As we enter the hustle and bustle of the intensely commercialized holiday season, please take a reflective moment to forget about gift exchanging and festive foods, and instead meditate on the true reason for celebration, the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.
The messenger Gabriel appeared to Mary, a young woman from Nazareth, over 2,000 years ago, telling her she was chosen among all the women on Earth to mother the Son of God. Trembling with fear and wonder, she humbly accepted her calling with faith and obedience, becoming the most blessed among all women.
Jesus was born in a lowly manger in Bethlehem, among the smallest and least important towns in Judea. Mary and Joseph had traveled there to register for a census along with many others who returned to their hometowns to comply with the imperial decree. No room in the crowded inns, they found shelter in a lowly stable that would become the birthplace of the King of Heaven.
The birth of Jesus marked a turning point in human history, even becoming a separating point in our calendar. God’s promise to send a Messiah who would redeem us from sin and bring about peace and justice was finally fulfilled.
As Christians, Christmas is a special time to remember and celebrate the love of God for each of us. It is a time to reaffirm our faith and recommit ourselves to living according to God’s teachings. While there are many ways to celebrate the birth of our Savior, among the most important is to never fail to reflect on the intense significance of his life and teachings. And always take time to reach out to others in need and to spread His gospel message of love, peace, and hope.
Lord, thank You for Your birth. We cannot begin to imagine what it was like to step down from the divine throne of heaven to become one of us in a fallen world, yet because of Your great love, You did so willingly that we may be with You for eternity. No other gift can rival the one You gave us the first Christmas. In Jesus’ name, Amen.