Wednesday 26 December 2007

A Meditation for Christmas



The birth of Jesus is the first clue that God's way of life, his kingdom is different than anything we had ever imagined. The birth of Jesus tells us what importance the Father places on wealth and standing and propriety and for whom the Father's heart truly bleeds. And you know what, we are all outcast and lonely in His eyes, so His attention and His love have been focused on us. So, as we reflect on the birth of Jesus, think about the greater context of His coming. The birth, the living, the message, the dying and rising. It's all part of the whole. It's all connected. They are all part of one story. The Father even uses the birth of the promised son to illustrate the way of His kingdom.

Let us first try to explore and see what made us to celebrate this Christmas. The word "Christmas" is framed by the words "Christ" and "Mass" where Mass is a Latin word meaning "celebration. Therefore, to celebrate Christmas is or at least should be to celebrate Christ. That indicates us that we should celebrate every aspect of Jesus' life, His birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His sacrificial death and His resurrection. This time of year, we happen to focus on His Birth. People tend to focus more on the person of Jesus during the Christmas season than any other time of the year. Let’s use this time to celebrate Jesus in each and everyone’s life.

The true spirit of Christmas is more felt than it is visible to our eyes. The colorful lights, distinctive music and busy shoppers and decorations all around of the season reflects the spirit of season, but the actual joy is felt within the deep core of all our hearts. The spirit of Christmas dwells in everyone‘s heart and is nurtured by all. We all should try to feel the warmth and beauty of the season hidden in its aspects. The Son of God became the son of man, so that the sons of men could become the sons of God. The most miraculous aspects of Jesus' birth were the fact that His mother was a virgin. How wonderfully God prepared for the virgin birth of His Son.

Friends, when we think back on God revealing His love for us in such a beautiful way, what response is left from our side? The only thing we all can do is to fall down and worship Him our Saviour. No matter how many gifts you may receive for Christmas, there in no gift more wonderful than an everlasting relationship with the Creator of the universe. If you have never asked Jesus to enter your life, what better time is there than now? May you experience the richness of His love and goodness throughout the Christmas season, and beyond. Frankincense and gold, pale before the Glory we behold! The Father's gift of love has come down in the form of born baby Jesus, and His sacrifice is beyond all that we can ever measure. Heavenly hosts proclaim this sound everywhere and we can see the infant King Bethlehem's Treasure!". Lets pray that as we meditate on Jesus and the situations of his birth, may the Holy Spirit expand our understanding of God and His kingdom to come. Amen.