Headline: Christmas is Not Cancelled for Christians

The first Christmas came to a young teenager who gave birth to her first-born in a shelter. Her mama wasn't with her. Her aunties weren't there with the clean blankets and newly embroidered layette. She was far from home because the government required it.

Not her government. Not a government trying to protect her life and that of those around her. No, this was a foreign government who cared not a whit for her life, just wanted to make sure they could keep track of her husband.

Rejoice.

When the British headline declared Christmas is Cancelled on account of the lockdown called in the face of a new even more contagious strain of COVID, it replaced Dewey Wins as the most inaccurate headline of all time. Can you just see a grinning Joseph holding that newspaper over the heads of his wife and the sleeping babe?

Rejoice.

Rejoice in the Lord, always. Again I say rejoice. Paul was in prison when he wrote those words. Christmas will come this year as it always does.

Christmas will come to prison and to shelters. Christmas will come to families on Zoom who say I love you, I wish you were here. Christmas will come to essential workers in convenience stores, selling cigarettes and candy canes. Christmas will come to CNAs wiping dirty bums. Christmas will come to ICUs and cops on the beat. Christmas will come to church buildings that stand empty. Christmas will come to those at whom I am angry because they won't wear a mask. Christmas will come to maternity wards where they do.

Christmas will come. Because it means more than what is cancelled.

Rejoice!