The best of 'wish fulfillment'
by Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton
Michigan Christian Advocate
December 2008
I wish this Christmas to be worry-free, without illness, surgery, depression, or bankruptcy; may it be regret-free as well, with every moment an expression of love, forgiveness, koinonia, and shalom. I wish this Christmas to be hate-free, void of hate crimes, domestic violence, dehumanization, revenge, demonization of the opposition and other thieves of life like drugs, and/or substance abuse. And may it be dilemma-free socially, minus the forces that cause hunger and homelessness, poverty and pollution, war and corporate greed, social injustice and moral depravity.
I wish this Christmas to be impacted by genuine religion second to none. Enjoy the hanging of the greens, gift-giving, children’s plays and choral cantatas. Attend Christmas Eve services and dinner gatherings with friends and family. Rub elbows with and help “the least of these.” Do it with purpose beyond custom or tradition. Let it reveal family and church celebrating a community, a nation, a world better off this Christmas than last. Let it reveal prayers, presence, gifts, service for God and neighbor. Let it reveal an ongoing, enthusiastic commitment to leave the world better off than we find it – full of hope not despair, joy not sorrow. Let our religion make known God’s church, making disciples of all nations for the transformation of the world!!!
Wish fulfillment aside, Mary leaves her world better off. So does Joseph. Mary delivers Christ to the world. She gives Jesus life only to see him go off to war and die for the sins of the world. Joseph insures the health and wholeness of Mary and their family. He does whatever it takes to protect his family from the death threats of King Herod.
Jesus the Christ experienced the weight of wish fulfillment. What his Father wanted him to do materialized in an instant and over time. Never have we heard what our Lord did on his birthday, how he celebrated it; whether he had cake and ice cream, whether he rededicated himself to the task of ministry, whether Elizabeth and Zechariah told him about his purpose in life or what his cousin, John the Baptist, had done to prepare the way; that he was the fulfillment of God’s wish and purpose for humankind, whether he rebelled against the idea or not; whether his parents told him how their lives had been in danger from birth because he had been and still was a marked child, scheduled for ignominious death. We don’t know if Jesus had worries, regrets, things he hated or dilemmas to avoid.
We do know that the Christ child represented the best of “wish fulfillment” the world has ever known. The prophetic imagination of Isaiah in 9:2 and 6-7a…still connects with my spirit after three score years and two, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; on them hath the light shined…for unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulders: And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end….”
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
–Bishop Jonathan D. and Beverly L. Keaton