Merry Christmas to All!

I was a volunteer at the Edmonds Center for the Arts on 10 December 2006. One of the high school jazz choir sang familiar holiday favorites, but they kept singing about Christmas. This is fantastic considering a known practice nowadays to call Christmas, a Winter Holiday.

But for most people it is still Christmas. The word comes from the English "Christ's Mass". The Mass or Eucharist(Holy Communion) held on the 25th of December gave us the word "Christmas". Christmas is not about shopping,decorations or even gift-giving. It is about the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Savior. It is about Him who took on human flesh in the womb of Blessed Mary, the Theotokos (Greek for God-bearer). Theologically, this happening is called the Incarnation. It is expressed more clearly this way: "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt amongst us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace, and full of truth." (St John 1:14)

Therefore, let us celebrate Christmas, without shame or excuses, thanking God for His holy favor towards us. Let us offer gifts to everyone, especially the the needy, following the example of our generous God who forever gives to His cherished children.

Merry Christmas to all!