![\"Monday](\"http:\/\/www.cslewis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/mondaynew.jpg\")
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Dear Friends,<\/p>\n
Emotional commitments to keep Christmas in our hearts all year long
\nfade faster than tinsel blows away in winter winds. As we come to the
\nend of December, we take down the tree, pack up the figures of the
\nnativity, and put away the lights.<\/p>\n
But what will we do with the Christ-child at the center of it all?
\nWill we relegate him to the packing box as well?<\/p>\n
His birth was announced as “good news of great joy for all the Even before Jesus’ birth, Mary headed into the hill country to visit <\/p>\n Joseph and Mary shared Jesus with rough shepherds and erudite kings. When the Holy Spirit convicted Joseph that the oppressive and Jesus grew in wisdom, stature and grace at the family table, in the The spiritual life of the people was centered on the temple before Our heavenly Father entrusted Mary and Joseph to carry his only There are questions that beg to be asked regarding our post-season choices.<\/p>\n Will we share the joy of the Christ-child with others struggling with Will we worship the Christ-child with the rough and the refined alike Will we carry the Christ-child with us to church as Mary and Joseph Will we patiently wait alert and focused in prayer on the revelation Will we take the steps necessary to protect and nurture the life and Will we take him with us into our work place and the daily business Will we be open to amazement and new spiritual understanding in the Or will we put him in the box and set him on the shelf until “O taste and see that the Lord is good. Happy are those who take Under the mercy of Christ,<\/p>\n Kent<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013<\/p>\n Please note that the content and viewpoints of Mr. Hansen are his own and are not necessarily those of the C.S. Lewis Foundation. We have not edited his writing in any substantial way and have permission from him to post his content.<\/em><\/p>\n \u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013<\/p>\n
\npeople” (Luke 2:10<\/span><\/span>). The thing to do with good news is pass it on.<\/p>\n
\nher much older cousin Elizabeth who also was expecting. Elizabeth was
\nfilled with the Holy Spirit and encouraged when Mary walked in the
\ndoor. John leaped for joy in Elizabeth’s womb at the presence of his
\ncousin, Jesus. The two women shared their joy in the goodness of the
\nLord. They drew support and strength from each other during the three
\nmonths they were together (Luke 1:39-56).<\/p>\n
\nThe new parents carried their child into the temple where the
\nfaithful prophets Simeon and Anna realized the fulfillment of their
\nhope for the coming of the Messiah (Luke 2:25-38).<\/p>\n
\nintrusive government meant to harm his child, he did not hesitate to
\nmove them to a place where the life of Jesus could be preserved and
\ngrow in their little family. They followed God’s leading back to the
\nwider circle of family and friends in Nazareth after the danger had
\npassed (Matt 2:13<\/span><\/span>–23).<\/p>\n
\ncarpenter shop, in the village market place and synagogue and in
\nattendance at the great festivals of the faith in Jerusalem (Luke
\n2:39-52). When Mary and Joseph found conflicts between their
\nunderstanding and anxieties over what was best for their child and
\nwhat the Father wanted for him, they gave thoughtful reflection and
\nrespect to his development and influence even as he honored them with
\nobedience (Luke 2:47-51).<\/p>\n
\nJesus came. He carried the life of God to fishermen, shepherds, tax
\ncollectors, Roman centurions, men and women of questionable pasts,
\nlepers, and children at play. He taught them that God was for them,
\nloved them, and would live within them (Luke 4:18-19; John 3:16-18;
\n5:1-11).\u00a0 He does not live in temples made of human hands (Acts
\n7:48<\/span><\/span>). We live within him and he within us (Acts 17:24-28).<\/p>\n
\nbegotten Son out of the stable and into the world. Redeeming grace
\ndawned long ago. The manger is long since empty. The cross of Calvary
\nis empty too. We live by the pardon of his mercy, and the power of
\nhis grace. His life is our life (John 4:19-20). The kingdom of God is
\nrealized within our midst (Luke 17:21<\/span><\/span>). But who would know that
\nChrist the Savior is born in us?<\/p>\n
\nthe mysteries of the new life born within them like Mary did with Elizabeth?<\/p>\n
\nwithout any other qualification than their open minds and hearts to
\nhis attraction as Mary and Joseph did with the shepherds and kings?<\/p>\n
\ndid? Not everyone does that you know.<\/p>\n
\nof Christ to the congregation as Simeon and Anna did despite the
\ncomplacency, mindless obeisance to tradition, and corruption around them?<\/p>\n
\nlove of the Christ-child in our families by the leading of the Holy
\nSpirit as Joseph did in taking his little family to Egypt and
\nbringing them back when the time had come?<\/p>\n
\nof living as Joseph did?<\/p>\n
\nquestions and answers the Christ-child evokes in us and others as we
\nengage with him as Mary and Joseph and the scholars did in the temple?<\/p>\n
\ntradition and our sentimentality dictate that we bring him out again
\nnext year? If so, can we complain that the world does not know him?<\/p>\n
\nrefuge in him” (Ps 34:8).<\/p>\n![\"Kent](\"http:\/\/www.cslewis.org\/blog\/images\/kent-hansen.jpg\")
Kent Hansen is a Christian attorney, author and speaker. He practices corporate law and is the managing attorney of the firm of Clayson, Mann, Yaeger & Hansen in Corona, California. Kent also serves as the general counsel of Loma Linda University and Medical Center in Loma Linda, California.<\/p>\n