Reformed Reflections
From the Pastor's Desk 1980-1989
Reflections on Christmas
The Christmas season is an extra busy time for a minister. Eleven sermons within three Sundays. Each sermon takes time in study, writing, prayerful preparation. And a minister needs to keep his mind and heart on his work, otherwise a sermon becomes a product of the head only. No wonder that a number of ministers start with their Christmas season sermon preparation during the summer, when there are no catechism classes to attend to. Preaching twice Sunday after Sunday is a tremendous challenge. Six days are very short, Sunday comes all too soon. Sermons must be products of careful study of Scripture. Before a sermon can be written, the text must be clear, an outline drawn up etc. However preaching is not only a challenge, but also a blessing. The digging into God's Word brings rich spiritual rewards. Preaching is a glorious task. Yet, a minister always feels very inadequate. How can he do justice to the great themes presented to him?
To come back to the Christmas season. Why is it that we have so many celebrations and programs during the month of December? Good Friday and Easter are "high" days; but we have only a few special services commemorating these great redemptive events.What about Ascension, the Coronation day of Christ our King? Christ completed the work of salvation, went to heaven for us and there rules over this world and intercedes for us. Ascension is a feast greater of importance than Christmas; but services on that day are usually poorly attended, if held at all. Pentecost, the feast day of the Holy Spirit, the opening of the whole world for the Gospel only receives casual recognition.
