A  Day of Joy.

It is a joyous time of year. Christmas season is always bright and colorful.  Makes me happy.  But it is also a depressing time for many…those who have lost loved ones or face severe illness.  We as disciples must be especially encouraging to many who are lonely or in sorrow. I have a few thoughts on Christmas that I would like to share with you.

Many of you choose not to celebrate this season……..after all, it seems that the early believers really didn’t celebrate our Lord’s birth as much as His resurrection.   That is true.  The world views this time of year as a more secular occurrence. Gifts are given and children joyously wake up to find out what Santa has left under the tree. Families come together and perhaps………just perhaps…..they might be inclined to go to some church building for the singing or a brief message.  Makes them feel good that somehow or other a little bit of “religion” might rub off on them. Certainly there will be no religious displays on public buildings since the “Supreme” Court has ordered it so.  Indeed we have become a secular society.

However, despite all the negatives about Christmas, we as believers still enjoy reading about the miracle that occurred 2000 years ago, when a young virgin, named Miryam (Mary), gave birth to our Savior.  The shame and humiliation was that she was espoused to a man named Joseph.  There was a waiting period of 12 months before the wedding actually occurred. This was the espousal period and was considered the same as being married.  During that time, if the future bride was found to be unfaithful it would become known and the wedding would not take place or in the case of Mary, she could be put to death on charges of adultery, although in most cases she would be sent away from the community.  Joseph, through divine intervention, did not choose to humiliate her and was told that she was to be the mother of the Savior of Israel.

During the course of years following the development of the Christian community….church leaders decided to celebrate this miracle on a pagan holiday. Actually the Lord’s birth was probably not in December but perhaps in the spring or summer.  Weren’t the shepherds in the fields?  They wouldn’t be out under the stars on a cold winter night.  The sheep would have been gathered in a warm shelter, mostly for the sake of the shepherds.  (Forget those Christmas cards!)

Then that trip to Bethlehem. Mary and Joseph had to travel 85 miles from Nazareth, to register their names in the town of their ancestors  because the Romans needed to take a census of the people.   Mary was very pregnant but a young healthy woman.  She could have made the trip without too much difficulty except when arriving she went into labor.  Perhaps they tried to find room at one of the local inns…..however, there were undoubtedly distant relatives or family members living in Bethlehem. No woman in labor would ever be put into a place that was dangerous for her.  Human life was sacred and especially  one’s own kin.  Mary and Joseph undoubtedly were given room in the home of a relative or friend……not in the main part of the house but in the family stable.

 The animals shared a special space within the home….although separate. It was kept very clean because the family shared the living space.   Undoubtedly that’s where our baby was born.  Mary was attended by the women of the house and this tiny baby was given a lovely little place to lie.  It was a feeding trough for the animals but filled with fresh straw or hay.  The women bathed the baby, and wrapped him in the required new born clothes. Mary would have been well attended with much rejoicing in the community.   A new life came into the world.  Not just any baby……..a very special baby!!

Christmas now is celebrated on Dec. 25^th.  Enjoy the season with family and friends.

          Although there is an old saying……..

       ”Jesus is still the reason for the season!”