Christmas

Today is “Christmas Day” in the Western world, following the Gregorian calendar. Russian Orthodox Christians follow the Julian calendar, which lists Christmas Day on January 7. In fact, the actual date of Jesus’ birth is not known. It really doesn’t matter. No one plans to create or compare actuarial tables for Jesus. Thus, “Jesus’ Birthday” is a misnomer. Christians celebrate the fact of Jesus’ birth, the only fact necessary; that fact is available, not only in the Bible, but also according to secular historians.

Apparently the word, Christmas is derived from “Christ’s Mass,” which originated from the earliest liturgical celebrations of Jesus’ birth. Present liturgical celebrations of Christmas encompass six or seven weeks for festivities; from the First Sunday in Advent (usually the first Sunday after Thanksgiving, depending on the Gregorian calendar) through twelve days after Christmas, Epiphany Day, January 6, again, per the Gregorian calendar.

Celebrations of Christmas range from meager “Nativity plays” to elaborate festivals of music and drama. Television movies, radio station music, and yes, even “Mall Music” rhapsodize in celebration of Christmas. Commerce has found a home in Christmas celebration, often to the dismay of orthodox Christians. However, I must point out that when Jesus threw the “money changers” out of the Temple, he did not throw out the Altar. There is a difference. Please pardon a little preaching here, but it behooves us all to make that distinction. Negative distractions will always abound; common sense however, is a useful tool in this matter.

Dear Reader, if you are reading this on Christmas Day, I hope for you a joyous and blessed Christmas Day— and all the days following. In the midst of this horrifying COVID-19 Pandemic, that is sickening, maiming, and killing millions, we need the Hope this day offers. The Apostle Paul wrote of this Hope to the beleaguered Christians in Corinth; “YET, (emphasis mine) we who have this spiritual treasure are like common clay pots, in order to show that the supreme power belongs to God, not to us. ⁸ We are often troubled, but not crushed; sometimes in doubt, but never in despair; ⁹ there are many enemies, but we are never without a friend; and though badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed.” (2 Cor. 4:4-9 GNT)

The year 2020 is drawing to a close—take heart with those words of the Apostle Paul. Merry Christmas —to you and your dear ones. Please stay safe!