Now What                              Luke 2:33-40

I hope you all had a good Christmas. As I looked around the other day, I realized Christmas can be a lot of work, putting up lights, decorating trees, sending cards, baking, shopping. And in the wake of Christmas things seem to be almost as busy. We’re wearing our new cloths, playing with new toys, maybe trying to get together with some friends and family we haven’t seen yet. Eventually, we have to return to our “normal” life, put away the tree, take down the lights, find places for the new stuff we got, go back to work.

As we look, we can see this pattern has been going on since the first Christmas. Joseph and Mary had to plan a trip to Bethlehem, pack, travel, find a room. And then Mary gave birth. Then as they rejoiced in the birth of their new child, they were visited by Magi,           shepherds, and many others that were told about their special family. And eventually Mary was strong enough, the baby healthy enough, for the family to return home and take up their “normal” life. And as they started to put their home back in order, I can imagine them looking around and asking, “now what?”

As we look beyond this time of the year we can ask the same question, “now what?” The answer to this question starts by asking another question, “Will we return to the way things were before Christmas, or has Christmas put new hope and desire in us to be different, to be better?”

Let’s start here. Hopefully Christmas has changed us. It usually makes us a little more joyful, a little more tolerant, a little lighter in spirit. Joseph and Mary felt the joy of a new baby, the uplifting of their spirits knowing God entrusted them with his child. And then they went back to their normal lives just as we do, returned to the responsibilities of hearth and home just like we do. They kept the Christ child in their home, but do we? Is Jesus a part of our daily lives? Do we take time out each day to talk with him, to question and seek guidance? Do we look around our homes and see the walls, the furniture, all our things? Or do we look around and see, whether it’s a lot or a little, do we see the blessings of God?

Joseph went back to work, cutting, sawing, building with wood, interacting with customers and friends. Mary took on the responsibilities of a new home and expanding family, washing clothes, cooking meals. I believe, because they understood the nature of Jesus, their work was a little lighter. They recognized that through their work, they were serving God. When they went out in their community, I believe they were tolerant, gracious, considerate because that baby from the manger changed them deeply.

Can we let that baby change us? Can we walk in our work and let our spirits shine a little brighter? Can we be tolerant with others? Can we be gracious and considerate? Can I be tolerant and at peace when I’m in line at a store with someone in front of me fumbling around looking for coupons or their wallet? Can I be more considerate and gracious when a patient at work is hesitant to let me take their blood because of fear and apprehension when all I want to do is get to the next ten patients waiting for me?

Mary and Joseph taught and nurtured Jesus as he grew. Can I nurture? Can I teach others about God and his love by the actions of my life, by the words that I speak, by the attitude I have during interactions? And as much as I may want to do all this, will I fall back into old routines?

Mary and Joseph went back to their lives but Christ was with them every day. Christ needs to be a part of our lives every day. But what about practicality? Are there instructions to help us? There are.

Ephesians 6:4, “Do not provoke your children to anger…” Young children need to be taught and led for their own safety, but trying to force them, at any age, to completely bend to your will, goes against God’s will. Parents who create distrust or animosity go against the family design of God.

Ephesians 5:22 and 23, “Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body of which he is the savior.”

How many get this scripture wrong? It’s not about submission or hierarchy. It’s about love, respect, and support. This verse is not about wives being subservient, it’s instructions to husbands.

When I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders, when I’m overwhelmed, I lean on Christ for strength and let him ease my burden. Husbands are told here that when your wife feels burdened and pressed upon, your duty is the same as Christ’s; support, comfort and ease her worry.

When I’m faced with a decision that I’m having a hard time making, when I’m not sure which is the right way to go, I seek guidance from Christ. Husbands are told here to do the same, offer yourself as a sounding board, offer gentile guidance. And as Christ ultimately lets me make the decision, even when he knows I picked wrong, husbands are told here to let your wife make her decision and don’t try to force her to make the one you want.

And since so many have misinterpreted these verses, Paul made it clear in Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loves the church and gave himself up for her.”

In our modern society, I believe this tells us, husbands and wives, family is your first responsibility, their safety, their security. And Paul tells us the best way for us to fulfill these obligations is to have Christ within our family. And when Christ is at the center of your family he flows from that secure position into the rest of your life. When Jesus is the center of your life, the peace and goodwill of the manger on Christmas morning infuses itself into the heart of your life.

Now, looking back on our little family, Mary and Joesph were observant Jews, but scripture doesn’t say they were fanatical. This family simply honored God. This family may not have been wealthy, but it was blessed. Today’s teachings seem to twist this around; you’re not blessed unless you have earthy treasures. It’s a shame so many have this backwards. And because so many have this wrong, our world is in turmoil.

Jesus grew and learned within that family and household. Nothing is written in scripture about him being superior to others in his community. Nor does it say he was inferior to them. Jesus lived, matured, and grew in the Lord God. And when he did step out of the shadows and present himself to others, he always put God first. As Christians, we don’t need to make ourselves small and less in the presence of others. We certainly shouldn’t try to make ourselves more important than we are, demanding and overbearing. Our importance and standing is only in relation to God.

The season is waning; we’re going back to our “normal” lives. Now what?

Now, see your life as it is, God given. Now, see your work as God serving. Now, don’t fall back into old routines, keep Christ in your daily Life. Now, honor your family, keep Christ within it, it will be blessed, and your attitudes and actions toward others will flow from it. Now, our work is not to make others see us, not to inflate our importance, it’s to help others see God.

Now what? Now is the time to accept and commit to Christ. Now is the time to let the peace and goodwill of Christmas into your life for the whole year.

Amen