Celebrate Christ this Christmas

 

We seem to forget too easily that the word Christmas is a shortening for “Christ’s Mass”, where mass refers to this old English word that means FEAST.  When we say Christmas, the meaning is “The Feast of Christ” or the celebration of Christ, our Lord.  It should never be anything less – or more -than a celebration of Jesus, when we remember his birth on earth as the Son of God who became a man like us, to redeem us and lead us to eternal life.

 

On the night of the birth of Christ, shepherds in the fields celebrated the first Christmas and it changed their lives forever.

 

We read in Luke 2:17-20 - And when they (the shepherds) had seen this, they made known the statement, which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things, which had been told to them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

 

They made known the statement, which had been told them about this Child. (Luke 2:17) The shepherds received from God an amazing spiritual experience. It was not something which they took lightly. They knew the significance of what they had seen. These shepherds understood that they had witnessed a glorious, divine event.

 

There is a lot of lip service paid to Christ at Christmas. As the time for the holiday approaches, people from all walks of life begin to gear up by having Christmas parties, singing Christmas carols, and celebrating in the name of Christmas. But after the holiday is over, however, they act as if nothing significant happened.

This is not the spirit exhibited by the shepherds after they had seen the Child. They made known what they have learned about him!

 

The difference in someone who only sings about Christ at Christmas and someone who proclaims him and lives for Christ all year round, is whether that person has experienced a true life-changing encounter with Jesus. It should be an encounter with Jesus that moves us to celebrate Christ the whole year round.

 

And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen ... (Luke 2:20) Another characteristic that the shepherds displayed, was an attitude of praise and worship. After their encounter with Jesus, - a real Christmas - and after they had told everyone who would listen to them, the shepherds went back to their flocks and everyday lives - glorifying and praising God.

 

They had a reason to be grateful. They had a reason to worship. Now they could be glorifying and praising God, because a change had taken place in their lives.

 

This happens when Christmas is a real experience, and not an artificial, seasonal holiday high. A real Christmas changes us into worshipping, praising, serving children of God! A real Christmas is one where the eternal Word is born in our hearts by the Holy Spirit and through him, we receive eternal life!