What is important at Christmas is not the external merriment, but the announcement that the Son of God became a man and brought a message of communion and peace to the world. Let us know the real reasons for celebrating this holiday as a family.
Finally, the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” Mark 6:21-22
The important thing at Christmas is not the external merriment, but the announcement that the Son of God became a man and brought this message: God is Father, men are brothers and love one another. Knowing this message is knowing how to live Christmas. The most important thing at Christmas is to know that when the People of God celebrate it liturgically, Jesus returns to earth again, makes himself present again among men, and repeats his message of life to each man.
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.” Luke 15:22-2
The Christmas Cycle is linked with the Easter Cycle, Christmas looks to the resurrection. Jesus is born, enters history, launches his message, preaches his Word of Salvation, they conspire against him, dies on the cross, and is resurrected on the third day. And by his Resurrection he remains present in history and in our hearts, leaving a deep mark on our history as his children.
“Count off seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain. Then celebrate the Festival of Weeks to the Lord your God by giving a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings the Lord your God has given you.” Deuteronomy 16:9- 10
Christmas is the spirit of giving without thinking of receiving. It is happiness because we see the joy in people. It is forgetting yourself and finding time for others. It is discarding what doesn't make sense and emphasizing true values.
“Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread; for seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Aviv, for in that month you came out of Egypt. No one is to appear before me empty-handed.” Exodus 23:15
The Christmas spirit is the spirit of love, generosity, and kindness; The panoramic window of the soul illuminates us and, when we contemplate the life of the world, we are more interested in people than in things.
Now the rulers of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to celebrate, saying, “Our god has delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hands.” Judges 16:23
This time of year also means being kind to everyone we meet and sharing a smile with the strangers who come out to meet us on the street since they too are children of Christ and therefore our brothers and sisters.