JESUS is the Reason for the Season

For weeks now our High Streets have been busy and shops have been filled with all manner of Christmas paraphernalia. The gamut of popular Christmas tunes have been blaring out wherever you go.  Whilst I have to confess that I do like a good sing-a-long whilst I'm shopping, there is much on show that has very little to do with the true meaning and essence of Christmas.

The Germans are infact credited with introducing the Christmas tree tradition back in the 16th century; and Sir Henry Cole designed and sent the first Christmas cards in 1843.

King Henry VIII made turkey popular as the classic Christmas meal, and our customary rich fruit Christmas pudding only came about by the end of the 1500s
 

Whilst the music and the food and the presents make Christmas fun for family and friends, much of the true meaning of the season has, sadly, been left by the wayside. Christmas in its truest meaning is quite simply about the celebration of the birth of Christ and all that his life, death and resurrection means for each and every one of us.

The Word became flesh

and made his dwelling among us.

We have seen his glory,

the glory of the one and only Son,

who came from the Father,

full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

Some of us are fortunate enough to have family around us this season but, for many, Christmas can be a difficult time. It may be that you are grieving  ...  may Jesus comfort you. It may be you are away from family, you feel lonely and isolated  ...  may you know the loving embrace of Christ this Christmas.  Maybe you feel exhausted, over-worked or overwhelmed with demands  ...  may the peace of Christ invade you, mind, body, soul and spirit.  Wherever you find yourself this Christmas season, my hope and my prayer for you is that you would catch even the tiniest glimpse of the Christ child.