Enough of the Bad News

The Christmas season is typically a time when Australians over-indulge. Data released by the Cancer Council last year revealed that about two-fifths of Australians put on weight over the Christmas period. The survey showed that males put on more weight than females during this time, while those aged 35-54 gained the most weight across the festive season. And really, it’s not surprising, is it? For most of us, Christmas, and its festivities, revolve around consuming food and drinks with colleagues, friends and family. Between work Christmas parties, Christmas lunch or dinner and edible presents, it can be an effort not to gain weight, and in fact, the research showed an average weight gain of almost 3 kilograms. Over this advent season, in our Sunday services, we’ll be considering the ‘Weight of Christmas.’ But the focus will not be on this weight gained from an excess of food or inactivity. The word “weight” is an appropriate word when talking about Christmas. We often celebrate in the “glory” of Christmas, but the Hebrew word for “glory” is the word Kavod. And Kavod not only means “glory,” but the root of the word is “weight.” The glory of Christmas has an aspect of heaviness, of weightiness. While this season certainly can get tangled in superficial commercialism, there is, at the centre of Christmas, a weightiness, an importance, a deference, a respect that is filled to overflowing with honour and majesty. If we are not careful, an unnecessary and undesirable weight around unhealthy Christmas expectations can begin to slump our shoulders and suffocate our soul. We can find ourselves feeling pressed to get everything done from decorating, to shopping, to baking, to figuring out how to see everybody in a way that leaves family and friends feeling satisfied (or not) with the amount of time everybody was able to “enjoy.” All while ensuring we have the perfect outfit and our hair is freshly styled. There can be feelings of ‘so much to do with not enough time’ (or money) to get it all done. And as we feel the weight of Christmas, we may be in danger of missing the true glory of it. Yet Advent, from the latin word ‘adventus’ meaning “coming”, calls us to prepare for the arrival of a tiny infant into our world. Over these next few weeks, make time to step back from the hustle and bustle of the season, and make room for preparing for and waiting on, his coming again this year. Join us this Sunday and every Sunday in advent to take some time to expand our capacity to experience and enjoy the glory, the important, the weight of Christmas.

Scripture References: Luke 1:26-38

From Series: The Weight Of Christmas | More Messages from Rebecca Inglis | Download Audio

From Series: "The Weight Of Christmas"