Christmas is a powerful moment, but the power of it can quickly fade away. Jesus’ early life includes careful attention from his parents – listening to God’s direction. How can we use this moment – a new day and a new year – to listen for God’s direction and renew our commitment to following Jesus […]
The Christ Child is born and we, the Body of Christ, are reborn with him. We’re called to embody peace, hope, love and joy, so how will we live this out? Scrooge could not contain his exuberance at being given the gift of living – truly living – another day. On this day of gift-giving, […]
“Keeping Christmas well” is not about signs of our own prosperity, but signs of our own redemption – getting our true selves back so that we might give of ourselves with joy. In this story, Scrooge’s journey is not complete until he reconciles with his family. “Scrooge knocked at the door and asked to be […]
We all have fear of the future to varying degrees, and it affects our behavior, our relationships, our generosity and our ability to truly know the joy of life. The journey of Scrooge with the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is harrowing. He tries to hide and run from it, but to no avail. […]
A Christmas Carol begins with the reality of death and continues with memories and snapshots of life – grief, loneliness, joy, and community. It is the real stuff of life, which is much like the story surrounding Jesus’ birth. It is a hard story filled with the unexpected and sometimes painful circumstances we face. We […]
At the beginning of the story, Scrooge has a prescription for humanity – the poor have only themselves to blame and would be better off dead. So, when he is visited by the spirit of the present, he is admonished to “look!” because he must really see the truth of a suffering world and his […]
Looking back at our past is sometimes a painful experience, and it requires courage and hope. When the Ghost of Christmas Past makes a visit, Scrooge is immediately afraid of the light that emanates from it. As he begins the terrifying journey, he sheds a tear for the disappointment of his own past and compassion […]
Ebenezer Scrooge is a man in dire need of a second chance. Is redemption possible for such a greedy, dark and sad character? Rawle shows us how the teachings of Jesus can be found in Dickens’ Christmas classic. From the ghosts of Christmas past, to the Life of the present, and the resurrection of Christmas […]