The meaning of Christmas

Special day touches people in deeply personal, individual ways

As we celebrate Christmas, we realize that this special day touches the hearts of everyone in deeply personal and individual ways.

Some of us remember times of childhood when we longed for a particular gift. Some remember the warm feelings of family, with grandparents present and the whole family gathers for time around the Christmas tree and then goes to Christmas Mass.

Some are deeply saddened because of the loss of a loved one or the hurt of a broken relationship. Some gather with their family and relatives because this is a holiday and people are available to visit. For some this is an intensely religious day as we remember the birth of our saviour, one who has brought us the Good News of God’s love.

For Pope Francis: “Christmas is a warm, widely celebrated feast, able to warm the coldest hearts, to remove the barriers of indifference to one’s neighbor, to encourage openness to the other and free giving ... Therefore, there is need today to spread the message of peace and fraternity proper to Christmas; there is need to represent this event [through song, music and art] by expressing the genuine sentiments that animate it ... [This is a time] to sow tenderness, peace and hospitality, which spring from the Bethlehem cave.”

If we believe Christmas is about peace, then we must convey peace, by giving peace to those around us and by reaching out to others as a peacemaker.

If we believe Christmas is about light, then light must shine in our lives, as we brighten up the lives of our brothers and sisters.

If Christmas is about love, then love must be at the heart of our lives, as we bring love to those who need to be understood and cared for.

If Christmas is about joy, then our lives must radiate joy and we must smile and be happy wherever we are.

If Christmas is about hope, hope must grow in our hearts and we must bring hope to those who are down and feel despair.

If Christmas is about liberty, liberty must be respected and all people must experience that respect.

If Christmas is about God’s Son, then we need to acknowledge His message of peace and love.

If Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ, then we need to acknowledge this birth with great joy.

If Christmas is a celebration of “God with us,” then we need to grow in our realization that God is always in our midst, that God is always with us.

May our celebration of the Feast of Christmas bring us all that we desire at this point in our lives.