Happy Whomas

The Grinch, written by Dr Zeus is a classic tale that many of you know.

The movie is a firm favourite at Christmas.

In it, there is a town called Whoville, where everyone is happy and joyful.

It’s Christmas!

And all the Whos are getting ready for a special celebration.

Tonight I want to talk a bit about the Grinch story and the story that we read in the bible of a child born in a stable.

Now, the grinch, who had a heart 2 size too small was mean.

He didn’t like the Whos happy and celebrating.

The Grinch worked out in his mind that the reason for the joy was all the gifts and decorations.

So he came down the mountain and stole them ALL!

• No gifts

• No trees

• No lights

All gone.

He couldn’t wait to see the miserable faces of the whos when they woke.

We read:

So he paused. And the Grinch put his hand to his ear.

And he did hear a sound rising over the snow.

It started in low. Then it started to grow.

But the sound wasn’t sad! Why, this sound sounded merry!

It couldn’t be so! But it WAS merry! VERY!

He stared down at Whoville! The Grinch popped his eyes!

Then he shook! What he saw was a shocking surprise!

Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small,

Was singing! Without any presents at all!

He HADN’T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME!

Somehow or other, it came just the same!

And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,

Stood puzzling and puzzling: “How could it be so?”

“It came without ribbons! It came without tags!”

“It came without packages, boxes or bags!”

And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!

“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.”

“Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more!”

In the events of the first Christmas, the shepherds were outside –

• Outside in fields

• Outside of town

• Outside of the community

What have they got to celebrate?

They don’t have gifts, and fairy lights, and family gatherings

For the shepherds, it was as if the Grinch has come.

It was lonely, very quiet and . . .dark.

Then…

Suddenly . . . and angel – a messenger from God appeared and said, “Halo”

No – he said, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

11 Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’

The shepherds returned

Still they had no food-filled table, No wrapped presents, No tinsel and trees

But, like the whos - it didn’t matter.

What are we told in the bible about these poor shepherds?

20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

They were very happy!

Their Saviour had been born.

But wait…

This Christmas, when it may seem like something has been stolen from us, we can discover the simple, but wonderful truth.

Christmas still comes to us with the beautiful message that our God LOVES us

“It comes without ribbons! It comes without tags!”

“It comes without packages, boxes or bags!”

I hope tonight you have seen that there is something deeper to Christmas than the trimmings and twinkle, the parties and the presents.

“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.”

“Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more!”

Closing words:

Christmas isn’t about lights, gifts, parties, being covid-free.

It’s to celebrate and be joyful that God loves us soooooo much, that He gave to us His Son.

Happy CHRISTmas everyone