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A faithful presence of love in the absences of our city.

Christmas in the Room

On Sunday I mentioned Sufjan Stevens. He is a personal fav. I love his music. It is whimsical, harrowing, fun, serious, deep and light. I know that doesn’t seem possible. But it is. Anyway, he has two Christmas albums: Songs for Christmas and Silver and Gold. One of Sufjan’s Christmas Songs from the Silver and Gold album is Called Christmas in the Room. It tells the story of a man and a woman at the end of life facing the greatest enemy that lies before them…death. I know, you might say, quite a Christmas song; its so sad. That’s what Danette said to me when I made her listen to the song the first time. And it is a sad song. It isn’t sentimental. Advent and Christmas aren’t sentimental either. This season of the year does encounter death, because death is the greatest enemy, and Christmas means death will be defeated. Check out the song:

No travel bags, no shopping malls
No candy canes, no Santa Claus
For as the day of rest draws near
It's just the two of us this year

No silver bells or mistletoe
We'll kiss and watch our TV show

I'll come to you, I'll sing to you
Like it's Christmas in the room
I'll dance with you, I'll laugh with you
'Til it's Christmas in the room

No traffic jams, no ice and storm
Far in the house the fire is warm
No Christmas tree, no great parade
It's just an ordinary day

No parties planned, no place to go
It's just the two of us alone
And in the house we see a light
That comes what we feel inside

I'll come to you, I'll sing to you
Like it's Christmas in the room
I'll dance with you, I'll laugh with you
'Til it's Christmas in the room
'Til it's Christmas in the room

Oh, I can't see the day when we'll die
But I don't care to think of silence
For now I hear you laughing
The greatest joy is like the sunrise

No gifts to give, they're all right here
Inside our hearts, the glorious cheer
And in the house we seek a light
That comes from what we know inside

I'll come to you, I'll sing to you
Like it's Christmas in the room
I'll dance with you, I'll laugh with you
'Til it's Christmas in the room

I'll come to you, I'll sing to you
Like it's Christmas in the room
I'll dance with you, I'll laugh with you
Like it's Christmas in the room
Like it's Christmas in the room

Sufjan croons that Christmas makes all the difference when the day of rest draws near. Christmas makes life not an existential search for meaning in the vast ocean of meaninglessness. But rather, dancing, singing, joy…the rising of the son, the light that chases out all the darkness until only goodness is left. Christmas in the room.

Reggie Kidd is a pastor…He wrote a book about songs and singing and he says:
“It's only when we understand [Jesus'] presence in the church as being the fulfillment of God's promise in Zephaniah 3:17 to "quiet you with his love" and "rejoice over you with singing" that a crucial aspect of our salvation comes into perspective. Jesus didn't coldly settle accounts for us. He doesn't bark us into improving ourselves. He united us to himself in the glorious communion he has enjoyed for eternity with his heavenly Father. He resides within us to heal the broken places and refresh cauterized hearts. He sings us into a new mode of existence.... When, as Paul does, we imagine Jesus singing nations into submission to his rule, our hearts come joyfully under the sway of a love that is infinite and powerful.” ~ Reggie M. Kidd, With One Voice: Discovering Christ's Song in Our Worship

Jesus sings us into a new mode of existence. Jesus sings the nations into submission. Jesus sings hearts into love. Jesus is Christmas in the room. The hope of Advent and the hope of Christmas is that Jesus Christ is in the room…that he will dance with us…laugh with us…He will make Christmas in the room…that he will come into the room and fulfill our deepest longings.

He is coming to eradicate this world of evil. He is restoring all that is broken. And he is doing that because he was broken to make the world whole again. He became sin to free us from our sin. And he calls us to follow him to bring life (Christmas) into this world – the life won by the Divine Warrior himself. And we look to him, trusting that evil will give way to justice and mercy because of our Savior. Amen.

~ Justin Edgar

For your listening pleasure.

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