The Joy of Christmas
Does Christmas give you joy?
Me? Absolutely.
You? I have no idea, but I hope it does.
In America from the month of October, elaborate storefronts are full of Christmas regalia and merchandise on display accompanied by Christmas music. One can feel the aura of the festive season. Come December, there are decorations everywhere, in hospitals, homes, and business premises alike. Cheerful street scenes with Christmas trees, Christmas lights, blown up Santas, reindeer, stars, angels, candy cane, the Grinch among other decorations take away the blues of winter replacing it with the message of happiness and joy. It is certainly something to behold as one can’t help but marvel at the beauty, especially because it gets dark at 5:00 pm.
The Christmas craze, getting those special gifts for our loved ones, making travel arrangements to be with family and friends, checking the to-do list of what menu items will be on the table for the Christmas meal, putting the Christmas tree up with lights and ornaments, making and decorating cookies, gingerbread houses decoration and Christmas parades, can sometimes distract us from the TRUE meaning of Christmas. Be it as it may, as we prepare for Christmas, we should call to mind the first Christmas where Christ-Infant was born into the world. The joy and festivities of the season of Christmas reveals the true depth of the Christian faith. The incarnation of Jesus Christ is the essence of Christmas.
The first Christmas celebration and tradition when Christ was born, he received gifts from the three Magi. He received gifts of gold, myrrh and frankincense. Therefore, the Christmas spirit is about giving, the essence of family and friends getting together, eating together, unified by that joy. The incarnation of Jesus, God becoming human is the reason for the season. The joy of Jesus as an Infant we honor at Christmas, should be consistent with the joy of Jesus as a grownup and Who speaks words of truth to us. Do we graciously receive His words and let them inform and transform our lives? As we receive the joy that comes with the birth of Christ, let us prepare our hearts and intentions to receive the same joy from His words which gives eternal life.
Merry Christmas!
