Reflection: Keeping the Whole Story Together
I’ve always been told that Christians are Easter people. And I’ve always assumed this to be true. After all, Easter is Resurrection and Salvation. And yet, every year I see the Christmas Spirit work the most beautiful transformation in all of us, supposedly Easter people. We become more loving, more compassionate, more generous, more joyful—to be honest—we become more Christ-like. I’m sure you’ve noticed it, too. After all, there’s a reason that charities solicit and receive most of their donations at Christmas, right? So, I began to wonder, are we really, truly, Easter people—the sort of Easter people God intends us to be?
Then a few years ago, I sang a duet with my son, Rhylan for church the week after Christmas. It may have even been on New Year’s Eve, just like today. The Song was “When the Angel’s Song Is Silent” by Mary Kay Beall. Listen to the climax of the song.
When the angels’ song is silent
And the prophecy’s fulfilled,
When the swaddling clothes are folded
And the baby’s cry is stilled,
When the angels’ song is silent
And the drama is all done.
Then the promise of Christmas begins.
For the promise is more than a child in the hay,
More than shepherds and kings and a glad Christmas day.
Yes, the promise is more than a bright star above,
It’s a cross! And a tomb! And a Father’s great love.
When the angels’ song is silent
And the kings have come and gone,
All the world is changed forever
For the echo lingers on.
When the angel’s song is silent
God is nearer than before,
And the promise of Christmas…begins.
This song convinced my head of something that I think my heart, maybe yours too, already knew, but which my brain had somehow forgotten—that Easter is tied to Christmas. Neither one stands on its own. Easter is only part of the story. Easter is the fulfillment of the promises of Christmas. Without Christmas there could be no Easter. Without Easter, Christmas would be a day like any other. Each gives meaning to the other. We need the whole story to experience a complete and lasting transformation of life and spirit. The church has always known this. That’s why we celebrate them both every year. Separately. But maybe we need to bring them together. What might happen if we did that? What might happen in us? in the world?
So, the scientist in me wants to know—what would happen if we lived as though every day were Christmas in our hearts, AND as though every day were Easter in our souls? To find out, I propose the following simple experiment. This year, when it comes time to put away all your Christmas decorations, choose at least one to keep out all year long. Put it someplace conspicuous—where you‘ll see it every day. If you can, place it near a cross or an Easter decoration that you look at often. And when you look at that Christmas symbol, hum a few bars of “O Little Town of Bethlehem” or your favorite Christmas carol, and whisper a little prayer asking Jesus to be born in your heart again, today, and every day, as long as you live. Then remind yourself that Christmas is a promise fulfilled at Easter, and ask God to help you celebrate Easter in your soul, every day, eternally. Because the Jesus of Christmas is always a light in the darkness that can’t be extinguished; Emmanuel, God with Us and within us; the babe in the manger full of hope and promise, who makes peace on earth seems possible. And the Christ Jesus of Easter is always Christ crucified, the Resurrected Savior, the triumph of the empty tomb, Christ ascended and preparing a place for us where we can spend eternity with him; the one who brings heaven near, within our reach, and convinces us there is nothing to fear. We need them both—all the time.
I’m not suggesting you’ll suddenly feel completely different. We’ve been keeping Christmas and Easter separate for a long time so, it may take a while to notice a change. Transformation tends to occur gradually. But I dare you to give it a try. I double dog dare you! If I’m wrong, all you’ve done is leave out one or two Christmas decorations all year—decorations you won’t have to unpack again next year. But, if my suspicions are correct, if it makes a significant difference… just think what we might do, as people who hold the entire story within us, people who celebrate it every day, who let it live in us and through us—as if it were always Christmas in our hearts, and forever Easter in our souls. Some German soldiers initiated a temporary ceasefire and enjoyed meaningful fellowship with their enemies in the midst of World War I on Christmas day, 1914, just by singing some Christmas carols in the trenches.* What might we accomplish as a community that celebrates both Christmas and Easter every day? What’s possible for a people who carry the entire message in our hearts and souls, who know that the “Alleluias” beside the manger are echoed in the “Hallelujahs” beside the empty tomb? I’d like to find out. Wouldn’t you?
* https://www.history.com/news/christmas-truce-1914-world-war-i-soldier-accounts