catholicsphere

This year, Christmas falls on a Monday, which puts Christmas Eve on Sunday.

The majority of folks, whether regular church-goers or not, attend Christmas Eve Mass/services. For Catholics, the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days requires that those who celebrate on the Eve of Christmas attend twice on Sunday, December 24th; once for the Sunday celebration and once for the Christmas holy day.

I think the times when Christmas falls this way is really cool. We celebrate and commemorate the Resurrection on Sundays throughout the year. And, of course, Christmas recalls the entry of the Second Person of the Trinity, God the Son, into human history at His birth. However, it also anticipates or looks forward to His Second Coming.

In this way, it is special because our Easter hope and joy meets our Christmas hope and joy.

Unfortunately, many Protestant churches, such as Willow Creek Community Church, will miss out on such a wonderful convergence. Even though it brings together the source and summit of our faith, they will abandon their Sunday service schedules, in favor of celebrating only Christmas (and they won’t even have services available on Christmas Day).

If you are a former Catholic, or maybe just someone who wants to celebrate the pinnacle of our hope in Christ Jesus, and your regular church has decided to not hold Sunday services, I encourage you to seek out a Catholic Church in your area … where you will find believers worshiping our Lord and Savior on Saturday evening/Sunday morning, as well as Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. (Check out MassTimes.org for a church and service time near you.)

I pray that your joy may be made complete!

A Blessed and Merry Christmas to you and your family!

[tags]christmas, christian, protestant, catholic, easter, faith, church, Jesus, Christ, Savior[/tags]