<> Ask the Pastor by Rev. Walter Snyder Contrary to popular reports, the Grinch has not stolen Christmas. Its eve is upon us; the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ can begin. Presents can be torn open, toys played with until broken, complaints registered about the gifts, the food, the relatives. Oh, of course not! You wouldn't do that, would you? Even for devout Christians, the temptations and troubles besetting us are enough to take our eyes off of the Real Meaning of Christmas. Not love, joy, peace, or any such greeting card definition. Rather: "Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am greatest." The great apostle to the Gentiles, Paul of God, realized that he'd have been Saul of Satan were it not for Jesus' coming. The same would be for us. My gift for you is as old as that first night in Bethlehem, when Mary had a boy-child. Older, really, since it goes back into the eternity of God's love and His plan for our salvation. From the second chapter of Luke I offer: "In those days Caesar Augustus ordered that a census be taken of the whole world. (This was the first census while Quirinius was governing Syria.) Everyone went to register, each to his own town. Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to David's town in Judea, which is called Bethlehem, because he was one of the descendants of David, to register with Mary, his fiancee, who was going to have a child. Now while they were there, the time came for her to have her baby, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped Him in baby clothes and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. "And there were shepherds living out in the countryside nearby. They were taking turns watching their flocks at night. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone all around them. They were terrified. 'Stop being afraid,' the angel said to them, 'for look, I have good news for you. A great joy will come to all the people, because the Savior, who is Christ the Lord, was born for you today in David's town. And this is how you will know Him: you will find an Infant wrapped in baby clothes and lying in a manger.' "Suddenly there was with the angel a large number of the angels of heaven, who were praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest heavens, and on earth peace to those who have His good will!' When the angels had left them and gone to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'The Lord has told us what has happened. Let's go to Bethlehem and see it.' "Then they came in a hurry and found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby lying in the manger. When they had seen Him, they told others what they had been told about this Child. And everyone was surprised to hear the story that the shepherds told. But Mary treasured all these things in her heart and kept thinking about them. "The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It was just as they had been told." Christmas is God caught in the act of keeping His promises. He promised to send a Savior already in the Garden, and renewed that promise throughout the Old Testament. Finally, that Savior was sent. The rest of the promises would unfold. Jesus would grow to manhood earning the respect of family and neighbors. He would heal the sick, raise the dead, and preach Good News to the poor. He would carry our sins to Calvary, washing them away in the flow of His own blood. A thought as you rip into your own presents: Jesus' own human package was torn open to release the ultimate gift of forgiveness of sins, restoration of the Father's love, and eternal life in heaven. Treasure this in your heart and keep on thinking about it. And have a very merry and Christ-centered Christmas. I invite you to join St. Paul in Jasper at 7:00 tonight or Faith in Woodville at 11:00 p.m. for our candlelight services, should you not have a place to celebrate this birth with brother and sister Christians. See you next week. Remember to "Ask the Pastor" your questions at P.O. Box 1080, Jasper, Texas, 75951; e-mail xrysostom@aol.com; or catch me around town. Walter Snyder is the pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Jasper and Faith Lutheran Church, Woodville and coauthor of the book "What Do Lutherans Believe." Copyright (c) 1995 by Walter P. Snyder Permission is granted by author to reproduce or retransmit this by any means, provided that its content is not altered, that this notice of copyright and permission is included, and that no financial gain is realized.