Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-12-26
CHRISTMAS REPRESENTS
GIVING OF GODS GIFTS
Is Theme of DR.. W. Russell
Bowie in Sermon at
ST. Paufs
MANY or THE n,cu ARE POOR
Hector Declares They Fall ia Enjoy
Wealth iiccnusr or Inability to
Learn Secret Of Joy Which tuincs
Through Christ Child.

Through Christ Child.
The sermon delivered ycstcrda \
morning by Rev. ". Russcll Bowie
~ D.. rector OF 81. paurS Church
follows. in part:
when they opened their treasures
they presented unto Him plfts."-
Matthew ii II.
The opening of trcasurcs--thc
giving; az immortal gifts: DO we not
find here the kcy-word for the deep
est thought OF what Christmas is.
and 90 what 1t must mean In us?
For Christmas represents. in the frs,
place. tho giving OF Gods Gift. God
80 loved III" world that lie gave Ills
only hcgottcn Son that through Him
We might have eternal life.
Wc thank Thee sound the words
In that glorious thanks Givinr which
cach sunday morning wc rccito. we
thank Thee for our creation. preser-
walton. ana all the blessings OF this
life. but nbOve all for Thine i'm
ostirnabic love In the redemption Of
the world by our Lord Jesus Chris,
No other cnrichmcn. TINT comes To
us from the mercy of God is com
parable to that. We do thank Him
Tor all the things Of this lifc. for
daily bread, for pleasures, for tho
things that clothc ana warm our
bodies. for prosperity and wealth. and
all the possessions which We gather
from this rich earth: but. w. kno ~
AT Christmas that nj! these things are
but The lesser lights that surround
tho great wonder OF the gift of God
IN Jesus. Without tho spirit which
lie brings to us. without the knowl-
edge of the graciousucSs Of Cod the
Kindness ana the love ana the in
spiration TO service which we learn
hest only as we keep close TO Him.
All material things would turn 10
bitterness.
Spirit Of Christ Potent Factor.
Wealth can become only the blind
path 10 restless Observation-Disclosures
The human contacts that might be
most sweet can change TO the ga,llnl,
bonds Of sordld disillus!onmcnt. The
very beauty OF lie itself can become
disgust and wcarinass IL that irncr
life and that TRANSFORMING nurposo
which we learn from Jcsua are ever
lost. So. also, lives which may have
least in this worlds cndowmcnts can
all be radiant with JOY when once
'hc infinite knowledge OF their di-
vincr meaning has come IN Thorn
began In stable and ended on n
cross the supreme example OF abund-
ant life.
DO we no; SOC around us every
aay those who witness TO both these
ruins men and women. on the one
hand, endowed with everything tina,
the worlds wealth can give. ynt moor
because they have not learned the
inner secret OF the JOY which comes
through Jesus; and men anI women.
On tho other hand. so slcndcriy nos
scssed Of the things which thcy
worldly covct, yet possessed OF treas
urcs which nothing can take away.
as poor. yet making many rich. as
having nothing. and yet possessing
All things Therefore, il is thai on
CHRISTMAS Day we need to com. IN
!nr worship with a spirit blended of
humility and Of highest expectation
We remember and confess how little
any OF the things which scInshncss
might coNat can do to make us rich
hut we remember also our privilege
today 10 claim the gift of the ncw
life OF God in Jesus.
We DO not realize until ". look
DICK INTO the years before the com,
ing OF Christ how the thoughts ma,
gathered round that first Christmas
nave changed the conception OF God
TOT me whole race OF men. If we
'o"si"er' Tor example. the beginnings
~ me 'tiSious history OF Israel. we
d" not fnd that God was prImorj,y
thought OF as one whose cb,r,",or
isiic VAS the seriousness OF His Civ
ing.
heiiSion Thing of Fear mt Times.
VIII YOU not then take that mos
sage /" Nonr hearts today. Won yyho
come 10 listen to the Christmas ~.
'hIs is IL not true for us thot
sometimes our religion also IT, =
'hlhg OF fear and hesitation? There
arc certain duties that we must per
FORM we think-a blind. conscien.
Hous correctness which viii have its
reward, we srardcly know what or.
now. Yet, meanwhile, ready To ne
ours today, is the immcasurobIe
wonder OF the knowledge OF the Iovc
OF God Before we are WORTH
Ills love. He loves us. The whole
message of tho Incarnation rings
WIN that. as the skies over Rethic.
hcm rang with the singing OF Tho
Angels. Even ms the love of Gnd
came and dwclt in Jesus. so IL moves
amongst us in His invisible presence
today To teach us the dignity OF lifc
10 I'll us with immortal burmese To
confirm IN. gcnuineness Of all our
best Ideals. TO make US hope that He
VIII bring to pass the highest thinrs
mat IN any moment of spirituoI
revelation we aspire to.
Then IL we have caught the mos
sage Of Christmas as tho memorial
OF the infinite gift of God to us ~,
snail go forward, not through any
dnI! compuiSion. but with eager in
stinct. TO that response of love which
makes us give our best in gratitude
10 Him again. That was what the
AaSi did. They had been ycarning
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