Lonely Exile: A Daily Advent Devotional

Part Twenty Five: The Work of Christmas Begins

“Come all ye faithful, and all ye who would like to be faithful if only you could, all ye who walk in darkness and hunger for light…Come and behold him, born the king of angels. Speak to him or be silent before him. In whatever way seems right to you and at whatever time, come to him with your empty hands. The great promise is that to come to him who was born at Bethlehem is to find coming to birth within ourselves something stronger and braver, gladder and kinder and holier, than ever we knew before or than ever we could have known without him.” Frederick Buechner

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.
Galatians 4:4-5, NRSVue

One of the lessons that you learn very quickly as a parent is that the birth of a child isn’t the end of the work. It is only the beginning. The same is true of Advent and Christmas.

Christmas isn’t a conclusion, but a new chapter in an unfolding story that we are still living out today. As we revisit these familiar stories each year we are not only watching the characters in the story as they play their part, but we are also trying to find our role in the story. How are we being invited to continue the spirit and work of this story in new and fresh ways today?

Let’s conclude our time by listening to the words of a poem by theologian and civil rights activist Howard Thurman that beautifully sums up this idea. The poem is called The Work of Christmas, and may it be a reminder of the task that is in front of us after this season is over.

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 their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:

To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers,
To make music in the heart.

Question for Reflection:
How will you participate in the continued work of Christmas after this season is over?