December is here and that usually means the coming of many things: gifts from friends, relatives going home from abroad, a few holidays to rest, more time to spend with the family, and alas, the much-awaited 13th month pay. Simply put, this month brings with it a lot of great tidings for any person. Indeed, it is an eagerly awaited season of giving, festivities, tradition, and…busyness.
December is here and that
usually means the coming of many things: gifts from friends, relatives going home
from abroad, a few non-working holidays to rest, more time to spend with the
family, and alas, the much-awaited 13th month pay. Simply put, this
month brings with it a lot of great tidings for any person. Indeed, it is an
eagerly awaited season of giving, festivities, tradition, and…busyness.
With all the good things
going for this month, a lot can be said about the bad things as well: overly
traffic non-moving (parking) roads, mall congestion (infestation of swarms of
shoppers), food comas induced by over-eating and gluttony, much merriment and
revelry in Christmas parties, and the ever-present feeling of loneliness,
depression, hopelessness, and melancholy that comes with the season (especially
for those who are heart-broken or experiencing above-normal “cold” temperatures
this Christmas season).
Christmas has been broken
into and single-handedly intermingled with a lot of promotional advertisement,
excuses for sinful behavior and carousing, exposure for events, publicity for
personalities, and the general consumerist mindset that we, all, have utterly
embraced.
Is Christmas still the same
as it was? Have we lost sight of what it should
be?
Before the Holiday rush
comes in, I will endeavor to go back to our Christmas roots. It may be the last
month of the year but it counts for something more—when we stop to consider the
significance of all this feasting, veneration, and celebration this yuletide
season.
This is the reason why I
came up with this seven day devotional for the soul. Its actually a self-examination
of sorts, to check where my mind, heart, and soul are—especially in this season
where the temptation to let loose and be busy are quite tremendous.
In these seven days, I will
tackle a portion or aspect of the Story of Christmas, as found in the Bible. It
will be an effort to retell the greatest story every known: of how Jesus
Christ, the Savior, came to redeem us from ourselves and to save us from “Christmas”
(or at least how it is known today).
You may choose to read it
daily or every other day, heck, you may even choose to not read it at all (its
okay!), but the point is, I want to behold the true meaning of the season and
to behold the Celebrant in whom we are rejoicing.
More than the celebratory
fellowship and family gatherings, more than the food and gifts, and more than
all the things that are going to happen in these next 31 days, we take a halt
to our gloriously busy lives and give time to exalt the glory and goodness of
God, from whom all good things flow.
Perhaps, the best gift of all
that we can receive this Christmas season is the truth that out of God’s divine
love, He gave His one and only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, for us. Not only was
Jesus sent to save and rescue us from our sinful and dire situation, but He was
sent bearing the name, Immanuel,
meaning "God with us". In other words, He was sent so that He could
simply be with us.
Isn’t that such an awesome reality and tremendous
comfort for us?
Jesus is the one who comes to us, who pursues us,
and wants to be with us.
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