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Merry Christmas!

Our text for this Holy Day is taken from the first chapter of the Gospel of John beginning with the 5th verse:

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

 

Today we celebrate the incarnation of the Triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), or what the Gospel of John calls the “true light” coming into the world.

Although Christmas is celebrated on the 25th of December each year, the exact date of Jesus’ birth is unknown. Most scholar agree that the birth of Jesus didn’t take place in December at all, most likely in the springtime but no one can be certain. The Gospel of Luke states that shepherds to whom the announcement of the birth was made were watching their sheep by night (Lk 2:8). Which would suggest lambing time (springtime). Only then did the shepherds bother to keep watch over the flock by night (in the winter the sheep would have been kept in the corral.)

Why, then, is Christmas on the 25th of December?

The truth of the matter is that the date wasn’t chosen by the early Christians, but by the Romans, who were the antagonists of the early church. Each year as the days became noticeably shorter in November and December, the Roman citizens feared that the world might be dying. With the return of the sun at the end of December resulting in longer days, the Romans celebrated the “Feast of the Sol Invictus” or the “Unconquerable Sun” on December 25th.

It wasn’t until around 350 AD that the Church mandated the celebration of the birth of Christ on that day. Many believe that the bishops of the church chose this day so that Christians, still members of an “outlaw” religion, could celebrate the birth of Jesus without creating danger of revealing their religious conviction while the Romans celebrated the sun.

Fortunately, for us, we worship God without fear of religious persecution, though isn’t true for many of sisters and brothers who are persecutive for their faith in Christ. Have a blessed Christmas tide!

Let us pray: God, I give you thanks you for the birth of Christ this day. I ask that you be with me and my loved ones as I celebrate the great gift of Christ. May I cherish this most precious gift every day of my life. Keep me mindful of your children who cannot celebrate this most auspicious and holy day because of fear of oppression and persecution. In His name, I pray. Amen.

Pastor Steve Cauley pastorsteve@livinglord.org

 

Prayer concerns: For those who are lonely and without family on this day. Pray especially for military personnel and those who cannot be with family.