you have filled the hungry with wonderous things

 
"You have cast the mighty down from their thrones, & uplifted the humble of heart"
~The Magnificat


Canada's WestJet Airlines has a brilliant holiday commercial...

Mary has to be one of my most favorite figures in the Bible; she is thoughtful, thoroughly human and remarkably faithful.
Truth be told, the thing that made me fall for Mary is the song she sings after the angel visits her.
Contrary to what we'd expect, living under the thumb of a cruel empire & now bearing an unplanned pregnancy, Mary sings that this work of God is a blessing. 
Here's the thing about this blessed work of God, though; Mary sings that this miracle is a blessing that is good news, not just for her, but for everyone; everyone.


The WestJet commercial gets us in the gut; these unsuspecting flyers all land at their destination and, lo & behold, Santa has delivered.
That's the kind of Christmas miracle we all want.

After the warm glow of the commercial fades away, the hot chocolate is finished and the next Christmas Special airing isn't one you care for, however, you may begin to wonder.
You might wonder about those who can't afford a plane ticket (you might be one of those people yourself), you might wonder about the folks who don't want the newest tablet but just their next meal.
You might, and I hope you do wonder such things; because here's the rub, WestJet's good news isn't good news for everyone. Finally, WestJet's good news isn't actually good news; it's a sales pitch (and a good one).

While corporations may be able to capitalize on a real human desire and make a profit for shareholders; corporations can't deliver on the implicit promise their ads make.
These ads promise that you're cared for, you're loved, you matter, Christmas will be a blessing, and the like.
Good as these promises are, if you can't afford a ticket, if a storm delays your flight, if you're fighting with the family you're flying out to see, if death comes unexpectedly; no amount of WestJet tickets (or any other product for that matter), will be able to deliver on the promises we long to be fulfilled (that we matter, we're loved, cared for, that somehow Christmas will be a blessing).

The only one, finally, who can deliver on these promises, is the one who comes to unsuspecting people, in unlikely places and for an unexpected price; nothing.

I pray you have the kind of Christmas WestJet is trying to sell; but more fervently I pray the one who can deliver on these promises interrupts your regularly scheduled programming to deliver the promise we all need.

Trinity will have Christmas Eve services (12/24) at 5:30 and 9 pm. Regular services are Saturday Evening at 5:30 and Sunday Morning at 9 am.
Our local paper, The HawkEye has a listing of all the church services in the area in the "Church News" section on Saturdays, and here's a link to the ELCA congregation locator.
 
Blessings from the child who was born among a poor family and spent his life among the least, last and lowly.
Amen

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