Luke 2:10-14 (NRSVCE) “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!””
According to history, this tradition of Christmas is of Roman Origin. The name 'Christmas' comes from the Mass of Christ (or Jesus). A Mass service (which is sometimes called Communion or Eucharist) is where Christians remember that Jesus died for us and then came back to life. The 'Christ-Mass' service was the only one that was allowed to take place after sunset (and before sunrise the next day), so people had it at Midnight! So we get the name Christ-Mass, shortened to Christmas. But Romans during their conversions to Christianity, blended the true celebration of ‘Christ-Mass’ with many Pagans traditions and gave them Christians titles or meaning to divert people from Paganism to Christianity. (Ref. www.whychristmas.com). Although puritans are against in adopting pagans way, this engaging tradition became effective and acculturated the entire world. Christmas today became the holiday that unifies almost all of professing Christendom.
Christmas is observed by many in all parts of the world with parties, decorating, feasting, and bringing presents to everyone to whom they favor. Christmas is certainly the celebration filled with cheers and wonders for most people. But in any gathering, especially in the family, the moment of opening the presents is always the highlight of the celebrations. Often than not, the givers experience great joy when they are the ones who brought the best gift of all, the reason is, other than serving their ego, making someone very happy makes them happy too, and sometimes happier than the recipient of such joy.
Looking at this event in the Holy Scripture, GOD also designs to give us the gift that will bring us to great joy. This gift is the answer to our longing for satisfaction. GOD’s gift is no other than His Son Jesus, and HE bestowed Him as the Gift of Love for us. Starting from Jesus Christ birth, the angel of GOD said to the shepherds, “I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”
Our Gift from GOD is Jesus, the Good News of great joy, our Messiah, our Salvation. Simeon received this Gift, he declared in Luke 2:2:30-32,
“for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.”
This Christmas, we are celebrating because GOD made us also the recipient of this amazing Gift. We have received if we understand what the Angel said through the Scripture like Simeon. The sign that we understand it and we grasp its meaning, is that, if we shared the Good News of great joy who is Jesus to everyone especially this Christmas season. We expect ourselves not only bringing material gifts but bringing the best gift of all, the Good News to all the people. We should have great joy also in bringing this Gift to others also.
Traditions will be in vain if it is focused on humans way alone. Jeremiah 10:2-3says,
“Thus says the Lord:
Do not learn the way of the nations,
or be dismayed at the signs of the heavens;
for the nations are dismayed at them.
For the customs of the peoples are false”
This commercialism that engulfs this tradition is taking control in us, but the benefit from our spending of money, time and efforts, is a temporal happiness. GOD really plan our rejoicing to be done in the other way, in the most humble way with eternal gains. When the shepherds were instructed to go, they will go not in a decorative inn to see a king in a royal robe, but to an animal shelter, to see a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger. The result is an amazing joy for them and for those who heard the good news from them.
Isaiah 55:2 says,
” Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.”
Proverbs 30:15 also proclaims,
“ The leech has two daughters;
“Give, give,” they cry.
Three things are never satisfied;
four never say, “Enough”
Only the gift of GOD will bring us the great joy. Isaiah and the book of Proverbs says clearly that we can never be satisfied. GOD can only satisfy the very thing we need. HE said, “With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.” Simeon in our verse story, waited long enough for his satisfaction, as there’s nothing satisfied him, and this is it, to witness the Good News of great joy, his salvation and the salvation of many.
Today, many are thirsty and needy of one thing. We should not spend money which is not ‘bread’ and consume effort which does not satisfy. Why not give them or bring them the Good News of great joy? Give them the Word of GOD, Jesus Christ, for He said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” “Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path." says the LORD. (Prov. 23:19)
AMEN
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