Ebenezer Scrooge was a difficult man, to say the least. He seemed only to care about profits over persons, and in all reality, he couldn’t care less about his neighbor, aside from the debt that they may have owed him. For whatever reason, his heart seemed as cold as the streets of London that Charles Dickens, the author of the story, relates in the course of the book. His clerk, Bob Cratchit, was the one that we are told who had the worst lot in life, being underpaid and forced to work with this man constantly, to make just a small wage to keep his family alive. It would’ve seemed that life would’ve continued on that way, had it not been for the ghosts of Jacob Marley, Christmas past, Christmas present, and Christmas future.
The ghost of Jacob Marley warned Scrooge of the impending doom that was to happen, if he did not change his ways, as Marley had to wander the earth, encumbered by the shackles and chains laden with money boxes that he had used against the poor and unfortunate so long ago. His sentence was to be perpetually carried out- but he had been sent to save Ebenezer Scrooge from a fate even worse than his. Then, after Marley departs, Scrooge was visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, Christmas present, and Christmas future. Each of these tells him of both a past of ruin, a present time of indifference, and a future full of doom and gloom.
Yet, what is all this theme of Christmas past, Christmas present, and Christmas future about anyways? Why involve Christmas at all in a story about a businessman who was selfish and greedy?
Perhaps Christmas can change a great deal more than we thought.
We all know very well the celebration of Christmas, and likely can recite it very well. What is Christmas? Jesus’s birth. We can tell where He was born, how the shepherds stare in wonder, how the angels sing on high, and even ancient wise men appear and draw close from afar, led by this mysteriously brilliant star. But what is all of this about? Why all of this heavenly glory and splendor?
We needed saving.
The ancient curse was very much there since the beginnings of the human race. We know that story all too well also, when we hear how Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, and then were cast out of paradise, for what seemed to be eternity. At least, that’s how the story would have went, had we not had a Savior, sent from heaven, to take up our very nature, and to redeem it in time.
This is why there is such great rejoicing! This is why we have so much delight- because we have been introduced to a God so incomprehensibly great that He, not only sends someone to save us, but He sends His own Son to save us. That is why the angels appear. This is why there is so much confusion from the shepherds- this meek baby seems so much like us. That is why even the celestial bodies align to show the very spot where the Christ child lays. Truly, this was not just a baby- this is the Son of God.
And, when we consider all of this, it now brings us great joy! How wonderful it is that we are being visited by this Child as we remember His birth again, years and years later! Isn’t it great that we are gathered here today?
It is! It truly is! But, what happens after today? Do we walk away and put the tree in storage again? Do we unplug the lights tomorrow? Do we just kind of sink into a somber winter season from this moment? I certainly hope not!
Ebenezer Scrooge was stuck in that cold of winter. He was so miserly and captivated by his own wealth that he likely saw life as being so dreary and so dull. The only thing to live for was money. What did those “ghosts” of Christmas bring Him? Realization. The view that, by the light of Christ, life wasn’t going too well! He was locked in, and on track to be trapped by all of the things that he could try to partake in. But the grace of Christmas showed him- there was a better way. Sure, the Christmases of the past hadn’t been absolutely wonderful- but they could be redeemed! The grace and the spirits of Christmas showed him what ruin looked like, and how things would continue, if he did what he did perpetually.
What changes did we see in Scrooge when he awoke? He was joyful! He knew what this second chance gave Him- and we know what this second chance is of us as well. The Incarnation- that Jesus became man- means that we can escape from the “life of old” or all of the pains that may be in place. It truly is a reason to have joy.
Second, it made Scrooge more generous. He realized, all of a sudden, it isn’t about the things and the stuff that one can amass in their life. That is about the relationships in life- most especially with God. At the end of the day, we could have things all day and totally be empty. We perhaps don’t need all the money, and all the stuff, because that tends to mean that we may not be paying as much attention to those around us. Maybe it isn’t just money or wealth though. What is more valuable than that these days? Time. Something Ebenezer Scrooge would not give, except to the highest bidder. We should be lavish when it comes to giving our time- both to our God and to each other!
The final thing that Scrooge learned by the spirits of Christmas? He learned his purpose. All too often he was just simply taking from those who were poor, and that was about it. He had no real friends other than Jacob Marley, and even his closest employee seemed at odds with him to some extent. What happened when Ebeneezer Scrooge woke from His Christmas eve slumber? The ghosts of Christmas reinvented this man.
Brothers and sisters- this life is so long and difficult- often we can fall asleep ourselves. Maybe we aren’t exactly like Ebeneezer Scrooge, and maybe we can relate to some degree, depending. But I daresay we might do well to focus on these three things as we celebrate Christmas season- until January 12th. Let us seek the joy of the Christ Child- that we are destined for a place to be with Him forever- and He wants to take us there. Let us be generous with one another and with our God and our Church as well! We all too often cling tightly to things that will not be ours once our life-breath leaves us.
We are given a great many gifts- let’s share some of them with those around us. Finally- Christ gives us purpose. He gives life meaning. More than just simply skating by or trying to find meaning in things that do not ultimately matter- Christ gives us reassurance that we are not to be stuck in this life or in the gloomy streets of London forever. We are meant to look towards that place of new life, that the Newborn King can give to us.
Ebenezer Scrooge came out of Christmas a new man. It changed his life. May each of us, as we come before this humble manger, become renewed in our joy, our generosity, and our purpose. May our lives be changed by the Christ child- not just for a day, not just for this now-starting season, but for each and every day of our lives.
Merry Christmas, and God Bless us- everyone!
