Venite adoremus! Venite adoremus! Venite adoremus! Dominum.

These wonderful words began ringing out through churches last night and will continue to do so today.  If you don’t recognize the Latin, you will their translation:  “O come let us adore Him! O come let us adore Him! O come let us adore Him! Christ the Lord.”  These words of course are from the Christmas hymn “O Come All Ye Faithful” and were joyously and loudly sung from congregations packed into pews.  It is great to see churches overflowing with people!

As great as it is to see church buildings on the verge of breaking maximum occupancy fire codes on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, it is rather unfortunate that these massive gatherings only seem to happen twice per year- at Christmas and at Easter.  For whatever reason, church bells on Christmas and Easter draw the zombie “Chreasters” to the local church where they sit uncomfortably in the pews for an hour and then bolt for the door as soon as the final ‘Amen’ is said, not to be seen again until lilies or poinsettias grace the sanctuary.

Of course the traditional Christian PC response is to say “at least they are there”.  But if we are to have a personal relationship with Jesus, how can we do so if we are willing only to stop by His house twice a year?  I don’t think we would think much of a friend or relative who did the same to us, especially if they live close by us.  The bible doesn’t mention anyone who showed up for only Christ’s birth and death, and nothing in between.  We should all make note of that.

So let’s be sure that every Sunday we take time to go to church to adore Christ the Lord!

Venite adoremus!