The Ghost of Christmas Present

When we last left Scrooge, he was trying to recover from his time with the Ghost of Christmas Past. She reminded him of both the good and the bad. There was the Christmas he spent partying with old Fezziwig and the Christmas he was summoned home by his sister, Fanny. There was also the Christmas he spent at school alone. Like us, Scrooge’s Christmases were a mixed bag, filled with both the good and the bad. Sometimes Christmas is not merry.

It was now time for his next visitor, the Ghost of Christmas Present. Like past Christmases, there is both the good and the sad. Scrooge sees the dinner at his nephew’s Fred’s house. They are playing games and laughing at Uncle Ebenezer. There are the poor struggling to survive. For the first time, Scrooge saw the home of his office clerk, Bob Cratchit. His home was simple at best, with a surplus of both love and hardship. Everyone is doing their best to survive and support one another. The apple of Bob’s eye is his crippled son, Tiny Tim. The boy has no future, but he does one thing no one else can. He pierces Scrooge’s heart. For the first time in a long time, Scrooge shows compassion. The problem is, Scrooge is not ready to act on that compassion. Is that why we find Scrooge so intriguing. We hate to admit it, but there is a little Scrooge inside of each one of us. We have compassion on the poor and the struggling, but we do next to nothing to relieve their suffering. That is why we marvel at the scripture lesson for today.

We are in the first chapter of Luke, verses 26-38. The angel Gabriel goes to Mary to tell her she has been selected by God for a special job. She is going to be the mother of the long-awaited Messiah. There is only one problem. She is unmarried, so pregnancy seems impossible. In other words, she is sexually innocent. You must admit, God is always thinking outside of the box. This child will not be conceived in the old-fashioned way. This child will be conceived in a miraculous way. The Holy Spirit himself will come upon her, and her child will be the son of God. She will name that child Jesus. The name Jesus means “God is salvation.” That is a good church story, but in the real world it is hard to believe. All you must do is walk in Mary’s shoes and the story gets very complex. We covered some of this material last week.

The scriptures tell us Mary lived in a town called Nazareth. It was a small town. In Mary’s day, it had a population of between one hundred and four hundred people. Have you ever lived in a small town? Have you ever worshipped in a small membership church? You do not just know everyone. Everyone knows everyone else’s business. Unlike our world, Mary’s world had high moral standards. We live in low moral times. She was a single pregnant woman. In our low morals time, we are supposed to be open minded about such matters. After all, these are modern times. In Mary’s time, she was shunned. That means her personal dreams and desires were gone. Her pregnancy did not just bring shame to her, it brought shame to her entire family. On the one hand, God’s selection of Mary was a wonderful thing. She would be the mother of the long-awaited Messiah. She will be praised by the generations to come. On the other hand, this unwanted pregnancy meant the death of her personal dreams and desires. She would be a joke to the people who knew her. All she really wanted was respect by this world. That is what makes this morning’s scripture lesson so incredible. Mary surrenders her personal dreams and desires to do God’s will. Luke 1:38 is significant. Mary is addressing the angel, Gabriel. She says, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” That leads us to an interesting question.

How open are you to God’s will for your life? C. S. Lewis said it for us all. He said, ““We’re not necessarily doubting that God’s will is the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.” Are you more like Ebenezer Scrooge, who was only concerned about himself? Are you more like the virgin Mary, who was open to God’s leading? If that makes you think, say, “Amen!” That leads us to three questions.

This is question number one: does your worldview reflect God’s will? Many consider David O. Selznick’s Gone with the Wind the greatest movie ever made. It is based on Margaret Mitchell’s book of the same name. It was the only book she ever wrote. You know the story because the movie is on television periodically. The movie premiered in Atlanta in 1939. Hattie McDaniel (1893-1952), who played Mammy in the movie, became the first black actor to receive an Academy Award for best supporting actor in 1940. However, she wasn’t invited to the world premiere because of the segregation laws in the Jim Crow south. Racism has been a big part of our country for a long time. I am afraid we haven’t made much progress.

