Driving around town, it is depressing to see how many decorations have NO nativity scene. But reading C.S. Lewis improved my attitude somewhat!

In his book, God in the Dock, Lewis has some very pungent observations about the keeping of “Exmas” and “Chrismas.” After dealing with all the excesses of Exmas and how it really is just empty religion—meaningless cards of birds on branches, or green trees, or men dressed up like two hundreds years before, or houses with snow; empty gifts that they have to match in value to one another, expensive gifts they wouldn’t even buy for themselves, and how the sellers push junk for purchase, and how miserable older citizens walk around in the market places in red robes; and tired from the “rush of the season,” eat and drink too much on the day and are sick for a few days afterwards, and how they honor a god they do not believe in—he finally gets around to a few of the citizens who keep “Chrismas” (the word in the article) on the same day as Exmas.

These citizens do the opposite of most of their countrymen: they rise early with shining faces and go to temples where they partake of a sacred feast. And they set out images of a fair woman with new-born Child on her knees with animals and shepherds adoring the Child. And they retell the sacred story of the birth.

Let us at St. Mark NOT do what the Exmas crowd does, but let us follow in the path of the “Chrismas” worshippers! Though fewer, in our devotion to Christ let us lead the culture with truth, goodness, and beauty, not gluttony or drunkenness or senseless emotional pictures and decorations!

Merry Christmas! Christ is the beginning of Christmas!

The lectionary readings this week paint a picture of hope. In the scriptures, God often anchors hope, which is all about the future, in the past, so that you, God’s chosen people, can live in the present.

You hope for the future because of the demonstrated faithfulness of God in the past. Lest you think this is somehow faithless—that you must have faith without the demonstrated faithfulness of God—observe how the Psalms constantly rehearse the faithfulness of the God as the bedrock of hope and faith. Or in Matthew 11, when John the Baptizer needs reassuring, Jesus shores up John’s faith with acts of faithfulness. Faith and hope are anchored in the demonstrated faithfulness of God.

We rehearse this time of Advent hope, not because we wait for God to do something, but because He already has. God sent His Son as a babe who was faithful. Now we live in an earth under His reign. We know the gates of hell cannot prevail against our advance because we are led by the one who crushed the serpent’s head.

Yes, we expectantly look forward to celebrating Jesus first coming, but we do so because we know the story. We hope in the continued victory of the reigning King of Kings, the babe from the stable, who has demonstrated His faithfulness to all people in every age. As the saying goes, Jesus is the reason for the season. With glad tidings and good cheer, anchor your hope this season in the demonstrated faithfulness of your Lord Jesus!

When reading the book of Proverbs, young men are confronted with two choices: Lady Wisdom or Lady Folly. It’s pretty clear who Solomon is angling for! But here’s a question for you: where is Husband Wisdom? Or who is Husband Wisdom? Solomon never really says, though in 8:22–31, he points to someone from the past, someone at the beginning of the Creation, a Master Workman at Yahweh’s right hand. But it’s not a question that is much of a focus in the book.

So who is Husband Wisdom? Well, that’s Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:30–31), come to earth as a baby to receive his bride!

“The Word of the Father came down from heaven to teach the Way of Prudence to the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve. Wisdom was born of a virgin in the dead of winter to an heir of the house of Judah. Wisdom lived and grew before God and men (Luke 2:52). Wisdom came and spoke to us in [sayings], for he is greater than Solomon (Matthew 12:42). It was the will of the Father to send his beloved Wisdom to the folly of the Cross, and the joy of Wisdom to carry it (Isaiah 53:10; Hebrews 12:2). That same Wisdom rose again, first-born of the dead, and now rules and reigns forever and ever!” (Mark Brians, Theopolis).

Having secured his bride, he now loves her and matures her that he may present her, the church, to himself in splendor, that she might be holy and without blemish.

So this Advent Season rejoice that he came for you, yes, YOU, to make you part of his bride, and he did so and is doing so in all wisdom! Rejoice! For you are not a lonely one, poor and needy (Psalm 113), but a glorious Princess clothed in the splendor of his love! (Psalm 45).