Presents, Santa Claus, shopping, lights, Christmas trees, rum pa pum pum, fa la la, free shipping!  When it gets to be this point in the Christmas season it feels like we have heard all of this Christmas stuff over and over again.  There’s nothing new. It’s all been said before. Blah, blah, blah!

Even the real Christmas story; how many times have we heard it, sung it, read it in the last four weeks or the last four years or forty?  If we’ve been paying attention, no doubt we’ve heard it over and over again. It’s all been said before, right? Blah, blah??

Way back at some point in history, the real Christmas event was announced for the first time.  Two thousand plus years ago a heavenly host celebrated the birth of the Jesus when the angel of the Lord announced, “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”  (Luke 2:10, 11) A remarkable statement that up until that point had never been said before.

Since then, the good news of Jesus birth has been proclaimed over and over again.  Indeed, it has been stated in many languages, in many ways. For sure, it’s all been said before.  The question I need to ask myself is what should be the response? Should it be blah, blah? Or does it still generate the excitement and passion of the angels who responded with “Glory to God in the highest…?”  Yes, it’s all been said before, but God’s grace and love embodied in the Christmas story doesn’t change. For indeed, “a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord!” Today’s gift. Merry Christmas!