A Netflix ChristmasSample

Love amid Power

If you’ve either read or watched The Grinch Who Stole Christmas it won’t take you long to realise that the Grinch hates everything about Christmas. He hates the whole Christmas season; the noise, the feasts, and the songs. Funnily the first Christmas also had a Grinch – Herod. 

While the Grinch merely stole presents, Herod attempted to get rid of Jesus, the very reason for Christmas. Herod threatened by the birth of this new power attempts to kill Jesus. He goes to great lengths to put a stop to the growth of this new power not realising that this new power is nothing but love.

Every Christmas Jesus continues to confront the powers of this world with his love. Just like he did with Herod he continues to confront our fascination for power, wealth, and sex with his love. When we encounter Jesus, we are challenged to reconsider what controls, runs, and justifies the way we live our lives. Some of us resist Jesus thinking that it will be the end of us. 

But contrary to our fears, every encounter with Christ only gives us life. Jesus did not come to take life, but to give us life abundantly. And part of the process of giving us this abundant life is for us to have the courage to truly encounter him. 

In the case of the Grinch this encounter happens unexpectedly when he meets little Cindy-Lou from whom he thinks he has stolen Christmas. With all the power he could muster, he manages to steal everyone’s presents, lights, and Christmas trees from every home in Who-ville. Little did he realise that despite stealing Christmas, the Whos were still celebrating Christmas—the noise, the feast, and the songs continued. This triggered a yearning for what he never had: true love.

This experience helps the Grinch encounter a power that was greater than himself— love. The best response to power is love. Be it our power to control our lives or, like Herod and the Grinch, the power to control other people’s lives, love is the answer. 

Love can shine through the dark impenetrable parts of our life. Every Christmas we are reminded of this true love. And if we allow this love to penetrate us maybe our hearts, too, will grow three sizes more. 

“Because of our God’s merciful compassion, the Dawn from on high will visit us to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:78-79