The Coming of Christmas

The darkest time of the year in the Northern Hemisphere is during the month of December. We can trace back thousands of years when rituals and feasts throughout various cultures all over the world marked this time of year known as the Winter Solstice.

The sun god

One very interesting pagan tradition was Sol Invictus, the Unconquered Sun. Sol Invitus
was a Syrian god who became known as the sun god of the Roman Empire and celebrated on December 25th. In the second or third century, it would later became the day when Christians would celebrate the coming of Christ into our world. 

The Son of God

The first known Christmas celebration was in AD 336 in Rome on December 25th. Throughout the Season of Advent, we prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus, the true light in our lives, on Christmas. Christmas is usually one of the happiest and most joyful times of the year.

Advent Challenge

The Gospels during Advent however, are some of the most challenging. They call us to stay awake, to repent, to prepare and not to be afraid. I often wonder if maybe we have missed the theological point of Christmas. No matter how much we have done, no matter how awake we stay and how often we repent, we will always believe that we could have done more.

Bring the Message Home

Despite our planning and readiness, Christmas will come. Jesus will come. Advent invites us to light the flame of Jesus that lives inside of us. Give it a space to burn and glow, then bring it out into the darkness of our days. It is a point that should not be missed.