Many consider the Christmas holiday to be a celebration of the birthday of Christ. The Roman Catholic origin of the event traces to the RC observance of their religious rite of mass, remembering the death (not the birth) of the Christ. However, He is alive. Might we might do well to consider what He might want on His birthday?
What do you imagine He thinks of people spending thousands of dollars on each other for presents wrapped in paper, placed under an ornately decored tree?
In Luke 14, He says,
When you host a party, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment. But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.
This Christmas, if we indeed seek to honor Christ? let's remember to invite whom He loves, and is concerned about. But let's be honest - hardly anyone really cares what He thinks or feels, on this day or any other day. Right?
The will of Christ for Christmas is clear. He would have us to focus on and think about those less fortunate in health, finance, friends, or family. This is true for every person, family, and church.
I'm proud that my family has a tradition of inviting others to our celebration, but I wish that my church provided a way for "lay" people to connect with those in nursing homes and shut in without relatives this holiday. Church is an institution which encourages and facilitates us to do the will of Christ, both personally and corporately, in our community.
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