What Does Jesus Think of Santa Claus?

Saint Nicholas Day

Isaiah 1:21-31 | Matthew 18:1-6
Reading through Isaiah during Advent: Isaiah 8-10

Today is St. Nicholas Day on the Christian calendar. Tradition holds that the saint died on December 6 in the year 343. The legend of St. Nicholas is huge, wild, and likely highly legendary. While much of what has become the societal Santa Claus was developed from the legend of Sinterklaas out of the Netherlands, a couple of foundational St. Nicholas stories help shape the giving nature of Santa Claus, particularly toward children.

It’s not an uncommon theme among Christian saints that the individual was born out of wealth, only to soon discover the phenomenon of poverty and be drawn to the compassion of Christ therein. (The same is said of St. Francis and St. Martin.)

The contemporary Santa Claus is quite the central feature in the societal understanding of Christmas. Many Christians lament such a distraction from Jesus and his birth as the central religious phenomenon meant for the season. Perhaps there is some room for such angst, particularly for a faith that is particular on the centrality of Jesus Christ.

Add to that the commercialism and “Give me what I want!” magical nature of Santa Claus, and it can feel far from the heart that comes with Jesus in sacrificial giving and compassionate ministry to those in need.

However, not all is lost if the legend of St. Nicholas is held on to and told. What a great story for these times - a man born into significant wealth, turned by the compassion of Christ toward the benefit of those who do not have, particularly children in need. It’s also said of St. Nicholas that he had a penchant for an orthodox faith, a righteousness toward God. (He’s even said to have slapped the heretic Arius at the Council of Nicea for trying to convince the Church that Jesus was not equal with God the Father!)

Way before Nicholas was ever born, the prophet Isaiah had such a deep desire for a return to the just righteousness of God and particularly so for those in need - children, orphans (“the fatherless”), and women who are otherwise powerless.

If and when Christmas resonates with such themes, it is at the heart of the story of a little baby born to no-name parents in a little town way outside the city.

Isaiah and the season of Advent as a whole are a call to remember such things. Isaiah - and all the prophets - are quite pointed in their language. It can feel harsh. Not unlike a corrective slap to the face.

Jesus, too, reserves some of his harshest words for those who would cause little ones to stumble. As meek as the Christ child may be (and was), Jesus the adult told those who would do such things to tie a rock around their neck and jump in a lake.

Caring for those in need, the powerless, the family-less…is in the very the heart of Christ and a significant aspect of that to which Advent and the prophets call us.

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Isaiah 1:21-31

This faithful town has become a prostitute!
She was full of justice;
    righteousness lived in her—
    but now murderers.
Your silver has become impure;
    your beer is diluted with water.
Your princes are rebels,
    companions of thieves.
Everyone loves a bribe and pursues gifts.
    They don’t defend the orphan,
    and the widow’s cause never reaches them.
Therefore, says the Lord God of heavenly forces,
    the mighty one of Israel:
Doom! I will vent my anger against my foes;
    I will take it out on my enemies,
    and I will turn my hand against you.
I will refine your impurities as with lye,
    and remove all your cinders.
Then I will restore your judges as in earlier times,
    and your counselors as at the beginning.
After this you will be called Righteous City, Faithful Town.

Zion will be redeemed by justice,
    and those who change their lives by righteousness.
But God will shatter rebels and sinners alike;
    those who abandon the Lord will be finished.

You will be ashamed of the oaks you once desired,
    and embarrassed by the gardens you once chose.
You will be like an oak with withering leaves,
    like a garden without water.
The strong will be like dry twigs,
        their deeds like sparks;
    the two will burn together,
    with no one to extinguish them.

Matthew 18:1-6

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Then he called a little child over to sit among the disciples, and said, “I assure you that if you don’t turn your lives around and become like this little child, you will definitely not enter the kingdom of heaven. Those who humble themselves like this little child will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

“As for whoever causes these little ones who believe in me to trip and fall into sin, it would be better for them to have a huge stone hung around their necks and be drowned in the bottom of the lake.

Prayer

God,

I think I know…but help me to know better.

What does it look like for us to stand in for the powerless today? Children, parents, families in need - call us to their aid. Show us the way. If it means we need a good slap in the face, so be it. Give us the compassion of Jesus who called such as these unto him.

Especially in this season and the impending Christmas, awaken our hearts toward compassion.

By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.