Every year at this time, there is the predictable lament that the “meaning of Christmas” has been lost. No doubt, it’s been heavily commercialized, whether by corporations, Hollywood, or the music industry. As such, Christians might be tempted to heap scorn upon the culture, venting our indignation and dismay at how Christmas has been hijacked. 

And yet, whether people understand this Christian Feast or not, they still benefit from the effects of this time as Christmas Day draws near. It’s like the minutes before dawn, when the first light begins to scatter the darkness, transforming the horizon’s gloomy clouds into burning embers that herald the coming of the Sun. Even if one were so engaged and caught up in his own affairs that he was completely oblivious to the sunrise, he would still benefit from all the effects of the light and heat of the Sun’s rays.Continue reading →