Dear friends in Christ, grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

In November, the New York Times posted the following introduction on its webpage for 39 perfect Christmas gifts.  “The clock is ticking to buy Christmas gifts, but you still have time before Santa beats you to it—and we can help. If you’re speed-running through holiday shopping, we’ve put together a handy list of versatile gifts…. So whether you need a gift that will thrill a seven-year old, a dad, or a co-worker, we’ve got you covered with plenty of useful, surprising, and fun finds, from a big box of Japanese Kit Kat bars to a handsome enamelware jug.”  I assured my family that they would not be receiving any of these gifts.

This morning’s gospel reading of John the Baptist appearing in the wilderness reminds us that there is more to preparation for the joy and wonder of Christmas, than purchasing gifts from the New York Times web page.  There is a gift which is more valuable by far. It is the gift of courage- the courage to change. It is the gift we give indirectly to those we love. That is the message that I would like to share with you today.

Nearly 600 years before John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, the prophet Isaiah had proclaimed the good news, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” The people who had been held captive in the wilderness of Babylon for nearly 70 years, were finally going to be brought home again, and the Lord himself would do this.  Every valley from Babylon to Jerusalem would be filled, and every mountain and hill made low, and the crooked would be made straight and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh would see the salvation of God.”

John the Baptist’s s voice echoed the message of the prophet Isaiah, but with one slight change. John was inviting his followers to play their own part in the story of God’s salvation.  He invited them to prepare the royal highway and make his path straight. But John also warned his followers that to be successful would take courage.

John the Baptist is one of the most curious, colorful and courageous figures in scripture. In art, he is easily recognizable. It doesn’t matter whether it is in a painting, or a sculpture, he is always under-dressed in camel hair, many times with a staff in his hand or a lamb beside him. He is also generally looking quite disheveled, not exactly the person you would want to meet on the banks of Lake of the Isles.  He is the Biblical character who appears awkwardly in the Christmas season, and then disappears until Jesus’ baptism.  His curious attire and his diet of locust and wild honey brings laughter to Sunday School children.  It brings as much comic laughter as Martin Luther and the Diet of Worms. Is it any wonder that their favorite joke in Sunday School is what do Winnie the Pooh and John the Baptist have in common?  Their middle name.  But when I was in Rome last year, I was startled to look up from St. Peter’s Square and see atop the basilica a statue of John the Baptist standing next to Jesus as one of his apostles.  What gave this curious character such a coveted spot at the right hand of our Lord?

Martin Luther offered his answer in a sermon on the Festival of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist in 1532, “The real reason for observing this festival, the day of John the Baptist, is not because of his austere life, not because of his phenomenal birth, but because of his beloved finger, message and office.” Yes, John pointed his finger, not to himself, but rather John pointed people to Jesus. His message was to repent, to get ready, not for himself, but for Jesus and the joy and peace he would bring… especially for those who had found themselves in the wilderness of life.

John the Baptist spoke out for what he believed, even though it cost him his life.  His entire message and mission was dedicated to turning people lives and attitudes around so that could enjoy the wonder of God’s love and forgiveness.  It took courage to stand up for truth and justice, and to defend the laws of God. More importantly, John knew that courage was the only way to experience true joy and change.  And surprisingly, by the power Holy Spirit, men and women went out into the wilderness to experience that life giving and life affirming change.  Courage was the gift they were seeking. And it empowered them to offer their loved ones the gifts that cannot be found on the list of the New York Times 39 most versatile Christmas gifts.

My friends, this morning let me suggest to you three gifts which I believe may lead you to a greater sense of joy and mystery this Christmas.  They flow from John’s call for courage. These are the gifts of a change of heart, a change of time, and a change of behavior.