Racism dominates the news. Do these names sound familiar?

George Floyd

Travon Martin

Michael Brown

Eric Garner

You know those names. Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis by Derek Chauvin. Martin was fatally shot in Sanford, Florida by George Zimmerman. Brown was fatally shot in Ferguson, Missouri by Darren Wilson. Garner was strangled to death in Staten Island, New York. They are just four names in a sea of names that revolve around racism. I hate to say it, but you know it is true. Racial tension in America is high. The views that white America holds about those men and the views black America hold about those men are extremely different. This is the question.

Does your worldview reflect God’s will? 1 John 2:9 says, “Whoever says he is living in the light but hates his brother is still living in darkness.” Mankind sees how people are different, God sees what we have in common. You are a disciple of Jesus Christ! What do you see when you look at a stranger? Do you see how they are different from you? Do you look for what you have in common? In other words, are you more like Scrooge, who saw the problem and did nothing? Are you more like Mary, who surrendered to God’s will?

This is question number two: does your community spirit reflect God’s will? One of the great things this church does annually is the “giving tree”. You know the routine. You take a tag off the tree, which contains a gift suggestion. You are to return that gift with the tag and wrapping paper on a designated date, unwrapped! Last week, the tree was full of tags, but by next week all the tags will be gone. The tree will stand empty because this church will buy Christmas gifts for a stranger. Can I be honest with you? I like looking at all the gifts once they are all purchased. It is fun to see the generosity of this congregation. I am proud of your generosity! This is the question.

Does your community spirit reflect God’s will? Galatians 2:10 says, “They asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.” I am glad you are generous because there is so much need. Did you know that 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day? (World Bank Development) Did you know 22,000 children a day die due to poverty? (UNICEF) God expects us to help them. Are you more like Scrooge, who saw the problem and did nothing? Are you more like Mary, who surrendered to God’s will?

This is question number three: does your self-image reflect God’s will? Psychologists tell us that by age five, children have developed a definite self-image. Economics and social standing influence that self-image very little. The greatest influence on a child are the child’s parents. That makes parenting even more overwhelming. How good of a job did your parents do? Do you have a good self-image or a poor one? I am always amazed at how tough people are on themselves. This is the question.

Does your self-image reflect God’s will? 1 John 3:1 says, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so, we are.” Every day get up and look in the mirror and remind yourself that you are a child of God!

Are you more like Scrooge, who saw the problem did nothing? Are you more like Mary, who surrendered to God’s will?

Several years ago, Kathryn and I were in the state of Texas to visit relatives. One of the family members lives in San Antonio. We took that opportunity to visit the Alamo. I came away with a new appreciation for the events of April 6, 1836. For it was on that day the thirteen-day siege ended. Approximately 200 Texans were confronted by approximately 6,000 Mexican soldiers led by Santa Anna (1794-1876) during their war of independence. Some of the greatest names in American history were involved in the battle: Jim Bowie (1796-1836), Davy Crockett (1786-1836), and William Travis (1809-1836). The outcome at the Alamo was obvious, but they refused to surrender.

In one of the great scenes in North American history, William Travis lined up his soldiers and told them of their impending defeat. He drew a line in the sand and said any man wishing to leave the Alamo could do so without recourse. Only one man left. The others stepped over that line to stand with him, hence accepting their fate. History tells us each one died with honor and for a cause that was bigger than themselves. Santa Anna’s cruel treatment of their corpses changed the future of Texas. He wanted to shock his world with his might. Instead, he inspired many Texans to defeat the Mexicans because of his cruelty. About six weeks later, on April 21, 1836, Sam Houston (1793-1863) defeated Santa Anna at San Jacinto and their independence was won. This is my question for you.

What in the world does the Virgin Mary have to do with the Alamo? The answer is everything. The Virgin Mary stepped over the line in the sand and stood with God. However, she also challenges us to step over the line in the sand and stand with God too. When you step over the line you are surrendering your world view for God’s world view. When you step over the line you adopt a new community spirit. You have true compassion for your struggling neighbor. The needy in our world need our help. When you step over the line you rebuild your self-image. Never forget you are a child of God! Saint Ignatius once said, “It is not hard to obey when we love the one whom we obey.”

