Christmas.
The word Christmas is derived from the Greek Christos—anointed one,
and the Latin Missa—to send.
The anointed one is sent, the divine arrives in the world.
We celebrate the Incarnation; God becoming flesh, taking on human form and coming to be amongst it all.
As children Christmas always seemed to be surrounded in a type of Christmas magic, but as we grow out of childhood, we may find ourselves hungry for something more at Christmas. We try and fill it with gifts, parties, decorations and presents. But as Catholics we know deep down that the purpose for this season lies in the straw.
What is so important about Christmas that we prepare with such drive - misguided or otherwise?
and the Latin Missa—to send.
The anointed one is sent, the divine arrives in the world.
We celebrate the Incarnation; God becoming flesh, taking on human form and coming to be amongst it all.
As children Christmas always seemed to be surrounded in a type of Christmas magic, but as we grow out of childhood, we may find ourselves hungry for something more at Christmas. We try and fill it with gifts, parties, decorations and presents. But as Catholics we know deep down that the purpose for this season lies in the straw.
What is so important about Christmas that we prepare with such drive - misguided or otherwise?
LOVE:
This word gets used so much these days sometimes we loose it's meaning.
But the love at the heart of Christmas is more than we can possibly imagine.
The love that we are hungry for is the indescribable love God has for all.
The reason God sent Jesus was to bring us back to a closer relationship,
where we belong.
This Love is agape—unselfish, self-sacrificing love without strings or implications.
(Agape is a particular Greek word used by the writers of the New Testament to describe the love of Christians in community.)
But the love at the heart of Christmas is more than we can possibly imagine.
The love that we are hungry for is the indescribable love God has for all.
The reason God sent Jesus was to bring us back to a closer relationship,
where we belong.
This Love is agape—unselfish, self-sacrificing love without strings or implications.
(Agape is a particular Greek word used by the writers of the New Testament to describe the love of Christians in community.)
Regardless of where our relationship with Jesus is we often find ourselves at church on Christmas, looking for that thing, that is beyond what we are humanly capable of giving or receiving, that thing that eluded us when we were shopping, stressing and planning.
Once we pause on Christmas eve with all of the 'preparations' complete, we may come to church to rest quietly in the presence of what we have been searching for.
When we gather together, we are reminded that we all share that same hunger, we can look around the church and see that we are the same in all wanting a purpose for life, we are all looking for that unconditional love God offers, and we are all in need of accepting it.
Jesus came for us so that we might have life - And have it to the full!!
Once we pause on Christmas eve with all of the 'preparations' complete, we may come to church to rest quietly in the presence of what we have been searching for.
When we gather together, we are reminded that we all share that same hunger, we can look around the church and see that we are the same in all wanting a purpose for life, we are all looking for that unconditional love God offers, and we are all in need of accepting it.
Jesus came for us so that we might have life - And have it to the full!!
