“Who receives the first gift of Christmas? He will choose one of you.”

Malachi 3:1-4, Luke 3:1-6

Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.   Malachi 3:4

 As we continue our story of The Polar Express, the little boy and the other children aboard the train have finally reached the North Pole.  The conductor tells them that the elves are gathering in the center of the city and that is where Santa will give the first gift of Christmas.  

"Who receives the first gift?" we all asked.

The conductor answered, "He will choose one of you."

What an exciting time! What a rush of joy! The kids are hurried off the train to meet the elves and see Santa for themselves.  The little boy can hardly believe it's true.  And then in a magical moment he is the one chosen to receive the first gift of Christmas.  But he doesn't just receive any gift. Santa says to him, "Now what would you like for Christmas?"  He is asked specifically by Santa himself what gift he would like.

It is an interesting moment of agency. This little boy who had been struggling with the desecration of his worldview by a cynical friend is faced headlong with the Truth. With a Santa who is living and breathing and real.  And now this Santa wants to know what gift he would like. What would be the 'best' gift of Christmas? 

The scriptures this week point to a messenger who comes to prepare a way.  In Malachi, the prophet speaks of one coming who will be a messenger of peace.  In fact, when the people are face-to-face with this messenger it will be beyond their wildest imagination, not unlike the boy meeting Santa. The prophet writes, " But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?  
 Interestingly, the world Malachi means "my messenger."  Malachi himself is the messenger and he is looking forward to a messenger who will come to the people, as well.  Much like Santa and the little boy in the story. He is in awe and amazement of the real Santa, but the little boy has his own message to share. And he shares it by the choice of gift he makes. He doesn't choose the latest Xbox or iPhone. He doesn't choose the latest Star Wars toy. He chooses a bell from Santa's sleigh. A bell that rings a sound unlike any he has ever heard.

Which brings us to our second scripture of the week, from Luke.  John the Baptist, another messenger who is sent to prepare the way.  An unlikely appearing prophet, dressed in animal skins and living off the grid, so to speak.  And yet, his message sounds out to those who will hear:

Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low,

and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth;

and all flesh shall see the salvation of God (Luke 3:4-6, NRSV).

Not changing things around you, per se, but changing the mountains and valleys within your own worldview, your own mind.  John is begging the people to look within. To see what they can do to make their hearts pure. To see how they can take away the crooked and replace it with clarity and good purpose. He demanded repentance and forgiveness of sins.

What soul searching must go on within our own hearts this season so we can choose like the little boy chooses.  The boy really 'gets' the reason for Santa when he hears the bell.  He 'gets' the reason for love and giving and goodness.  But that is only because he had really believed and really focused on what Santa means to us all.  Why did Santa choose him to receive the first gift of Christmas? We will never know for sure, but we do know that his choice of gift proves that Santa chose wisely.

How can we prepare the way of the Lord this season in a way that is different than any other season we have prepared before?  How can we make this Advent the one where we really 'get it'?  How can we choose the gifts of hope, and peace, and joy, and love in the middle of the madness that the world offers us?

Email me at peverhart@niwotumc.org or comment below if you have thoughts about preparing for the Christ Child, or choosing wise gifts, or how to 'really believe' or anything else you'd like to dialogue about.