Today is the feast of Festivus, that lovely secular holiday made popular by the sitcom Seinfeld. George Costanza's dad is the main character that educates the world on the joys and celebrations of 'A festivus for the rest of us." From the festivus pole, because, you know, tensile can be a little distracting, all the way to the great feats of strength, festivus is a grand secular celebration. My favorite part of festivus though is the all important, airing of the grievances. After the meal is complete, everyone goes around the table and tells each person what they have a grievance with them about and don't stop until they get all their problems aired out. You go around and tell each person how they have disappointed over the past year.  It's a festivus miracle when loved ones gather around the table, air their grievances with each other, and then joyfully depart in concord and peace.

But, is that what happens? If we really tell each other the hatred we are harboring, the sins we are holding on to, will that make everything better. If we air out all our problems with each other, will it end in forgiveness and concord? Or, will it end with damaged relationships, distancing ourselves from each other, and at the worst, cause us to hate each other even more and harbor more aggression in our hearts? Wouldn't it be nice if we could come to each other with our problems, with our sins, with our issues against each other, air them out, and it end in absolution? Why doesn't it?

Well, we could say it's because we are sinful and love ourselves more than our neighbor, and this is true. However, a deeper issue is that we are sinners and don't comprehend the depth of Jesus' love for us and how His sacrifice on the cross covers all of our sins, all the grievances that the Father has with us. All the Father's grievances against humanity were placed upon Jesus and He, as our great sacrificial lam, bore all the wrath of His Father for us, so that there is no longer a grievance, but rather a merciful disposition towards us. In Jesus, the Father was reconciling the world to Himself. In Jesus, all our sins, all the grievances the Father has with us for transgressing His Law, is forgiven and forgotten, it is remembered no more, meaning The Father won't bring it up again. My friends, all that the Father held against you is forgiven and forgotten in Jesus. You are covered in the righteousness of Christ and now stand before the Father as a pure, unblemished, and beloved child. In this life now, we live in forgiveness with our neighbor. If they come up to us and tell us that hate our guts, we now absolve them joyfully and continue to live a carefree life. Why? Because Jesus has taken care of everything and heaven is our final and eternal destination. We forgive others, not because it gets us into heaven, but because our name is already written in heaven's reservation book and we now await life in the eternal dwellings. May we continue to live in forgiveness with our neighbor in the joyous knowledge and assurance that we are recipients of God's unconditional and unfailing love in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Peace be with you. May the devil be silenced, the world be hushed, and the Old Adam be drowned anew so that you hear only the peaceful voice of your Savior Jesus who says, "I love you. I forgive you. I claim you as My own forever," Amen.

Jesus' Sheepdog,

Pastor Hull