30th November 2025 –
Every year we read about supermarkets, Local Councils or Primary Schools calling Christmas a Winter Festival or some such name and seeing that most Christmas Cards have lost their Nativity themed scenes. Some object to all this as they recognise that Christianity is the basis of our culture and laws, and that something is deliberately or otherwise being undermined or lost, of course others are sad because they are genuinely people of faith. However, it’s not up to me or any other Christian to make people celebrate in a particular way – that would rather defeat the purpose of celebration – such as trying to force a person like someone else! But celebrations really should have some sort of purpose and meaning if they are not to slip into self-indulgence and excess. I wonder how many people feel there is a lot of expense and preparation for relatively little celebratory return. Everything rather centres on one day, the 25th December. All this is largely due to this countries post Reformation attitudes and especially a particularly puritanical approach by religious zealots! Spiritually and other Christmas celebrations should extend beyond the day itself.
I think it would be true to say that many people would not think of Christmas Day as a starting point of celebrations and even fewer that Christmas has a significance for every moment of their lives. But what others do is one thing, what we, as Christian do is quite another. You and I can enjoy what is on offer at this time of year, or at least much of it, but we should have a Christian purpose and meaning for our celebration. I firmly believe that if we adopt a proper Christian approach to Christmas then we will be happier, less out of pocket and will also not experience a sense of anti-climax on December 26th.
Today we have been told to be ready, because the Son of Man is coming – coming at a time we do not expect. So at this start of Advent our thoughts are clearly drawn away from the birth of Jesus. We have to think about our destiny and this helps to put Jesus’ birth into a proper context. Advent is a time for us to prepare for the day when we will fully understand what our destiny is, on what sacred scripture calls the Day of the Lord. When that Day comes we shall see and know the full meaning of our faith in Jesus Christ. But how are we to prepare for something that is not only in the future but seems so remote from us? During Advent it is important to recapture the truth that our God is Emmanuel – a name which means – God is with us. He is with us now for our future. We celebrate His human birth because it means He is with us as one like us.
It may help at this time to reflect on Mary. Think of her, over 2000 years ago, coming to the end of her pregnancy, preparing to show the world it’s Saviour. But remember that Mary’s Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit comes to birth in us, is incarnated in us. Thus the world sees its Saviour once again because of our faith. Through us He is seen praying, caring for the sick and helpless, being a good wife and husband, a loving mother and father, being an honest person going about their everyday work, or someone accompanying the suffering and the dying. So the question is ‘does Christ come to birth in us?’ Or do we terminate His life in us by our selfishness? Let us be alert, not made spiritually sleepy by the ways of this world, being open to the divine life which is with us, our Lord Emmanuel. Now that is something worth celebrating on more than one day!
