The Essence of Christmas: Jesus' Birth and Mary's Devotion

Introduction

Christmas is a special celebration for Christians, honoring the birth of Jesus Christ. People all around the world also celebrate it by coming together with family, giving gifts, visiting friends, and enjoying the holiday in their own ways.

The term "Christmas" originates from the "Mass of Christ," representing a religious service like communion or Eucharist. "Christmas" is the shortened version of "Christ-Mass," derived from this significant term.

As we celebrate Christmas let us remember that Jesus was born and lived on earth for a little more than three decades to fulfill the will of God. Here are some of the reasons Jesus was born?

• To show us Love and Hope: We are deeply loved by God
• To Offer us a Fresh Start: A chance to start a new and meaningful relationship with God
• To be like us: He was born as a Human to show that God understands what it is to live our lives.
• To bring people together: He united people across different backgrounds and beliefs. His teaching emphasized love, compassion, and understanding.
• To show forgiveness and redemption: His birth was the beginning of a journey that showed us the incredible power of forgiveness and redemption.

From Passages that weave together like a tapestry, we discover that God had reasons for choosing the times, places, and people involved in His redemption plan, and here are a few lessons we learned from Mary.

'I am the Lord's servant,' Mary answered. 'May your word to me be fulfilled.' Luke 1:38

• Faith and Trust: Mary took God at his word, and despite uncertainty, she accepted the angel Gabriel's message with grace. Her willingness to embrace God's plan showcases the strength found in trusting and obeying God's word.
• Courage in Tough Times: Mary was ready to surrender her life to the Lord, even if it meant that she might face potential societal backlash due to her unexpected pregnancy

Conclusion

Mary gives us an example of total devotion to the Lord in her answer to the angel Gabriel. May we have the wisdom and grace to answer God's call, whatever it is the way Mary did. 

This is what it takes to celebrate Christmas; to believe what is completely unbelievable to many people, to accept God's will for our lives, and to place ourselves in God's service, trusting that our lives are in the hands of God.