Our Christmas usually lasts beyond the first few days after Christmas to the 6th of January when we celebrate Epiphany, the arrival of the Magi to visit the now toddler, Jesus. We started that tradition when our oldest son was born on January 6th, and we could celebrate both occasions as the New Year arrived. Now, however, it seems more and more that our joyful thoughts are interrupted by the tragedies, both natural and man-made in the news. It seems peculiar and we are somewhat immobilized in the joy we experienced in the Christmas celebration just a few days ago.

We must remember that it is because our Savior, Jesus Christ came to suffer in this life with us and for us, that we can be comforted. A friend once said, “We are peculiar people, though. Peculiar by the secondary definition in the dictionary: “belonging exclusively to or identified with somebody or something“. Maybe you remembered and celebrated your baptism last week as many churches celebrate Christ’s baptism. My friend continued, “We have acknowledged in our baptism that through Jesus, God has acted and continues to act redemptively in the world, and that we have been claimed by God for those same redemptive purposes.”

Maybe you are one or know others, who find Christmas particularly hard because of circumstances in your lives that make it a sad and hurting time. Maybe you are mourning the loss of loved ones, wondering if there is a loving God out there, full of fear and loneliness, feeling unworthy because of sin and loss of hope. Maybe you are just weary and full of doubt about the future and need to hear some good news.

Here is the good news in Hebrews 11:1: “Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don’t see.” The Good News is that Jesus came to claim us and redeem us from these difficult times. Will that mean we won’t have troubles and heartaches in our lives anymore? No, but it will mean we have a Savior and mentor in the Holy Spirit to stand with us through life’s trials. We have a change of focus, not on the troubles of yesterday or trials of today, but on the promise of tomorrow and the life to come.

When we know and trust Jesus, it means we look forward to and encourage others to know there will be a time when the oppressed will be set free, the blind will see and those who mourn will be comforted. Even though it seems “peculiar/odd” to celebrate a new year when we look at all the suffering and tragedy in our world today, we Christians are precisely called to claim the reality of what God has done, is doing and will do in the world. That plants, grows and blooms the “hope” our faith gives us and encourages us to spread that love and hope to others.

May your new year be one filled with that hope that comes from being “peculiar” people claimed by Christ. May you also share that hope with the people in the hurting world around you.