Dear Friends in Christ,
On this Fourth Sunday of Advent, St. Matthew’s Gospel tells us how “the birth of Jesus Christ came about.” As the slogan goes, “Jesus is the Reason for The Season.” Yet, in our world today,
how many understand the truth of this slogan? Christmas, for many in our contemporary world, is observed without Christ. It has become a secular holiday of feasting, materialism and social gathering. Yet, it is birthday of Jesus, the world’s salvation. The joy of the holiday is related to the joy that our Redeemer is born for us and that faith in Him leads to eternal life.
So, how can we bring Christ back into Christmas?
Firstly, our preparation for Christmas begins in daily prayer. As the holiday approaches, let us pray that the hearts of those we encounter may be open to hear the joyful message of Christ we will bring them through our actions and carefully discerned and chosen words. Through prayer, we ask the Holy Spirit to work within us and within others to make this year’s Christmas truly happy, healthy and holy.
Secondly, as Scripture tells us, “God is love”. The most important way that we bring Christ back into Christmas is to bring true charity with us to all of our Christmas celebrations. Do we show true concern for family, friends and members of the community not just at Christmas but through the year in the way that we live?
A third way to bring Christ into Christmas is to include clear symbols of the holiday’s meaning into our observances and celebrations. The family nativity set or creche, prominently displayed in our homes, reminds everyone of why we are celebrating. It can serve as an important tool for teaching
younger members of the family the Christmas story and serve as a reminder to older members of the importance of faith.
A fourth way we can bring Christ into Christmas is trust. God works in our lives all of the time but, often, quietly. We trust that, at Christmas, God will be with us, our families and loved ones, bringing about His will. We trust in God’s constant concern for us all. Our trust in God gives us a peace and confidence that others can see and makes the Christian faith appealing. May we ask the Holy Spirit to help us bring Christ into our Christmas in a new way.