more candy. In the background we see a table with a thoroughly picked turkey still sitting there. The caption on the cartoon reads simply: “The morning after.”
Well, perhaps we feel a little that way. Perhaps we fell somewhat let down. If you feel that way it is quite understandable. Over the past weeks our emotions have been wound tighter than a toy doll. Our festivities have led up to near fever pitch. And then, suddenly, it is all over. Is it any wonder that it is somewhat of a let down. .
A number of years ago, when Lou Holtz was at the University of Arkansas, he was taking his team to play a bowl game in Tempe, Arizona. The game was to be played on Christmas day. He was asked how he felt about playing a game on Christmas, rather than being with his family. The coach answered candidly: "I would rather be in Tempe. After all, once you have been to church, had Christmas dinner, and opened the presents, Christmas is the most boring day of the year."
Is it possible to lose the spirit of Christmas that quickly? Let us be candid that as we take down the decorations for another year, there is a sinking emptiness and an emotional let down. Amber and I, several years ago gave up purchasing a live Christian tree everywhere. I mean, we tried all of the tricks to keep the tree green and alive. We put aspirins in the water, then we would try sugar, and other solutions, but regardless of our efforts, the tree would always wither and dry out. Why? because it had been cut off from its roots.
And maybe that is our problem this morning. Maybe we have trouble making Christmas last because we have become cut off from our roots. Or, to put it another way, maybe our celebration of Christmas is not deeply rooted enough.
Howard Thurman wrote:

"When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with the flocks,
then the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal those broken in spirit,
to feed the hungry,
to release the oppressed,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among all peoples,
to make a little music with the heart…
And to radiate the Light of Christ,
every day, in every way, in all that we do and in all that we say.
Then the work of Christmas begins."

In the church, the season of Advent ends on Christmas Eve, and then we begin the season of Christmas or Christmastide. We celebrate the season of Christmas for 12 days, until January the 6th, which is Epiphany Day. During those twelve days the church invites us contemplate the mystery of God’s love taking on flesh and living among us. Someone has written: “The church has given us…

"Twelve days, to see behind the sense of obligation the underlying love that each gift given represents.
Twelve days, to realize how much we are loved by God.
Twelve days, to appreciate how little we deserve that love.
Twelve days, to comprehend that we have done nothing to earn that love.
Twelve days, to believe that God loves us unconditionally.
Twelve days, to revel in this good news of great joy.
Twelve days, to understand what it is to worship, Emmanuel - God with us.
Twelve days, to feast on the joy of our redemption.
Twelve days, to spread the word, as tidings of comfort and joy.
Twelve days, to sing, with one accord, our praises to our heavenly Lord.
Twelve days, to let the flames of love lead us to the joys of heaven.
Twelve days, to comprehend how much we, each of us, are capable of giving and receiving the one gift that endures: love."

Merry Christmas to each of you!