A Sunday Christmas

 

 

Just a mere week away

We’ll be celebrating Christmas Day,

This year will be somewhat different

As it will fall on a Sunday.

 

Sunday carries a more spiritual focus

Than any other day in the week

And compared to Monday thru’ Saturday

There are fewer people on the street.

 

Of course, this is not as pronounced

As it was in years gone by

When stores and shops were closed

And not a soul could buy.

 

When Christmas fell on a Sunday

It was particularly different,

A lot of the activity was scaled down

As this was considered as reverent.

 

Of course, two holidays followed

And people made up for lost time

As throughout the Monday and Tuesday

Celebration was on their mind.

 

This is not likely to happen

This coming Christmas Sunday

For quite a lot has changed over the years

And there is a totally different way.

 

To the party animal

It won’t make the slightest difference

For they will revel in their festivities

Until they are totally spent.

 

Some churches will change a bit

From the early service to a later one

And their services may exceed two hours

Before from church they’re gone.

 

Work will recommence on Wednesday

But not much will be done

For it will take a while to readjust

After three days of fun.

 

 

Such is the fallout

When Christmas Day falls on a Sunday

And given COVID-19’s lessened affect

This year is likely to be a big affair.

 

But in whatever way you celebrate

And in all the things you do,

Spare a thought for the Christ child

Who left heaven for me and for you.

 

Though no longer a babe in a manger

This is what Christ had to become

To save humanity from the curse

Regarding what our fore-parents had done.

 

For having disobeyed God’s directive

They chose to go Satan’s way

And as simplistic as that may seem,

Out of it came the first Christmas Day.

 

For while shepherds kept watch

Over their sheep that night

There came from that heavenly host

An exceeding bright light.

 

 

Angels heralded the Saviour’s birth

To startled shepherds filled with fear

And they hurried to the animal stall

Which must have been quite near.

 

There on that first Christmas Day

Lay the Saviour in a manger of hay

And what a joy it was for the shepherds

That very first Christmas Day.

 

Was it a Sunday Christmas?

Perhaps, it could have been

But far more import than the day

Was the manger scene.

 

For God was with man

And with man had come to dwell

And thus, to both shepherds and kings

The good news did tell.

 

For on to you is born this day

In the city of David

A Saviour,

Who is Christ the Lord!

 

And this should be a sign to all

Even in our time,

That Jesus, the Saviour who came,

Came to pay off Adam’s fine.

 

 

A life we could not live,

A death we could not pay,

My Savior and your Saviour paid

From that first Christmas Day.

 

For ‘tis there the journey began

As he executed the Father’s plan

To bring “so great salvation”

To fallen man.

 

And so, I recall the words

Of that glorious refrain

When Jesus left heaven’s splendor

And to wretched man came.

 

“He came from heaven to earth

To show the way,

From the earth to the cross

My debt to pay.

 

From the cross to the grave,

From the grave to the sky,

Lord,

I lift your name on high!”

 

May we lift the name higher still

Of the one who came that Christmas,

The name by which I was saved!

That name is Jesus!

 

Stewart Russell © December 18, 2022