"WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES CHRISTMAS MAKE?"

Listen again to those words from the pastoral letter of St Paul to Titus: "God has revealed his grace for the salvation of all mankind. That grace instructs us to give up ungodly living and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this world." (vs. 11-12) That's fairly strong stuff, for Christmas Eve, isn't it? But then Christmas has no real meaning, unless it makes a radical difference to the way we live our lives. We can come along to our midnight Services, sing the carols, and give our presents to our loved ones and friends, and then forget all about it until next year. What real difference does Christmas make to your life? That's the question that this passage from the letter Titus challenges us with.

1. What difference will Christmas make?

I guess St. Paul used such forceful language because he was concerned about what was happening in the church on the island of Crete, where Titus lived. It was said that the older women of Crete practised gossip to the point that they could demolish a person's reputation even before they had finished their morning cup of coffee. And most of the men weren't much better. They were shiftless, abrasive, argumentative and almost uncontrollable characters. This is where the derogatory term "Cretan" comes from. These so-called Christians failed to relate the gospel of God's grace and kindness to their everyday work and relationships.

The same temptation affects the lives of so many of us, who claim to be Christian, but don't really live it out in our lives!

It won't be long before Christmas is over for another year. In a week or 12 days we will take down the decorations, burn the gift boxes and pack away the fairy lights. Life will again resume its regular, and for some, tedious routines. In that colourless, often wearisome world, what impact does the gospel of God's gracious love have on us? What difference does it make to our daily, bread-and-butter, existence?

2. Frustrated by the frivolous.

I've heard it said that at this time of the year, people are more friendly, more gracious, even more generous. In fact, some people exclaim, "Wouldn't it be a wonderful world if people had the 'Christmas spirit' all the year round." That would be true if by those words "Christmas spirit" people meant living in and under the Lordship of Christ's Holy Spirit. But I'm not sure that is what they mean. They mean something more sentimental and unrelated to everyday life.

I'm also not all that sure that people are more friendly, more gracious, and more generous at this time of the year. It seems to me that in our largely secular society we've lost the essential, sacred meaning of this holy season. And each year we do less about it. The secular celebration of Christmas with its tinsel, glitter and crass commercialism has all but smothered the true meaning of Christmas. People feel pressurised and stressed, they snap at one another, or react violently when something or someone blocks their way. Road rage, air rage, and even shopping rage is on the increase. So, where's all this friendliness, graciousness, and generosity. I think we've lost the real meaning and spirit of Christmas and are the poorer for it. We are frustrated by the frivolous concerns of our secular society and have lost much of the joy, peace and love that lie at the true heart of Christmas.

So let me ask, what does Christmas mean to you? Does it mean a hundred and one countless frustrations, because you can't find the right the gift for someone? Provoked by the long lines at the cash registers do you get uptight and angry? Are you annoyed because the fourth batch of Christmas mince pies burnt on the bottoms? Or perhaps you are uptight because you spent half the day untangling the Christmas tree lights and trying to find out which bulb had blown. We all know how these basically frivolous sort of things can frustrate and annoy us. How quickly the secular world and what are really frivolous concerns smother the sacred meaning of Christmas.

3. The real meaning of Christmas.

In the midst of all this, we come to church on Christmas Eve, and listen as the apostle Paul reminds us of the real meaning of Christmas. "God's grace brings salvation to all!"

Yes, that is true, but only for those who ".give up ungodly living and worldly passions, and live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this world, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our Great God and Saviour Jesus Christ." (vs. 12-13) God's saving grace is offered freely to us all in Jesus Christ. If we accept it there will be some changes to be made in the way we live and relate to others.

On that first Christmas night God entered into this life of ours, with all its joys and sorrows, in order to bring salvation and new life to all. The real meaning of Christmas is discovered by those who not only come to church at this time, but follow the rest of the story of Jesus to Jerusalem, to the Cross on Good Friday, and then are here again to celebrate the resurrection on Easter Sunday. Christmas is only the beginning of the story of God's gracious love that is given to us in Jesus Christ. It's only as we continue to follow Christ each day of lives that we will find the real meaning of Christmas, and be filled with his glory and grace.

We need to remember that God came in the person of his Son, as a tiny baby in a manger, not simply to provide the script for a Christmas play or musical oratorio, but to change and remake us! Paul, in his letter to Titus, says that, "He (Jesus Christ) gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds." (vs. 14). That 's the real meaning of Christmas! God wants to change you and me so that we become his people and show forth his gracious love in our lives by helping others. It's good relationships that count in the long run, not flashy presents!

4. Called to be God's people.

So, what difference, if any, has this message of deliverance, mercy, and gracious love made to our lives? That's the real question. Let me remind you of the importance of Christmas as St Paul sees it.

? He asserts that Christ came to save and redeem us because God "wanted us to be his own people and to be eager to do right." (vs.14). You and I are called to be the people of God, a community inspired by the Spirit of Christ, filled with his passion, eager to do good, to uphold justice for all, and to live in right relationships with others. This is the reason, the sacred significance, and the real meaning of Christmas.

?In Christ God has come to create a new community who will carry on his work of compassion and grace to a wounded, dying world. Through his Holy Spirit, he gives us the grace and power to triumph over his enemies - the enemies of life, of loving relationships, and of social, political, and economic justice for all, not just the rich and powerful.

In Christ there is a message of hope for this world; for the person dying in a hospital bed, or stricken with grief, or lonely, or who is worried about their next meal. God has not forgotten them. He sent his Son, Jesus to save them, and he calls us to be his people, his ambassadors, and reach out in love and grace such people, giving them practical help, and bringing hope for a better life. "We are filled with hope as we wait for the glorious return of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ." We can make a difference in our world, if we take the message of Christmas seriously and seek to live it out in our everyday lives. Through us, God's grace and love can come to others. Then we will find the real joy, peace and love of Christmas. Amen.






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