The ManicaPost
Pastor Lee Fore
In Bethlehem, Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary. He was born, not by the will of man, but by the gift of the love of God our Father, who “so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (Jn 3:16).
For the faith of the Christian people relives in the Christmas liturgy the mystery of God who comes, who assumes our mortal human flesh, and who becomes lowly in order to save us. And this moves us deeply, for great is the tenderness of our Father.
The term ‘Christmas’ comes faaaacrom the Mass of Christ (or Jesus). A Mass service (which is sometimes called Communion or Eucharist) is where Christians remember that Jesus died for us and then came back to life. The ‘Christ-Mass’ service was the only one that was allowed to take place after sunset (and before sunrise the next day), so people had it at Midnight! So we get the name Christ-Mass, shortened to Christmas.
Christmas is now celebrated by many people around the world, whether they are Christians or not. It’s one of the most celebrated holidays in the world. It is a time when family and friends come together and remember the good things they have. People, and especially children, also like Christmas as it’s a time when you give and receive presents.
However, no one knows the real birthday of Jesus, no date is given in the Bible, so why do we celebrate it on the 25th December? The early Christians certainly had many arguments as to when it should be celebrated.
The first recorded date of Christmas being celebrated on December 25th was in 336 CE, during the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine (he was the first Christian Roman Emperor). But it was not an official Roman state festival at this time.
Gift-giving, and other social gatherings, symbolic decoration, feasting etc. Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world.
The most important thing about Christmas is that it invites us to reflect on the most important things in our life, our faith, our family, and our freedom. Our faith gives us hope, our family gives us love, and our freedom gives us the opportunity to practice our faith and to love each other.
Likely echoing many other Christians, it is saddening that Christmas has become less about Jesus and more about materialism, but as a minister, I have the opportunity to present the most important part of Christmas, which is the birth of our Saviour. God humbled himself and became a baby. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth” (John 1). The creation itself gives us every reason to believe in an intelligent life force, but since nature sheds no tears for human beings, we could not, until the birth of Jesus Christ, knowing that the brilliance of the Creator is love.
Christmas shows us that everyone’s life has great value in and of itself, totally apart from what the world thinks of him. God loves us in our littleness. Jesus set aside the glory of heaven and took on human weakness. And He deliberately chose to be born in a stable to a poor family in Bethlehem of Judea. He made shepherds, at the very bottom of his day’s socioeconomic hierarchy, the first witnesses of His coming.
Each year Christmas must remind us that our weaknesses are unimportant in God’s eyes. We do not have to earn His love, only return it. It is sad to unbelievers because they lack revelation of the mystery behind Christmas, I have learnt over the years that instead of people reflecting on the goodness of the Lord, some people indulge in all unholy activities, abuse and misbehave that often lead to physical and or spiritual death.
I entreat everyone to remain peaceful and calm during this festive season as we reflect more on the mystery and the love of God by giving us Jesus Christ as a gift to the world. However what you didn’t achieve in 2019, be determined in 2020 and pursue your goals. I wish all Zimbabweans a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Pastor Lee Fore is a religious commentator and can be contacted on
+263 773 469 191 or +263 712 314 734, [email protected]
