Centuries ago, the world was awaiting a Savior.
Mary and Joseph were awaiting the birth of a child.
Herod was waiting for news of what he saw to be a threat to his power.
Today, children all over the world are awaiting the arrival of a large, rotund, man in a furry red suit.
Much of life is spent in waiting for something. In anticipation of arrival.
We wait for news about that raise or job promotion.
We wait for the lottery numbers.
We wait for the results of our favorite television show.
We wait for the clock to tick down to zero and for our team to win.
Sometimes we wait for the doctor to call with our test results.
Sometimes anticipation is excitement.
Sometimes it’s worry.
This Friday, we celebrate the birth of the one who told us not to worry.
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:25-34
In this season when we often can’t seem to wait for the next party, or the next gift, or the next announcement, sometimes we also can’t avoid the worry that just comes naturally in life.
But the child in the manger comes to tell us he has everything under control.