The first gift that you may wish to share this Christmas is a change of heart and attitude.  The Wise Men journeying along the royal highway to see the Christ child were truly wise.  Unlike most men, they stopped to ask for directions.  They sought a change of heart and attitude.  Many families are struggling this year- and not just about politics.  Husbands and wives refuse to speak openly and honestly with each other; brothers and sisters refuse to share a family dinner. Fathers and sons, mothers and daughters are at odds with each other over long since forgotten arguments. Yes, once healthy human relationships are now floundering this Christmas season, because men and women refuse to be wise and stop and ask for directions.  They refuse to share the gift of a change of heart.  If husbands and wives, who are convinced 100% that their spouse is wrong, would only admit a small percentage of doubt, many an argument could be defused.  If brothers and sisters could concede just a tiny portion of their convictions, many a family relationship could be renewed and restored. My friends, good Christian men and women who are secure in themselves do not need to be right on every issue, nor do they stubbornly insist on everything always going their way.

The second gift you may wish to share is a change of time.  You and I have each been entrusted with a little “chunk of eternity” called time.  These golden moments are doled out to us for our benefit and for God’s glory.  If we use these moments poorly, they give little lasting joy.  But if we invest them wisely; they will pay dividends throughout eternity. Many of today, however, believe that we can make distinctions in time.  We believe that we needn’t be concerned about our friends and family, so long as we offer them quality time or spend money on a something of quality. Pastors are just as guilty of such a notion.  One pastor’s son didn’t know his father was out of town for a convention.  His response was simply, “He was never home anyway- what did it matter where he was?” But my friends, after 30 years of pastoral ministry, I have grown to recognize the equally important human demand for the quantity of time.  Our basic relationships need a steady and on-going partnership of time. A change of time may be the gift you need share  this Christmas, be it takes courage.

The third gift that you may wish to share this Christmas is a change of behavior.  For many of us this is the gift that takes the greatest amount of courage.  We all have behaviors that are less than loving and caring.  We struggle with anger, expectations, intolerance, impatience and pride.  But I was reminded of how a changed behavior can make all the difference in a person’s life.  A pastoral colleague in Illinois sent a letter which a parishioner shared with him.  It was from a woman who had wrestled with life-long alcoholism and had decided to confront it.  She wrote the following letter and was giving it to her sons, ages 7 and 1 1/2 for Christmas. With their permission, I’m sharing it with you.

“Dear Boys, This Christmas, Mom is going to give you a special present.  It is most unique and rare.  You will not find it wrapped in a box with a bow, or stuffed in your special stocking or in a card.  No, this gift will not be anywhere near the tree, but it is a gift nonetheless.  It is an invisible gift.  Yes, that’s right, invisible.  You will never place your hands on this gift, never smell it or taste it. You will be able to see it, but only if you know what to look for.

This invisible gift is something I wish I had received as a child.  It would have meant a great deal to me, but I never got it.  Now, don’t misunderstand me, your Grandpa and Grandma loved me very much.  Over the years until both passed away, they gave me some of the best invisible gifts I have ever received.  They just never thought to give me this one.  And that’s OK. The invisible gift that I am giving to you, my sons, is my sobriety.

This gift I give you comes from experiencing Christmas with a bottle, both as a witness as well as a participant.  Yes, Mom did what she tells you NOT to do.  I let those around me convince me that being drunk during the holidays is THE THING to do.  You see, Irish ballads don’t sound so off-key when you’ve finished off a bottle of wine all by yourself. And so, my sons, I have decided that your Christmases will be different from any I had as a child.  I plan on watching you tear into your wrapped gifts on Christmas morning bright eyed.  I plan on visiting your great aunts and uncles, Grandma’s brothers and sisters, with a clear head.  I plan on tucking you in at night with nothing more than tooth paste on my breath. And, if this Christmas I do sing a ballad or two, it will be out of tune because, honestly my sons, I can’t carry a tune in a basket.  It will not be because I’ve had a few.  Merry Christmas my sons.  Love, Mom.”

What are the gifts that you need to share this Christmas with those you love?  Most likely they don’t need any of the New York Times 39 most versatile gifts. Is it a change of heart or attitude they need, a change of time or a change of behavior?   They all take courage.  John the Baptist reminds us that our Lord and Savior will provide you with the courage needed- and that through your life those you love will see and experience God’s salvation. And what a true Christmas gift that will be. Amen.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Amen.