Over the past few Sundays, as we’ve been journeying through advent, we have been unpacking the stuff that weighs us down and holds us back from living a life that would be honouring to God.

To lighten our load we have been unpacking “stuff”, the literal junk that we accumulate throughout life. Paraphrasing my new hero Marie Kondo, if it doesn’t give you joy, let it go.

We can do that because we know that it is better to have less of what doesn’t matter and more of what does matter.

We also talked about unpacking the distractions in our lives. We are encouraged to focus on what’s important because our lives are too valuable, our calling is too great, and our God is too good to be wasting our life on things that don’t last.

As we journey to Christmas, perhaps the hardest thing for me to unpack out of my figurative suitcase is control. We talked about how we don’t always have the power to control (our situation, or other people) but we always have the power to surrender. I love the example of Mary, a true Beatles fan, who says to the angel, “Let it be.”

“Let it be to me according to your word.”

In preparation for Christmas we have been unpacking stuff, distraction, and control. But there is something we need not unpack, and that is God’s greatest gift to you and me - the gift of Grace.

Grace: ‘grās’ noun. Undeserved favour; unconditional acceptance; giving someone exactly what they don’t deserve.

Grace has been given to you, don’t unpack this!

When Gabriel announced to Mary that she would have a son, (and she responded., “Let it be”) the angel invoked a promise that had echoed throughout the Old Testament. Her son would be called the Son of the Most High and would reign on the throne of his father, David. Those familiar with the Law and the Prophets, including Mary herself, would have quickly begun to connect the prophetic dots.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

The promises made by God then were kept and are still being kept today through God’s gift of grace to us in Jesus.

For unto us a child is born. That is what Christmas is about.

Grace has been given to you and we in turn are challenged to extend grace to others.

I was moved to tears reading an article regarding a recent horrific shooting. “Amidst the hurt and the horror, there is amazing grace,” the author writes referring to the grace extended by one victim’s father to the family of the assailant. “Instead of rage,” she continues, “there is a yearning to understand.”

There is no doubt that the gift of Grace is expensive. But now imagine if we each had the courage to do what God intended us to do. Imagine how God might work in our lives to make us more Grace-full people. Imagine how we might become a more Grace-full church. And just imagine how we might, in a greater way, reflect the heart of our incredibly gracious Heavenly Father, Emmanuel, God with us.

Grace upon grace upon grace. Unpack the things that don’t matter and keep what does!