Christmas Day

May the peace and joy of the newborn Christ be with each of you this day.

Is 9:1-6
Ti 2:11-14
Lk 2:1-14

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” This time of year the debate over the celebration of this season is unavoidable. What exactly are we celebrating? People will make reference to ancient winter solstice festivals, celebrations of the coming of the sun, the return of light into the world. Almost every culture I can think of has some type of winter solstice celebration. Each celebrates the rising of the sun. Many will say that that is all we are really celebrating, that Christmas is simply one more solstice celebration. To which I ask, what exactly is your point? You celebrate the rising of the sun whose light prepares to warm the earth. We celebrate the rising of the Son, whose light shines throughout the gloom and darkness, to prepare our souls to return to our God. What time of year could be more appropriate to celebrate the coming of the Son than the time of year that sees the return of light. Just as the sun brings more physical light into the world, the Son brings the light of salvation, of joy, of peace. We see because of this light. We see that we need not continue to live in the darkness of our sin, but can now step into the light, the light of the Son. May that light shine on each of us and illuminate for us the path to our God. May this Christmas Day bring you the blessings of the Light of Christ.
Deacon John
Christmas
Dec. 25, 2006