Religion in Daily Life

By the Rev. Edward Chinn, D.Min.

Rector, All Saints’ Church

http://www.allsaintstorresdale.org

How would you punctuate the familiar Christmas Carol’s first line? Would you write, “God rest you, merry gentlemen?” Or would you write, “God rest you merry, gentlemen?” The latter is the correct punctuation. The carol greets the gentlemen with the good wish, “God rest you (that is, keep you) merry.” The word “merry” means cheerful, glad, happy, and joyous. Such a positive emotion is central to the Christmas message, for the messenger said to the shepherds: “Do not be afraid; for see-I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people” (Luke 2: 10). What is it that will make our Christmas merry?

A merry heart makes for a merry Christmas. The Bible says “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine” (Proverbs 17:22, KJV). Humor has healing power. Dr. Hunter “Patch” Adams puts that thought into his medical practice. In mid-December, “Patch” Adams made a weeklong trip to Palestinian and Israeli hospitals and schools, bringing laughter to places of pain. Robin Williams played “Patch” in the 1998 movie. “The doctor’s bedside clowning became a kind of medical philosophy-the idea that humor heals as much as medicine and machines” (The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 13, 2002). Among the last things Jesus said to his friends was this: “I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy be complete” (John 15:11, NJB). Christmas begins with a merry heart.

A merry outlook makes for a merry Christmas. How does a person get a merry outlook? A person needs a reason to hope and look forward to the future. Dr. Bruce Larson asked staff members at the Menninger Foundation to identify the single most important ingredient in the treatment of the emotionally disturbed. The entire staff unanimously singled out hope as the most important factor in treatment. Regardless of one’s mental status, hope is necessary for survival. The early Christians called God “the God of hope.” The sage in ancient Israel said: “The hopes of good people lead to joy” (Proverbs 10:28, TEV). It is hope that makes for a merry outlook and a merry Christmas.

A merry guest makes for a merry Christmas. In the last book of the New Testament, the author paints a picture of Christ knocking at the door of the human heart and looking for hospitality. This is how the author sees the risen Christ speaking: “Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends” (Revelation 3:20, NLT). This is the third ingredient for a merry Christmas. Besides humor and hope, we need the hospitality to entertain this starry Stranger in whom the compassion and wisdom of God are embodied in human form. As Angelus Silesius wrote: “Though Christ a thousand times in Bethlehem be born, if he’s not born in you, your soul is still forlorn.”

O holy Child of Bethlehem,

descend to us, we pray;

cast out our sin and enter in,

be born in us today.

We hear the Christmas angels

the great glad tidings tell;

O come to us, abide with us,

our Lord Emmanuel!