When I was a young man, and I heard the old men say, “This winter weather chills you right to the bone.” I always laughed but now, as an old man walking across the Michigan Ave Bridge, in December, with the wind howling off Lake Michigan, I know exactly what those men were talking about.

I went down the stairs to Wacker Dr and the Billy Goat Tavern. The string of Christmas lights, with yellowed tinsel told me I was in the right place. As I opened the door I was never so glad to feel the heat. At the bar sat Alderman Willie Martin, who was a multi millionaire, on a $89,000 a year salary from the city. Down one stool sat the Williams brothers, who collected money from unlucky citizens indebted to “sharks,” and Tina
Anderson, who “escorted” men around the city. In the back I saw Martin Luther and Philip Melancthon, the two major leaders of the Reformation in the 1520’s.

I held up three fingers as I passed the bar and Jack, the bartender smiled and nodded. I stood by the booth and finally Luther said, “Good to see you Joe. Sit down, sit down.” Melancthon lowered his copy of the “Trib” and said, “Why don’t these Bears’ fans lay off that Fields kid? I think he is “Mahomes” in the making. And while we’re at it, think the Cubs will make any big moves in the off season? Oh and by the way, think they’ll get the 2022 ballots counted before the 2024 election?” Before I could answer Jack set three frosty mugs down in front of us.

We held up our mugs and Luther said, “Next year in the Kingdom.” We drank and after a long pull Luther said, “Got your Christmas sermon done?” I shrugged and said, “Working on it.” Luther chuckled, “In other words, you don’t even have an idea yet.” I sipped my beer and Melancthon just laughed.

Out of nowhere Luther said, “You got kids, right, Joe?” “You know I do,” I replied.

“Why did you and your wife bring them into the world?” Melancthon asked.

“Uhhh to carry on the family name. To make the world a little better. To teach them about God and Jesus, and to encourage them to do something meaningful with their lives,” I answered.

“So, you didn’t bring them into the world to die, right?” asked Luther. I looked at him “sideways” and said, “Of course not,” I replied.

“But you see,” said Luther, “that’s exactly what Mary did. She brought her son into the world to die. To die to pay for your sins, my sins, and the sins of every person in this tavern. Mary’s father was a priest, she knew the prophecies. She knew Isaiah 53, “by his stripes we are healed.” She knew that he would die, yet she trusted God enough to believe that on the third day the Heavenly Father would give Jesus knew life. That’s what Mary ‘pondered in her heart.’ She knew his fate and yet, yet she went along with God’s plan because she knew that without him and his death, the world would have no HOPE. Above all else Christmas, the birth of Christ is about HOPE. HOPE that sin will be washed away. HOPE that the Evil One will be conquered once and for all. HOPE that the trip to the cemetery is not the last time you will see your loved ones. HOPE comes in all shapes and sizes. But the only HOPE that counts, the only HOPE that is certain comes in the shape of a baby and a mother who is willing, for sake of all people, to let her son die. The message of Christmas can be wrapped up in one word, HOPE. The sure and certain HOPE that one day the trumpet will sound and those asleep will be raised to new life. There’s your sermon Joe.”

We shook hands, wished each other a blessed Christmas and I went out into the cold night air. The wind still howled off the lake but I was not chilled, in fact I felt the warmth that only HOPE can bring!

A blessed and HOPE filled Christmas to all of you - Pastor Curt and Lisa Joseph