Text: Colossians 3:12-17
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16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Christmas is here!
But the world says … “It’s time to move on.”
The 24-hour radio stations that started playing Christmas music have had enough. It is back to your regularly scheduled programming. It is a bit of how it is for we in the church as well. Christmas Eve service and Christmas Day and then today may still hold the Christmas spirit for some, but tomorrow is Monday and for many we go back to work.
Granted some have the week off and the kids are out of school. But, after this weekend and services on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and all the family activities … we all might feel like it is time for a bit of a break too.
Life is real. It doesn’t let you collect your thoughts and relax at times. It can press in on you day in and day out. You and I know how that is.
As Paul writes in our Epistle to the Colossians:
12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved - compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
Paul here reminds the Colossians who they are - as God’s chosen ones, that they were the reason that God became man in Christ. The incarnation had to happen so that the once for all sacrifice could be made at the cross and because of that reality they are – in Christ – holy and beloved.
The world can bring out the best and the worst in people. Now also, we see at Christmas - acts of kindness, generosity and love but it can fade quickly with Christians and Non-Christians alike.
Compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, are not the normal reaction of sinful man.
We tend to react in selfish, heartless, prideful, bold and impatient ways.
A sampling of the News Headlines, tell the tale.
*Disruptive Fight Breaks Out at Universal as Guests Crowd to Watch Holiday Parade.
*Violence continues in Pittsburgh as fight breaks out at grocery store.
*Two, shot and killed after fight breaks out at liquor store.
*Disgraceful scenes as fight breaks out at shopping center on Christmas Eve.
*All-out brawl breaks out between female diners at Texas I-Hop.
[This one even had a baby booster seat being thrown at diners!]
Earlier in Paul’s letter he had reminded the Colossians to put on the new self.
3 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
At home and in private let your life and actions demonstrate your new life in Christ.
3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
As Christians, Christmas needs to be in our hearts and minds each and every day of the year.
Bearing with one another … forgiving each other; 14 And above all … putting on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
The Lord’s forgiveness should cause our own forgiveness to spring forth from us because we have been forgiven much.
But we remain sinful - though forgiven - and it is a struggle each day. The Colossians needed reminding and we too need reminding.
Selfish, heartless, prideful, bold, and impatient people need to be reminded that in Christ we have been changed.
Just as God’s son was forever changed when he became man at the incarnation, we also, in Christ have put on the new man. No longer are we God’s enemies but God’s friends. We are his beloved children, having been clothed in Christ, and that change should also be evident in our daily lives as well.
In our gospel reading Simeon – a man we’re told who was righteous and devout was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.
We too have been given this peace in the Christ who from infancy grew to manhood as the man – Christ Jesus – who took the sins of the world upon himself delivering God’s peace and consolation to we who are spiritual Israel by faith in his blessed work!
Paul reminds the Colossians and us as well.
15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
God’s word whether heard, read, meditated upon, or sung from a thankful heart is where God’s peace through the working of his Holy Spirit lives and can be found.
Here - at Peace, there is Peace proclaimed, peace sung, peace delivered and peace received each and every week.
God has promised to be where his people gather and where his gifts of word and sacrament are rightly administered and delivered.
Here after another week in the world where it is often not loving, helpful, or kind and where the walls of division stand tall within our country and around our homes we can make a difference reflecting Christ.
Come and receive all that the Lord has to give and then reflect that gift of love, peace and forgiveness to others as you shine the light of Christ brightly in this New Year.
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Life is real. It doesn’t let you collect your thoughts and relax at times. It can press in on you day in and day out. You and I know how that is.
As Paul writes in our Epistle to the Colossians:
12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved - compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
Paul here reminds the Colossians who they are - as God’s chosen ones, that they were the reason that God became man in Christ. The incarnation had to happen so that the once for all sacrifice could be made at the cross and because of that reality they are – in Christ – holy and beloved.
The world can bring out the best and the worst in people. Now also, we see at Christmas - acts of kindness, generosity and love but it can fade quickly with Christians and Non-Christians alike.
Compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, are not the normal reaction of sinful man.
We tend to react in selfish, heartless, prideful, bold and impatient ways.
A sampling of the News Headlines, tell the tale.
*Disruptive Fight Breaks Out at Universal as Guests Crowd to Watch Holiday Parade.
*Violence continues in Pittsburgh as fight breaks out at grocery store.
*Two, shot and killed after fight breaks out at liquor store.
*Disgraceful scenes as fight breaks out at shopping center on Christmas Eve.
*All-out brawl breaks out between female diners at Texas I-Hop.
[This one even had a baby booster seat being thrown at diners!]
Earlier in Paul’s letter he had reminded the Colossians to put on the new self.
3 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
At home and in private let your life and actions demonstrate your new life in Christ.
3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
As Christians, Christmas needs to be in our hearts and minds each and every day of the year.
Bearing with one another … forgiving each other; 14 And above all … putting on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
The Lord’s forgiveness should cause our own forgiveness to spring forth from us because we have been forgiven much.
But we remain sinful - though forgiven - and it is a struggle each day. The Colossians needed reminding and we too need reminding.
Selfish, heartless, prideful, bold, and impatient people need to be reminded that in Christ we have been changed.
Just as God’s son was forever changed when he became man at the incarnation, we also, in Christ have put on the new man. No longer are we God’s enemies but God’s friends. We are his beloved children, having been clothed in Christ, and that change should also be evident in our daily lives as well.
In our gospel reading Simeon – a man we’re told who was righteous and devout was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.
We too have been given this peace in the Christ who from infancy grew to manhood as the man – Christ Jesus – who took the sins of the world upon himself delivering God’s peace and consolation to we who are spiritual Israel by faith in his blessed work!
Paul reminds the Colossians and us as well.
15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
God’s word whether heard, read, meditated upon, or sung from a thankful heart is where God’s peace through the working of his Holy Spirit lives and can be found.
Here - at Peace, there is Peace proclaimed, peace sung, peace delivered and peace received each and every week.
God has promised to be where his people gather and where his gifts of word and sacrament are rightly administered and delivered.
Here after another week in the world where it is often not loving, helpful, or kind and where the walls of division stand tall within our country and around our homes we can make a difference reflecting Christ.
Come and receive all that the Lord has to give and then reflect that gift of love, peace and forgiveness to others as you shine the light of Christ brightly in this New Year.
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
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