Mankind Is Our Business

We find ourselves in the Gospel of Luke. You may remember Luke’s background. Luke was born into a Gentile family, but he was educated in the Greek classics. When his formal education was completed, he was a doctor. However, the church will always remember him as a companion of Paul during his second missionary journey. That is the reason many consider Luke to be Paul’s Gospel. The first four verses of Luke are vital because they set the stage for the rest of the book.

In the opening four verses, Luke admits his work is not original. There have been other books that have tried to summarize the life of Jesus Christ. His book is different for one reason. Luke, himself, can be trusted. His accounts have come from eyewitnesses and fellow believers. Luke investigated those stories. The false ones have been eliminated. The true ones have been included. He does all this work for one reason. He wants this body of believers, personified in this person, Theophilus, to know the truth. This is the truth. Jesus Christ was the Messiah, the only son of God and our holy hope of salvation. Jesus came for one reason, to be the bridge between mankind and God. Marley may have said it after his death, but Jesus demonstrated it in his life; MANKIND WAS HIS BUSINESS! That simple understanding takes us to Dicken’s A Christmas Carol.

You know the story. Everybody knows the story. Ebenezer Scrooge lived for one thing, money! Nothing else really mattered to him. Day in and day out, he sat at his place of business making more money. The problem was, his money wasn’t making him happier, it was making him miserable. If you don’t believe me then ask the people in his life. You could ask his clerk, Bob Cratchit. Working in the cold, he barely made enough for his family to survive. He not only feared Scrooge, but he pitied him. He knew Scrooge was miserable. You could ask his nephew, Fred. He was Scrooge’s sister’s only child. She died in childbirth. Annually, he went to his Uncle Ebenezer’s office to invite him to Christmas dinner. Every year Fred was turned down, but he always went back. He knew his uncle was miserable. You could ask those two nameless chaps who came to his office to collect for the poor. They were shocked by his treatment, but they knew the truth. Scrooge was miserable. Without the miraculous, Scrooge would have died miserable, but the miraculous came in the form of his deceased business partner, Jacob Marley.

You know the story. Everybody knows the story. Scrooge is locked safety in the security of his own home when the most unusual things begin to happen. It begins innocently enough. The doorknocker is transformed. The lion’s face turns in to Jacob’s face. The wind blows without warning. The clocks strike out of time. Scrooge locks his bedroom doors for extra security, but it doesn’t matter. Without an invitation, Marley enters the room. He is visiting Scrooge for one reason, transformation! He must change his ways or face a horrible fate. Scrooge is like many in our time; he doesn’t like change. He appeals to Marley’s practical side and reminds him of their days in business. He was a good businessman. They made a great deal money together. There is only one problem. Money-making was not their business. Scrooge was blind to what Marley knows. Marley says it clearly: MANKIND IS OUR BUSINESS! In other words, we are not just responsible for ourselves in this world, but we are responsible for others. We are responsible for the less fortunate. If you believe Christmas is just about getting gifts, then you have missed the point. Do you remember how Marley planned to transform Scrooge?

You know the story. Everybody knows the story. Jacob Marley arranges three visitors to visit Scrooge. The first is the ghost of Christmases past. The second is the ghost of Christmas present. The third is the ghost of Christmases yet to come or the future. That is the one Scrooge fears the most. How do you feel about your future? You can consider this message an overview of the next three weeks. I will unpack each one in the weeks to come. You know the story. Everybody knows the story. Jesus came for transformation too. Jesus came to transform you!

The first ghost that came to Scrooge was the Ghost of Christmas Past. You remember the story. His past is filled with some wonderful experiences and some not-so-great experiences. There was the Christmas that he spent partying with Fezziwig, and the Christmas he spent at the school alone. Scrooge’s past was filled with both the good and bad. Can anyone relate to that statement? Christmas memories are not all the same. How many wonderful Christmas memories do you hold near your heart? How many Christmas memories do you have that will make you cry? For many, Christmas isn’t merry.

