Pastor’s Corner: Ready or Not

December 21, 2022

Ready or not, here it comes!

Were Mary and Joseph ready for the birth of Christ?

Are any first-time parents completely ready for the arrival of their child?

But more: The required trip to Bethlehem must have thrown their plans into disarray. The best roof they could find was a stable. The midwife assisting at the birth must have been a stranger. Instead of the cradle waiting at home in Nazareth, they laid their newborn in the best thing they could find: the feeding trough for the animals they’d displaced for the night.

Who would be prepared for that?

Who would be prepared to have a late-night visit from a group of shepherds? Who would be prepared to hear them speak of angels singing? Even Mary, who had spoken with an angel herself, must have gasped to hear them repeat the glorious words. She treasured what they’d said and pondered it in her heart.

The growing Jesus continued to surprise Mary and Joseph, as well as his sisters and brothers, his closest friends, and his growing mass of followers. They never did seem quite prepared for the things that he said, or the things he would do, or the places he would go. Nobody seemed ready for that terrible Friday. Nobody seemed prepared for that glorious Sunday.

So if you’re not ready for Christmas, friends, you’re in good company. The Holy Family wasn’t ready. The teachers of Jerusalem weren’t ready. The Galilean fishermen weren’t ready. Lots and lots of people weren’t ready…

And Christ came anyway, teaching and healing and forgiving and inspiring.

Ready or not, Christ comes to us with a love beyond all imagination. Let your heart and soul be filled to overflowing this season! Have a Merry Christmas!

Blessings to you,

Pastor Eric