Dateline: New Year's Eve

As I write this posting, the rapidly rising tide of darkness floods into the area I see outside my
windows. Christmas lights on houses still radiate energy and color that even the week after
Christmas cannot dispel. The world seems hushed and calm; it must be true that people are
getting ready to celebrate the coming of the New Year. I look forward to the year 2012 be-
cause it is the year I return to Scotland to be pastor of St. Fergus Parish Church. But I really
can't get excited about the New Year's celebrations that will commence in just a few hours.
By then I hope to be asleep in bed. At 4:20 am I will be setting up for early morning prayer
at 5 am.

I'm still savoring Christmas and all that it means. I can't get enough of Christmas. But this
year, the Christmas season has a companion. Hanukkah (some people spell it as Chanukah)
is an eight day Jewish festival. Because of the differences between the Jewish calendar and
the one commonly used in this era, Hanukkah, based on the former calendar, does not always
occur during Christmas time. This year it was observed from December 20th to the 28th. The
festival commemorates the time when, nearly 150 years before Christ's birth, the Maccabees
(a small band of faithful Jews) defeated the Greeks and their army (at that time, one of the might-
iest armies of the world), stymied Greek influence among the Jewish people, and reclaimed the
Jewish Temple in Jerusalem by cleansing it and rededicating it to God.

Hanukkah especially commemorates the miracle of the oil that took place when the Temple
was being rededicated. The Maccabees found only enough pure olive oil for the Temple can-
delabrum to last for one day. It truly was a miracle that the scant supply of oil lasted for eight
days until more consecrated oil could be found. Hanukkah has come to be known as a festi-
val of light because it celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and purity over adulterat-
ion. Purity and dedication of God's faithful people shed light into the darkness of the world.
That small band of Jewish people refused to compromise. They remained faithful to God and
committed themselves to being God's light in a dark and ungodly world.  

The story of Hanukkah is a great story, a Jewish story that Christians should be more aware
of. Although God plays a part in the miracle of the oil, the story is mainly about the actions of
a small group of courageous and faithful Jewish warriors over 2100 years ago. But my atten-
tion is focused on Christmas because it is about what God has done on our behalf in order to
save us from sin and death. God's Son, the second person of the Triune God, was made hu-
man and dwelt among us. Jesus is the true light who came into this world to give us life (John
1:9). He is the Word made flesh and born of Mary in Bethlehem. Behind the manger is the
cross upon which he was later crucified. Christ died at Calvary for our sins in accordance with
the Scriptures. Jesus was buried and raised on the third day, also in accordance with the Scrip-
tures. More than 500 people witnessed their Risen Lord and Savior (I Corinthians 15:1-8).

I like the story of Hanukkah, but it doesn't compare to the Christmas Story because the latter is
Jesus Christ's Story. Jesus' birth in a manger prepares us and sets us up for the Mystery of Faith
when we proclaim that Christ has died, Christ is Risen, and Christ will come again. I can never
get enough of the Gospel Story.

A blessed New Year to you and yours,