Ethics & Religion
Column #2,106
Dec. 23, 2021
I Love Christmas
Week!
By Mike McManus
I love Christmas week!
For me it began last week when we attended a Celtic Christmas music
program featuring piano, cello and flutes. Then a day later, the fourth
Sunday of Advent, we enjoyed singing traditional Christmas carols at
church combined with Scripture proclaiming the birth of Christ. We sang,
"Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth."
For decades my wife and I treasured attending "Messiah" at the National
Cathedral, featuring professional soloists, and a full orchestra and
choir. That event truly launched our Christmas season. While we listened
to Handel's Oratorio, heralding in the true meaning of Christmas - we
watched the setting sun through stained glass windows melt into a
kaleidoscope of colors, a season spectacular.
Joyful memories also include a visit from Santa when my boys were
little. He always added merriment to Christmas morning: dunned in his
red suit, striding around their grandparents' house; only the resident
dogs knew Santa was me. The magic lasted until one unfortunate day, I
forgot to don my white gloves, and my youngest identified me by my gold
crest family ring.
On Christmas Eve we'll attend a candlelight service and then celebrate
Christmas Day with a nearby son and family.
During the services we attend, we will hear from Luke Chapter 2 about an
angel appearing to shepherds in the fields, saying "Do not be afraid. I
bring you good news of great joy...Today in the town of David a Savior
has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you.
You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host
praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace good will toward men."
We hear these ancient words of Scripture and rejoice that they are as
relevant to us today as they were to the shepherds in the fields so long
ago.
We will sing glorious Christmas carols:
"Praise God, from whom all blessings flow! Praise God, all creatures
here below!
"Praise God above, ye heavenly host: Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost!
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!"
One dark shadow over this Christmas season is the risk of infection from
what seems to be a new virus strain. While we have been vaccinated and
had booster shots, we are living in perilous and uncertain times.
However, Christmas is a joyful reminder that our Lord loves us and gave
his life for us. We think of words of Scripture:
"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall
call his name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."
May this Christmas season be filled with awe for the birth of a Savior,
"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking on the very
nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, and being found in
appearance as a man, humbled himself and became obedient unto death,
even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:6-8).
No wonder God "exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him a name
above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in
heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God." (Philippians 4: 9-11.)
2021 was a cataclysmic year - unlike any other: widespread sickness,
massive numbers of deaths, job loss, isolation and school closings.
Despite our lives being turned upside down this past year, and the
likelihood that normal will never be normal again, in the midst of our
nation's political turmoil, a pandemic that is unceasing, racial strife,
historic tornados and floods, there is hope this season with the birth
of Christ - Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace, Savior of the World.
Glory to God in the highest! Glory to God in the highest! Glory to God
in the highest!
_________________________
Copyright (c)2021 Michael J. McManus, a syndicated columnist and past president of Marriage Savers. To read past columns, go to
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