“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. ”  John 1:1

“All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made”  John 1:3

“Jesus is the reason for the season;” and “Put Christ back into Christmas”.  We’ve heard these statements, one of which I think is more accurately described as a plea.  It is truly understandable with the news stories of an ever expanding shopping season and fights breaking out over buying material gifts, that we point out how little that behavior has to do with the coming into our world of our Savior.  I, for one, whole heartedly agree with both the statements as well as the meaning behind them.

And putting Jesus in this season may actually not be as difficult as it might sound.  Babies are beloved things.  In almost all babies we sense a sweetness and innocence to which we are drawn.  Plus we also love the story of the triumphant underdog.  You couldn’t choose two more meek and seemingly down on their luck people, then a poor carpenter and his pregnant wife just trying to make it in the cruel Roman controlled world.  And we love a good angel story.  Two very popular television shows were:  Highway to Heaven and Touched by an Angel; both shows about earthly interaction with angels.  As well as, we love the beloved angel in training: Clarence, in the now holiday classic, It’s a Wonderful Life.

Though here’s the thing, January is coming, with it’s dark, cold, dreary days, in the northern hemisphere and perhaps sweltering hot, dry scorching days far to the south.  In a few months time another holiday, another time for Christian focus will come as we turn to Easter.  For those who decide to celebrate or commemorate that specific holiday, there is not as much of a secular celebration that gets in the way.

So we have the star for Christmas and the cross for Easter.  What is Christian symbol jumps out for late May, early July or mid September.  This world greatly values diversification and compartmentalization.  Every thing in its place and a place for everything.  It is not wise to put all of our eggs into one basket.  These are all platitudes that the world spews out about not focusing too much on one thing or place.  The world might agree that it is exceedingly correct to focus on Jesus during this Christmas time as well as Easter.  But June Sunday’s are made for golf and Monday through Friday belong to my work; family and home on Saturday and church on Sunday.

John, with great eloquence and illumination puts it into the proper perspective for us.  Jesus, the person, the flesh came to earth.  As God on this earth; He had a beginning (Christmas) and a death (Easter).  That Jesus, God in the flesh, came to earth is a glorious and wonderful thing.  It is the ultimate example of God’s and Christ’s love for us, that He would come to this existence with the end plan to die for us, taking upon Himself, all our sins.  To pay our price.  Yet Christ has, is, and always will be with us.  I can remember being physically upset when I would hear religious scholars say B.C.E (Before the Common Era) instead of B.C. (before Christ).  But it now occurs to me how wrong the term Before Christ is.  When the Egyptians were building the pyramids; Christ is.  When David slays Goliath; Christ is.  When man first walked on the moon; Christ is.  When everything began; Christ is.

Jesus Christ celebrated the Passover.  Jesus Christ went to the temple and taught on the Sabbath.  Yet I find nowhere where Jesus said there was a time alloted; a season appropriate to not worship and glorify Our Heavenly Father.  That we have 24/7, 365, 12 months all came from and thus belong to Jesus Christ.  May it be that we can come to the realization that “the most wonderful time of the year” is any and every time we are in Him.

Our Most Gracious and Heavenly Father, we praise You and are eternally thankful for the gift of Christ’s coming into our world in the person of Jesus.  Forgive us Heavenly Father and Jesus when we try to minimize our celebration of Your gift and sacrifice to certain times of the year.  May it be that we are filled with Your Love and Joy each moment of our lives understanding that all those moments come from You.  That in every time and ever season we may strive to live a life of praise to You.  In the Name of the One who Was, Is and Is to Come, Jesus Christ we pray.  Amen