catholicsphere

I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

The exact day, year, time or season the Jesus was born is not known, nor is it really important to the celebration of His Birth.

In the days of the widespread pagan celebration of the winter solstice, around December 21st, people marked the end of the shrinking daylight.  But, there were Christians who saw this end of shortening days paled in comparison to the Eternal Light that they had found in Christ Jesus.

The Christian celebration transformed to reflect the deeper reality and meaning that the birth of Jesus held for them.  There was a spiritual reality in the physical reality of light and dark.

Galatians 4:4-5
But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent his Son, made of a woman, made under the law: That he might redeem them who were under the law: that we might receive the adoption of sons.
(At ubi venit plenitudo temporis misit Deus Filium suum factum ex muliere factum sub lege Ut eos qui sub lege erant redimeret ut adoptionem filiorum reciperemus )

Just as the start of longer days signaled a reversal of the seeming triumph of darkness over light, so too — and greater even! — is the entry of the Light of the World into the darkness of the world, that we might have hope.

For this reason, we greet this time with joy at the coming of our Savior, the Redeemer of the Universe.  We greet it with greater joy than those who would greet the sun of the universe.

Let us greet one another with this joy throughout the Season, and throughout the year.

In our Church, Christmas begins on December 25th.  However it does not end on December 26th.  The celebration of Christmas continues on until January 7th - Epiphany and January 8th - The Baptism of our Lord.

So, do not let your Christmas celebrations end on December 25th.  Continue to celebrate.  Leave up the decorations and the lights and let your neighbors see the hope and joy you have because of Christmas.

Have a blessed and merry Christmas!

[tags]christmas, catholic, christian, pagan, solstice, epiphany, baptism, jesus, savior, faith, hope[/tags]