Since we're now starting the season of Advent (and the new Liturgical year), I thought I'd write up a post about why I personally love celebrating Christmas and what I hope to get out of it this year. 

Since our family became Catholic, this season has sort of opened up into something with more meaning and substance.  We've always tried to keep our focus on Christ's birth and the spirit of giving in thanksgiving -- in reflection of God's greatest gift to us.  But, I never realized how much more there is to celebrating Christmas. 

More to Christmas than celebrating Christ's birth do you ask?  Yeah, you read that right.  But, even though my focus is still on His birth, that allows me to meditate and think about so many other things that stem out of it. 

One thing that the Church really emphasizes is not only Christ's first coming, but also His second coming.  The Jews waited so long for the Messiah to come.  They were supposed to always be ready for His arrival.  I think that the greatest example of that readiness is Mary.  When the angel came and announced that the Messiah would be born to her, she immediately submitted herself to God.  "Let it be done to me according to your word" she said.  But, Mary wasn't the only one who was prepared for His coming.  Joseph, Anna, Simeon, the Magi...they are all great examples of people who were ready for Christ's coming.  And when He finally came, they were filled with joy.  We, as Christians, are supposed to mirror that same readiness that Mary and the others had.  Christ is coming again, and we need to prepare ourselves.  That's what the Advent season is really all about.  It's a reminder of Jesus' first coming, to prepare us for His second.  "For we know not the day nor the hour". 

One of the absolute greatest mysteries of the Christian faith is the incarnation.  That God, the Creator of the world, would come down to earth as a human being.  Think about it...God was actually an embryo!!!!  Jesus Christ was willing to become as lowly as He possibly could in order to save us.  Not only did He become human, but His entry into the world wasn't exactly the most grandeur.  He was born in a crummy stable and laid in a food trough.  His birth was even considered illegitimate!  Why would Jesus do that for us?  I just can't imagine what kind of crazy love would drive someone...especially God of all people, to do that!  I can't understand it.  I can't understand how Jesus could be fully man and still fully God.  I can't understand how His own mother was also His daugher...and future bride as part of the Church!  I can't understand how God could become a helpless and ignorant child...I can't understand why exactly He chose shepherds to be among the very first to see Him, or even Pagan star-gazers!  It really does seem crazy, but that's only in the eyes of the world.  Because with God, weakness becomes strength. 

Now, I'm going to kind of come in defense of Christmas.  I know there are a lot of people out there who don't celebrate it because of "pagan traditions" or "traditions of men".  They say that people took an evil holiday and twisted it to give it sort of a Christian face.  Well, I don't see it that way.  I see Christmas as a holiday redeemed.  God can take the filthiest and most sin-filled person and make them completely clean and spotless.  Can He not do the same for a holiday?  I'm not saying that Christmas is "clean and spotless", because I know that there are things about it that can be harmful, such as the materialistic mindset that so often creeps in.  But, if we look at Christmas in sort of the way that I've been trying to express through out this entire post, then we don't have to worry about that stuff.  We've changed the focus. 

As for traditions such as candles, lights, trees, gifts...those too can also be redeemed.  A light or candle signifies...well, light.  Christ is the light of the world and we are called to be also.  A gift is given in thankfulness for God's gift to us.  A tree symbolizes everlasting life and Christ's unchanging love and holiness.  All of these things can help us focus on Christ rather than distract us from Him. 

So, enjoy this Advent season and remember to prepare yourself for Christ's most glorious return, so that we can receive Him in joy when He comes!