The twenty-first of December in Australia is called ‘Gravy Day’, by virtue of Paul Kelly’s famous song ‘How to make gravy’ – a melancholy ballad about a family-man in jail, missing his wife and kids, and lamenting that he won’t be with them on Christmas Day. “It’s the twenty-first of December…. and who’s gonna make the gravy now?” Its simple chord progression of E to F#m to G#m to E accentuates the emotion, and ensures that all the heart-strings vibrate with feeling.

The most touching line for me, is this: “If I get good behaviour / I’ll be out of here by July”. Good behaviour? (Sounds like the deal that Santa always makes, as in, ‘You’d better be good’ or else.) And only if I get ‘good behaviour’, I’ll be home. To hug my wife and see my kids. But what happens if I don’t? And what happens if I can’t?

The Bible’s song of pardon is played with a different strumming pattern and on major chords – C(alvary) to G(race) to F(aith) to C(alm) – and describes forgiveness on the basis of Christ’s perfect behaviour and gracious atonement. The gospel does not negate the consequences of crime in this life, and some for their crimes need to stay in jail for Christmas. But it does remove the guilt of sin in this life, and guarantees the long release in the life to come. And no one needs to wait till July to get out.