A bit of a contrast, isn't it? The sweet strains of "Away In A Manger" followed by "... nations will be in anguish ... the roaring and tossing of the sea ... People will faint from terror ... the heavenly bodies will be shaken." Ho, ho, ho! Where is Santa when we need him? Why in the world would the church choose a gospel lesson such as this to begin Advent and our preparation for the coming of the Christ Child?

Good reason. The sad truth that all of us who are old enough knows is we do not live in a "Santa Claus" world. Children's visions of sugar plums are washed away with the hot tears of grownup disappointment and despair. Disease and death are constant companions. One part of the world seems ready to explode unless another part does it first. The fear and foreboding of which Jesus sp…