For many years I heard how wrong it is that the Christmas Season has become this huge marketing and business event where we have Santa’s everywhere, store wide sales and endless commercials (side note – who has ever gotten a new car wrapped in a bow on Christmas morning?). People get caught up in “out doing” each other in decorating, ugly sweaters, gift giving or party throwing. I hear how this has ruined what Christmas is all about and how the true meaning of Christmas gets lost in the holiday shuffle. However, I realize there is a positive to the commercialization of Christmas.
Not much is written in the Bible about the birth of Jesus when balanced against how much is written about His teachings, ministry, miracles, and His death. The historical information is also lacking in detail. There is no mention of birth celebrations in the writings of early Christian writers. In fact, the early church was opposed to the idea of a birth celebration as that was how Pharaoh, Herod and pagan gods were honored.
It is speculated early Christians deliberately chose a date of December 25th around several pagan holidays to encourage the spread of Christmas and Christianity throughout the Roman world. If Christmas looked like a pagan holiday, more pagans would be open to both the holiday and the God whose birth it celebrated. So, like today and all this craziness around Christmas, that was a good thing.
How often do we hear songs focused on Jesus played on the radio outside of Christian music stations? This time of year, we hear them non-stop. Yes, we need to put up with an occasional Grinch, Frosty or Rudolph; but we hear “Glory to the newborn King”, “God rest ye merry, gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay, For Jesus Christ our Savior, Was born upon this day, To save us all from Satan’s power, When we were gone astray.”
I also realize my usual seat at mass may very well be taken by someone who is coming for the first time since Easter. The pews will be packed, it will be overly warm from body heat, and the parking lot will be an adventure to get out of. These will all inconvenience me and if I am not intentional, they will alter my mood. However, these people are in church and hearing the Gospel, which is a wonderful thing.
The fact Christmas has become this mega-event is great. Think about the platform we have to make sure the ‘reason for the season’ is conveyed. The challenge we have as Christians is to make the best use of this opportunity. To live the true meaning of Christmas, being intentional with our actions. We need to say with conviction ‘Merry Christmas’ and not ‘Happy Holidays.’ We need to be His disciples by loving each other.
God’s love for us prompted Him to give His Son, the greatest gift ever given, that we may enjoy an abundant, God centered life. We must shift our focus from how the commercialization of Christmas is “an issue” to how can we make the most of the Advent season.
The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word meaning “coming.” Scholars believe that during the 4th and 5th centuries, Advent was a season of preparation for the baptism of new Christians at the January feast of Epiphany. During this season of preparation, Advent was intended to be a season of fasting, much like Lent. Originally, there was little connection between Advent and Christmas.
By the 6th century, however, early Christians tied Advent to the coming of Christ. But the “coming” they had in mind was not Christ’s first coming in the manger in Bethlehem, but His second coming when He returns for His people. It was not until the Middle Ages that the Advent season was explicitly linked to Christ’s first coming at Christmas.
Prayer is a wonderful way to help cut away from the distractions of the season and open our hearts to prepare for the joy and hope of Christ’s coming. During the parties, shopping, lights, and decorations; make sure others see in us the season’s true meaning by sharing the gift of Jesus – His love and peace – with others. Let’s live this life of Advent preparing for His coming 24x7x365.
“Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy, do you hear what I hear?” “Hark now, hear the angels sing, a King was born today.” “Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King.”