- - - - - - mas Season

In four days it's gonna be Christmas Day. Malls are the most crowded place on earth. Christmas parties are everywhere. Then there's Christmas bonus, exchange gifts, caroling and Santa Claus. Everyone is thrilled about the long Christmas break.

So what's with all the merry-making? What's with Christmas anyways? Many are missing the first six letters of the word Christmas. Many are missing the Person behind Christmas. Where's Christ in Christmas?

I was offended when I heard someone said that Christmas is a pagan practice because as far as I know, pagan is someone who doesn't acknowledge God. Another definition takes it further by saying that a pagan is a hedonist. One who is motivated by desires for sensual pleasures. Sadly, how Christmas is celebrated nowadays has become like it. A pagan practice. It has become a mere economic stimulus.

Though December 25 is not the exact date when Christ was born, it has become the date when we remember that sometime in the history of mankind there came a Messiah. A Savior promised by God and this is the very essence of Christmas. Christ.

I read about the story about a a kid who asked a pastor why Jesus was born in a stable in the company of farm animals. "Because animals will welcome Jesus, but people, generally like the innkeeper, will reject Him," the pastor replied.

"God must be very sad," the boy said.

"Then," said the pastor, "if you want to celebrate Christmas, cast aside the meaningless trinkets and trimmings you see around, and just say a little prayer in your heart, thanking and praising the Father for giving us His beloved Son to restore our broken relationship with Him, and to regain the paradise that we lost. I'm sure you'll brighten up God's face and there'll be shouts of joy in the heaven -- that out of the millions who have forgotten, there are still a few people like you who remember the real and only reason for the season."

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6