“In those days came John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judea. And saying, Repent ye: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:1-12
These are the beginning scriptures where John the Baptist tells the people of Judea, to not only repent of their sins, but to be prepared for the Kingdom of Heaven. In the next verses he rebukes the Sadducees and Pharisees for their activities.
However, rather than focusing on John the Baptist’s warnings about the Sadducees and message of repentance, I prefer to see the verses as the essence of Advent, the preparation and coming of the Christ child and the Christmas season. I see it as a prediction of a time of joy and celebration. I believe that the Christmas spirit is best embodied and described by that noted author, Dr. Seuss, who described the feelings of the Grinch, who thought he had stolen Christmas but then he hears a joyous noise and singing coming from all the Whos in Whoville.
“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,
Stood puzzling and puzzling: “How could it be so?
“It came without ribbons! It came without tags!
“It came without packages, boxes or bags!”
And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!
“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.
“Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!”
Have a Joyous Advent Season!
These are the beginning scriptures where John the Baptist tells the people of Judea, to not only repent of their sins, but to be prepared for the Kingdom of Heaven. In the next verses he rebukes the Sadducees and Pharisees for their activities.
However, rather than focusing on John the Baptist’s warnings about the Sadducees and message of repentance, I prefer to see the verses as the essence of Advent, the preparation and coming of the Christ child and the Christmas season. I see it as a prediction of a time of joy and celebration. I believe that the Christmas spirit is best embodied and described by that noted author, Dr. Seuss, who described the feelings of the Grinch, who thought he had stolen Christmas but then he hears a joyous noise and singing coming from all the Whos in Whoville.
“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,
Stood puzzling and puzzling: “How could it be so?
“It came without ribbons! It came without tags!
“It came without packages, boxes or bags!”
And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!
“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.
“Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!”
Have a Joyous Advent Season!
Lee Oxley
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