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Personally speaking basketball might be more
satisfying if played and officiated like hockey.
Football seems to have a similar fence sitting dilemma. Football is
a violent, aggressive, sport that apparently, due to perceived
public opinion, sort of wants to be a less combative sport. That
dual stance can make watching a game with its fouls and non-fouls
and game stoppages an unsatisfying experience. Let football be what
football is a rough and tumble sport with rules for rough and
tumble. I can’t even begin with professional soccer, yikes!
Beloved sports having trouble deciding what to be, reminded me of
Christmas, yes Christmas.
Christmas should be just what Christmas is; The Nativity of our
Lord, the immortal taking on mortality, heaven breaking into earth.
Christmas is the incarnation, God the Son the second person of the
Trinity come to take on human flesh and blood, bear the sin of the
world, fulfilling the whole will and law of God for us in our place.
Christmas is God Himself repairing our sundered relation with Him
precisely because we could not do it ourselves.
Presents, family gatherings, food and festivities are certainly all
fine on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. If they come first in the
soul and worship comes second, well then, Christmas too will become
wholly unsatisfying.
In the Book of Revelation chapter three, Jesus warns the Church in
Laodicea to commit fully, be hot or cold but not lukewarm. St. Paul
in Second Corinthians states that he was not fence sitting regarding
his visit to their congregation stating there is not “Yes, yes.” And
“No, no.” There is only “Yes in Christ.”
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What can we take away from this?
Christmas proclaims the fact that redemption has come into the world
and we celebrate with thankfulness the mighty acts of God in sending
the Redeemer of the Human race.
Do not let Christmas be just about children’s programs and favorite
hymns. Let Christmas be those things and more importantly the reason
we have them.
We as Christians celebrate because the long awaited Savior has
appeared, reconciliation has come. God has kept his promise to save
us. Let that be first and Christmas will be wholly satisfying.
If you were wondering, my vote for a satisfying sport goes to Rugby
7’s.
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