Christmas

What is the season known as Christmas? The phrase refers principally to the mass of Christ, or the Feast of the Nativity. For us an Anglicans, we understand that Christmas is not one night or one day but rather it is a series of twelve days that builds to the Feast of the Epiphany, when the Magi would visit Jesus, where His glory would be manifested.

Christmas has become secularized in our world. For most it means a time to buy presents, for some it is a time of sadness for those who are no longer with us, for some it is decorating trees, and our list could go on and on. However, the Gospel Reading that we will read on Christmas Day says it clearly: He came to dwell among us. He came to live and dies as one of us. He learned and acted as one of us, but He did not sin. He came to die on the Cross for our redemption in order to pay the price for our sins. This is the conclusion of a plan that has been taking place ever since Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden. God loved you so much that He gave up His only begotten Son. He did this because He desired covenant with each of you.

So, this Christmas season do not get caught up with the trappings of the season, but tune in to the Gospel. He came to give up His life for you to live. This is the Gospel and this is the message of Christmas. He came to redeem us and satisfy the price that we could not so that we would no longer be condemned but rather saved. No greater love is there than for one to lay down their life. He did this willingly for us when we did not deserve it but rather deserved death. God paid the ultimate price.