Today is the first day of Kwanzaa. As a white male Christian I hold an erroneous position of power and Kwanzaa was not something I was ever taught about. It seems odd especially since I grew up in a predominantly black neighborhood. I should not know Kwanzaa as 'a black thing'. The fact that it is so rich in heritage and love makes me feel a ashamed that I am so ignorant of it. I do note that the celebration culminates in gift giving. This seems to be a trademark of many celebrations at this time of year. Unfortunately, sometimes the gift giving becomes the major focus of the season, overwhelming it. The holidays are co-opted by Madison Avenue to encourage us to buy, buy, buy! and Charge! Charge! Charge!
It is no wonder that many people heave a giant sigh of relief when Advent ends and it is Christmas Day. I am reminded that Christmas is not the end of Advent though. Christmas begins a new and glorious season. Now the challenge is to try and not focus on the new stuff we may have gotten and focus on God and ourselves as gifts of God. Perhaps we should focus on the things judiciously and try to focus on the Christmas Season at hand right now. The new 'toys' are a mere distraction whether they be from Hanukkah, Christmas or the impending end of Kwanzaa on January first.
If society has sent us all astray it is in the notion that things will make us complete or make us happier.They will not. The cacophony of bells and shopping, the insanity of the Advent season are symptoms of that in a way. In another way I am reminded of it all in today's passage. St. Stephan is traditionally held as the first Deacon and first martyr of the church. The times in Jerusalem and of the new Judeo-Christians was a time fraught with upheaval. It would be difficult to focus on much more than survival. The forces at play were formidable and ferocious; the dangers real and quite palpable. Stephan was stoned to death and if not at the direct hands of, certainly with knowledge and approval of Saul ( our dearly beloved Paul ). Horrible times. Insane times. Ok, considerably worse than any holiday insanity. Perhaps only a few steps beyond the political insanity of our present days.
As Christmas begins, the challenges to us are as real as they ever were for people of faith, let us stay fast to the course of our beliefs. Materialism will suck the Spirit from you. Anger and hate are manifestations that are not of the Spirit but of evil and ignorance, sometimes willful ignorance.
Just as we 'made time' to shop and bake cookies, run from party to party and spend time cleaning and primping ourselves, we now should realize we can in fact have the time to devote to ourselves spiritually. We can be attentive to God, to ourselves, to the Spirit. This is not the end of Advent. This is the beginning of the real Christmas season. The real gift is ourselves and taking the time to unwrap it.
Acts 7:59-8:8
While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he died. And Saul approved of their killing him.
That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison.
Now those who were scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiahto them. The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs that he did, for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, came out of many who were possessed; and many others who were paralysed or lame were cured. So there was great joy in that city.
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