In the past few years, the church has begun to recognize those who struggle during Christmas. We call it a Blue Christmas service. It is for those people who struggle with the blues during the month of December. They struggle with their broken dreams or disappointments. The passing of a loved one. The one true love who never came. The adult child who never achieved independence. The job that was lost. The money that was wasted. The health that failed. I have preached at those services, and I remind people of three things:

Life is hard!
Sometimes we need others!
We always need God!

That is why we come to church. It is nice to see our friends, but what we really want is God. Do you remember what Jesus said in Matthew 28? The Master said, “I am with you always until the very end of time.” If you are thankful that God has always been with you, say, “Amen!” The first Ghost was the ghost of Christmas Past.

The second ghost that came to Scrooge was the Ghost of Christmas Present. You remember the story. Scrooge’s world was filled with poverty. The embodiment of that poverty was his clerk, Bob Cratchit. He was enslaved in Scrooge’s lifeless office for slave wages. Out of that small income, he was to provide for his family. Scrooge is so consumed with himself that he doesn’t know a single thing about Cratchit’s family.

It is the Ghost of Christmas Present who introduces him. The saddest member in the family is Bob’s crippled son, Tiny Tim. Once Scrooge meets him, everything begins to change. Charity is when you collect for strangers. Missions is when you get personally involved with human need. How would your perspective change about the poor if you knew one?

Matthew 25 is one of the great chapters in the Bible. You know it because we have visited it so many times. In that chapter we hear the parable of the sheep and the goats. The sheep and the goats are separated. The sheep go to heaven, but the goats go to hell. The distinction is simple. The sheep responded to human need, but the goats failed. Jesus said it clearly. When you did it for the least of these, you did it for me. That verse always troubles me. There is no shortage of human need in our world this Christmas. Jesus expects us to help them. What are you doing to help the needy this year? The first ghost was the Ghost of Christmas Past. The second ghost was the Ghost of Christmas Present.

The third and final ghost that came to Scrooge was the ghost of Christmases yet to come, or the Ghost of Christmas Future. You remember the story. Wearing that long black robe, the face of the ghost is never seen. The gender is never disclosed. The only thing that appears are those long boney fingers. They point to the home of the Cratchit family. There is a surplus of both love and hardship. In the future, Tiny Tim will pass. Those boney fingers point to a grave and Scrooge is faced with his own fate, his own death. As the ghost leaves, Scrooge is begging for one more chance. He will keep the spirit of Christmas in his heart 365 days a year! Scrooge did not want to die. I have never met a person who wanted to die. We all want to live for eternity. There is only one option for eternal life.

The Gospel of Luke was written for one reason. He wanted you to know the truth. He wanted you to know about the greatest life that ever lived. He wanted you to know that Jesus was the only son of God. He wanted you to know that Jesus was your only hope of salvation. It does not come out of the Gospel of Luke, but it comes out of the Gospel of John. However, Luke would agree. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son. That whoever believes in him my not perish but have eternal life.”

Everyone agrees!Charles Dickens was a literary genius. He was one the great talents in the history of British literature. He is remembered as a social critic, who created some of the world’s best known fictional characters. He is considered to the be the greatest novelist during the Victorian Era. His works include Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, David Copperfield, The Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, and A Christmas Carol. There are more but I am limited by time. I remember reading some of them when I was in school. They were penned over one-hundred and fifty years ago and are considered classic. Charles Dickens was a literary genius, but he was not much of a theologian.

Dickens had Jacob Marley visit Ebenezer Scrooge for one reason, transformation! That is why the ghost of Christmases past came. That is why the ghost of Christmas present came. That is why the ghost of Christmas future came. This is the truth. It was a waste of time! All Scrooge needed was Jesus. Mankind was his business! When you have Jesus, you have peace with the past. When you have Jesus, you have purpose with the present. When you have Jesus, you have hope for the future. All Scrooge needed was Jesus and so do you.