This document discusses the true meaning of Christmas and how Christians should celebrate it. It argues that while Christmas has become commercialized, focusing on gift-giving and meals, Christians should instead focus on spreading awareness of Jesus' birth and message of salvation. The document urges Christians to think about those without means of celebrating and to use the Christmas season to share the significance of Jesus' life and teachings. It suggests Christians can best celebrate by generating awareness of Jesus rather than just joining others who criticize commercialization.

1. ‘So thisis Christmas’ - 21STDecember 2016
“So this is Christmas, and what have you done. Another year over and a new one just begun” (John Lennon)
We are now inthe most hectictimesof the year.Christmas!BuyingGifts,meetingfamily,
celebrations…awonderful periodthatgives - bothChristiansaswell asnonChristians –a feelingof
happiness.YesitiscommercializedbutasChristianswe don’treallyneedtobothertoomuchalthough
some speakadverselyaboutthisfact.Ina broadersince we should be thankful thateverylightthatislit,
everybell thatisringsand everyChristmascarol thatwe hear...all these remindsthe whole worldthat
Jesusthe saviourof mankindwasborn…andthe reasonfor our celebration. Yesall maynotbe true
Christians,butwe can be happythat thisawarenessisgenerated“atleastatthistime”everyyear! This
awarenesslastsforalmosta monthand thattoo is beneficial togenerate heightenedawareness…AND
THEREFORE AS Christianswe shouldtake thisopportunityavailedtouseachyear.
Although itis ‘commercialized’today, we do not need to crib as some do. On the contrary we can celebrate
Christmas by focusingon the importance at being “identified” as a Christian.Instead of simply joiningothers who
crib aboutthe commercialization of Christmas,we need to make it different. If we use this period to simply make
merry, we are then makingit ‘justanother Christmas’likewhat you may have experienced all your life… We can
make this Christmas somethingthat is worthwhilethat will leaveyou with a sense of satisfaction thatwill bringjoy
to you and your family great happiness all year long…
The problem is that we go through all the decorating,buyingpresents, and preparingelaboratemeals,but
somehow forget to tell others what itis all about.Firstthingis thatyou need to ask yourself what does Christmas
mean to you? Itis NOT simply a ‘time for partying’. People, family,friends and the world will all try to get you to
have a "Merry Christmas”but that is not all whatwe need to do as Christians.This does not mean that Christians
need to be likeat the time of lent. But on the contrary itis a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christwho is our
saviour and thathas a deep meaning for all of humanity. It is time we unwrap JESUS and make others realizewhat
Christmas really isand useitto make a deference for their very existence. As Christianswehave a responsibility:to
generate and enhance awareness of Jesus Christand what better opportunity than Christmas to do so? We can
learn by reading 1 John 3:1, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children
of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” This failure
is ours!
Have you ever considered what Christmas means to the non-Christian? To someone that has not accepted Jesus,
His loveand forgiveness... What do you think Christmas means to someone that lives in a far off region, livingin a
hut, who knows nothing of Santa, Christmas presents or Christmas trees? What do you think itmeans to little
children with no runningwater and empty bellies? As Christiansitis importantthatwe give a thoughtful
consideration as to what Christmas mean to them…actually NOTHING…unless we do something! I wonder if some
Christiansever consciously think of those who are not blessed as we are…or simply beingmore interested in
decorating, buyingpresents, and preparingelaboratemeals,but somehow forget the true meaning for Christmas
each year. We celebrate; give gifts, invitefamily…butmostly for ourselves…rarely beyond one’s circleof friends
and family!
The fact that God made the announcement of Jesus’ birth not to the wealthy and the affluent but to shepherds
helps us to understand the real meaning of Christmas.Shepherds were at the opposite end of the society of the
day. They weren’t respected and had no power or prestige. Yet, God’s angel came to them which we can read in
Luke 2:10-11," But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for
all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord”. We
need to ask ourselves the important question: “when God could have so decided for Jesus to be born to a Kings
palace,why was Jesus born in a manger” And the firstannouncement of His birth made to the poorest of poor…?
We forget that the reason for Jesus’ comingwas to saveall of humanity and to bringus back to God…and not

2. simply to create another day of merry making. Yes celebratingChristmas as Jesus birthday isfine…butnot the main
priority for us as Christians.
We can understand the reason Jesus came to us in John 3-16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one
and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" All of us have read and even
memorized this teaching… but knowing itis not enough because that knowledge is simply within us.We need to
take this opportunity to spread awareness as to who Jesus is and what He could mean to them…not only at
Christmas time, but begging now and throughout the year. Christmas gives us a great opportunity to do this very
important God given mandate. We can understand what Jesus expects from us when we read John 13:34: “A new
command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another”. We are required to
do this because: 35 Bythis everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” He said love
one another…not justbe merry with the circleof friends and family!Love need not be only for family or only for
Christians,butfor everyone we come across duringtheshortspan of our lives.
Love is a virtue representinghuman kindness,compassion,andaffection—"the unselfishloyal and
benevolentconcernforthe goodof another".Thisis what Jesusrequiresfromus. Christmasisthe Lord’s
birthdayandit’sa time torememberthe free giftof salvationwe receive because of Hislove for
humanity.The practice of givinggiftsatCharismasstemsfromthisfree giftgiventomankindforthe
sake of oursalvation.Butthese giftsthatwe give duringChristmasare mostlyforpeople close tous.
Veryrarelyto othersunknowntous!.Obviouslywe cannotaffordtogive giftsforamultitude of people
because we have ourown financial limitations. Givingagiftalthoughitisa beautiful thoughtandaction
by itself,thereissomethinggreaterthatwe can give asa gifttoa multitude of others.Andthatdoesnot
cost anythingbecause itsimplyrequirescreatingawarenessof Jesus - the free giftof Godof salvation
for mankind.
One may say “Oh I know that and that is easy”because itdoes not have a costattached for simply statethis…’ Due
to “our Christmas related”activities thattake more precedence, we forget the need to sharethis “free gift of God’.
Sadly even a lot of Christiansforgetthat there is a gift that surpasses all thephysical gifts thatwe can ever
imagine… When physical gifts may deplete in its valueover time, this free gift of God enhances in its value. The
more one comes to understand what Jesus Christoffers – its valuewill not be justfor that timeframe but a gift that
has valuefor eternity!