Christmas Traditions

Ah, traditions! Sad how time changes things. According to one author (or more than one) of the very informative Internet site, Wikipedia, the name of today's celebration is a compound word, Christ and mass. We all definitely know the meaning of the first part, and are probably familiar with the second as well even if you were never a Catholic. Mass is the term given for the celebration of the Eucharist, which is what the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, actually told His disciples what to do, to remember Him. (e.g.  And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." (Luke 22:19 NIV84)  Mass, the Eucharist, is us celebrating not his BIRTH, but what about to be doing because of His death. It was in His DEATH, not His birth, that the Savior wanted us to recall about Him.

When Easter comes around (you know, when kids hunt for hollow eggs filled with toys or candies, or people of all ages eat marshmallow bunnies, decorate eggshells and participate in other kinds of traditions seemingly unrelated to Christ), the celebration turns towards the rise of Christ from his three day death.

Over time (the first recorded term 'Cristesmaesse' was a full millennium after the birth of Christ (at least the only so far found surviving document with this term was in 1038), it seems that not only the the way we celebrate Christmas (and Easter) has changed, but the actual meaning of this day has been misconstrued. We are not necessarily celebrating His death (as 'mass/mas' suggests), but recall instead, the events of His birth (which shoulda been called Christbirth???).

But whatever we call today, whatever kind of evergreen tree we kill, whatever amount of debt we get into to buy expensive gifts (does anyone give gold, myrrh or frankincense anymore), and however else we have changed the meaning of this fabulous historical event, as long as we take the time to remember Jesus as both human and God, then I guess it ain't all that bad.

The Fayetteville Church devotional series for today suggests we consider all the great things in our lives, simply because Jesus WAS born about two millennia ago. We should faithfully prepare our lives in great expectations of what will come for each of us after we celebrate our last Christmas here on this earth. After that, tradition be darned!!!

I'll end with a traditional "Merry Christmas to all"!