What are we really celebrating?

THE EDITOR, Madam: CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION has become such an annual sham that continues to exclude the very reason for its supposed intent: the celebrating of Jesus’ birth.

Notwithstanding the uncertainty of Jesus’birth and that He instructed no celebratory recall, except of His death (Luke 22:19), there is this heedless charge of self-gratification that seems to install pleasure and materialism into God. This swell of reckless glee and abandon distorts the very sober reason for His coming to Eart: to give His life as a ransom for many and for saving the world (John 3:16).

Sharing, giving, and having a good time are not at odds with Christian principles. In fact, love should be the cornerstone of true Christianity, and an appreciation for God’s gift of His Son should, no doubt, be an occasion of thanks.

However, when cheer and goodwill become an annual replay of gratitude, it often turns dry and hollow, even to the objects of our benevolence.

FOCUS ON FINAL HOURS

Furthermore, Christ has already commanded that such appreciation be directed to the ransom that His life provides, which, no doubt, may be the reason His time of birth is so obscure, given that He had no intention of it being celebrated in the first place.

Jesus’ life here should be given the ultimate regard, since our own lives are indebted to His, but the focus of our appreciation may be better turned towards His final hours here on earth rather than to a blithe and celebratory time of an imagined time of birth.

HOMER SYLVESTER