Michael Wazir
Merry Christmas – Millions of Christians across the world celebrate the holy Day with these two words. Bells will ring, presents will be shared, and many will enjoy family time together
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bell, Jingle All the Way
O Come, O Come Emmanuel!
Silent night! Holy night!
Are the Christmas carols melodious songs that echo through the air during the festive season, the most important part of the Christmas celebration. Whether sung in Churches, homes, or public spaces, these carols add a musical touch to the festivities of both Advent and Christmas,
Christmas
India is a country of festivals, and many types of festivals keep us busy throughout the years. Not just in India the cherished festival is also celebrated around the world by millions of people with immense enthusiasm and fervor. Christmas lies in its universality- people from all walks of life partake in the festivities, making it a season of love, compassion, and goodwill. The spirit of giving and sharing is emphasized during Christmas, to encourage a sense of community and togetherness. It is observed on December 25 as a religious and cultural holiday by billions of Christians around the world.
Christmas is one of the most joyful festivals for Christians to commemorate the miraculous birth of Lord Jesus Christ. The name Christmas comes from the Mass of Christ or Jesus. Jesus’ name in Hebrew is “Yeshua” which translates to English as Joshua, in Arabic as Isa, and Greek as Jesus. Lord Jesus is widely recognized as a Messiah, savior, redeemer, and a great teacher. Through Christmas, we know that the poor Jewish Rabbi that lived 2023 years ago is still the most influential man in human history, because there had never been another such birth, and there will never be another one, because of the weight that Jesus birth through the Virgin Mary.
The prophecy in the book of Isaiah (Old Testament) referring to the birth of Jesus came several years before it happened, so Christmas is a great reminder that God fulfills His prophecies and His promises through Jesus.
Jesus’ birth represents the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament, Talmud (The Rabbinic Jewish Text), and the Quran revelation of God’s salvific plan for all of humankind. The miraculous birth of Lord Jesus by the Virgin Mary has surpassed religious boundaries and is equally loved and cherished by all religions. Christmas festival promotes happiness, prosperity, brotherhood, and fraternity among people. It is the period of the highest annual attendance in the churches.
Essentially, there are three different days on which one can celebrate Christmas. The first day of celebration is the day before Christmas, which is known as Christmas Eve. It is celebrated on December 24 every year. The second day is Christmas Day, which is celebrated on the 25, and the third day is known as Boxing Day, celebrated the day after the Christmas on 26.
The Nativity Story
The Christmas story is recounted in the Gospel of Mathew and Luke. The Gospels of Mathew and Luke offer two accounts of his genealogy. Mathew traces Jesus’ ancestry to Abraham through David. Luke traces Jesus’ ancestry through Adam to God. Both the Gospels state that Jesus was born to Joseph and Mary, his betrothed, in Bethlehem, and both support the doctrine of the virgin birth of Jesus, according to which Jesus was miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit in Mary’s womb when she was still a virgin.
In the days when Herod was the king of Judea, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth in Galilee to announce to a virgin named Mary who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, that a child would be born to her and she was to name him Jesus, He will be great and will be called the son of the Highest and will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever and rule over Israel forever. Joseph was troubled because Mary his betrothed, was pregnant, Joseph intended to divorce her quietly, but the angel Gabriel visited Joseph and told him in a dream not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife, Mary would be miraculously pregnant by the Holy Spirit and that she would have a son named Jesus who would save the people from their sins. He should take Mary as his wife and name the child Jesus. This would fulfill the prophecy of a virgin birth where the son would be known as Emmanuel, meaning ‘God is with us’ Joseph awoke and did all that the angel commanded.
When the time of the birth drew near, Caesar Augustus commanded a census of Roman domains, and Joseph took Mary to Bethlehem, the ancient city of David, as he was the House of David. When Joseph and Mary arrived in the city, the inn had no room so they were offered a stable where the Christ Child was soon born, the infant Jesus was born in the stable, and angels of God appeared to a group of shepherds and told them that a Saviour had been born to Marry and Joseph in Bethlehem, per messianic prophecies, the shepherds immediately went to find Baby Jesus, which the angels told them they would find sleeping in the manger, the shepherds came and worshipped him as Messiah and Lord. After some time, three Wise Men, also known as Magi from the East, saw the brilliant star in the sky that rested over a place in Bethlehem where Jesus was born. These wise men traveled from a distant eastern country to find the new king. They followed a wondrous star, which led them to the baby Jesus. The Wise Men paid homage to the new child and presented gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. When they had departed, an angel again appeared to Joseph in a dream and warned him to take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt, for Herod intended to kill him. The Holy family remained in Egypt until Herod died.
Let’s embrace the festive season with open hearts, creating memories that will last a lifetime. May this Christmas be filled with love, laughter, and the magic of shared traditions.
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