I was minding my business drinking my morning coffee, and looking out on the unexpected snowfall on Black Friday which made it white Friday here in Lexington when ‘what to my wondering eyes did appear,  then a plane load of Irish, seeking out reindeer’.    Yes, that’s right.  On CNN this morning we were regaled with the story of two Irish ladies from Belfast, who had in fact been on a whole plane load of Irish ladies coming to America quite specfically to go shopping on Black Friday at Macy’s and elsewhere, and boy did they snap up the bargains when the door opened at 4 A.M. in the morning.  Yikes!   In fact Sears and some stores opened at midnight, so desperate are they all to make money.  About half of the annual revenue of such large chain stores will be made between now and Dec. 27th according to the news broadcast.

I know Jesus said that in his Father’s House there are many rooms or mansions  but if there is a Mall in heaven,  I’ll bet these two Irish ladies have already reserved their places there.   Today is the day such folks shop until they drop.   As for the Irish ladies,  this is clearly the spirit which led all those folks to leave the U.K. in the 16th-19th century coming to America to acquire fame, fortune, or at least a farm.   The acquisitive spirit is a wonder to behold.

Bargain hunters are almost as fun to watch as folks at a flea market.  Some of them almost have it down to a science.  Like mercantile blood hounds they sniff out the best deals, get geared and ginned up to go out early and push their way through the barriers to the bargains.  It made me think of the difference between Black Friday and Good Friday.

On Black Friday the best possible outcome is finding bargains.

On Good Friday the best possible outcome is finding salvation to be free of charge.

On Black Friday you have to work hard and go sniff out the deals.

On Good Friday, the hound of Heaven came looking for you.

On Black Friday satisfaction comes from realizing how little you had to pay.

On Good Friday satisfaction comes by Jesus paying it all.  In the ultimate paradox salvation is both free, and extremely expensive.

Advent is coming friends, and as a little reminder, its not our own birthdays we will be celebrating at Christmas, buying ourselves all these gifts.    It’s his birthday.  And nothing you can find at Macy’s is an adequate gift for that King.  Only you yourself will do.