Tragic irony

I have observed an irony this Christmas season that I have never fully realized before. Of course, all of us are aware of much of the irony of the Christmas season, even if we don't describe it such words. It is marketed as a month of peace, love, and joy, yet very little of the said attributes abounds in the gift-giving, party-attending, present-wrapping, family-bearing, traffic succumbing activities we partake in. You know that. I know that. Admonitions to slow down and realize the true meaning of Christmas are cliche now. However, Christmas bothered me this year in a way it hasn't in other years. Others have summed it up on lighted church signs in trite phrases, proclaiming "Jesus is the reason for the season, " or "Keep the Christ in Christmas," but I don't see anything cute in the reality. Thousands, if not millions, who celebrated the birth of Christ yesterday have not acknowledged that Jesus is Lord, have not acknowledged of their need for a savior, have not repented of their sin. The thing about it that crushes me, brings tears to my eyes, makes me just want tear something apart in frustration, is so many of those people are hurting. Divorce, unemployment, loneliness, rejection, illness, troubled finances, addiction, death, along with so many nameless hurts and longings live in the hearts of many. I've seen people, burdened with such loads on their backs, look for relief in the giving and celebration of Christmas, sing the Christmas carols proclaiming salvation through God incarnate, and then, once New Years' comes around, face the same burden that has plagued them all year long. People are hurting, the stumble upon the very truth, the only truth, that will save them, that will redeem them, that will restore their lives, and yet they do not see it. They will have their fun with it, it brings them satisfaction for awhile, yet it is nothing to them. The miracle of Christ's birth is one thing - acknowledging one's need for salvation, confessing Jesus as Lord is another. It's painfully ironic that in this fallen, violent, hurtful world, one of the most celebrated holidays is a day honoring the Savior offered to all mankind, yet most of those who sing glory to the newborn king do not see Jesus as a king and do not want to give Him glory with their lives. They brush up against God's cosmic love for them, but they do not see. They sing of the most incredible, passionate love story that has unfolded on this earth, yet it means nothing to their own soul. Christ has come and no one seems to know. It's been that way since the night of His birth. It brings tears to my eyes; I wonder if it brings sorrow to God's heart as well. God with ys. Immanuel. Our Savior has come. We have all fallen short of the glory of God. The selfish, greedy, prideful things we do separate us from Him. He sent His Son to earth in human flesh to grow up and die, so that justice would be done for the wrongs that we committed. And now, with the blood of our Lord as our plea, we may be close to God. Christ is Lord. Our Savior has come. It's good news. It's hope. Our Savior has come.