IN HONOR OF HIM WHO REDEEMED THE WORLD

By DELL ARTHUR

            It was 2,000 years ago a babe transformed the world by His birth. And on this December 25, the world will celebrate Him who came into this world to redeem mankind and open the gates of heaven by his death and resurrection.

            But you wouldn’t know it by watching television or listening to the radio.

            It seems the world is too wrapped up in its secular lifestyle. Neighborhoods and stores glisten with brilliant colored lights and there are trees decorated with ornaments and lots of packaged gifts scattered around the base. Also to be seen are beautiful windows and doors and porches with wreaths and other decorations in keeping with the pagan idea of Christmas. Here and there someone displays a manger scene but for the most part businesses and homes are decorated with stuffed Santa Clause figurines and reindeers' and Frosty the Snowman.

            If you do watch programs advertised as “Christmas” themes you will most likely be disappointed. Movies usually show how a couple finally find romance or some unfortunate single mother and child are adopted just in time by some friendly people who take pity on her circumstances. This altruistic benevolent gesture insures that the family will indeed have plenty of presents to offset their dismal situation. It’s enough to make you shed a tear. There is usually an “angel” who appears to make the “holiday” a happy event for some unfortunate or homeless person. All this is to encourage a sense of joy—at least for one day.

            Both on the radio and television music pours out celebrating what is commonly termed “the Christmas season.” Songs as “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” or “Jingle Bells,” or “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer,” fill the airways. Only occasionally—and usually on conservative stations—will you hear the songs of memory as “Silent Night,” or “Noel, Noel.” What the term “Happy holidays” has to do with the birth of Jesus Christ is a puzzle. Christmas has nothing to do with New Year’s or any other celebration that others may observe. Christmas is reserved only for CHRIST and none other.

            Memory takes me back to the times of how Christmas was celebrated in our home by my parents. Sure we had a decorated tree with presents carefully wrapped and put around the bottom. But there was something else that permeated through our home. It was a sense of gratitude to Him who made it all happen. On Christmas morning our family would attend Mass and then return home to open our gifts.

            These were the times of the 1940’s. It was a much different world than today.

  

            Today it seems such homage to the Savior of the World is politically incorrect.

            Yet it seems okay for places as Oklahoma City, to allow a permit to a Satanist group to put up a counter display of a Christmas manger scene erected in front of a Catholic Cathedral and allow them to desecrate a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary with false blood and ash—all part of their heathen services.

            For those who profess a belief in the Virgin birth or who believe that a Savior was born explicitly to redeem mankind they are mocked by a world that believes that only man can solve the world by their own creation. As a result the true meaning of Christmas has been transformed into an economic holiday. Some stores will even remain open for package exchanges on this hollowed day. Few will bother to attend a church service unless some sort of entertainment is performed. Homage from the soul to Him who loves all is replaced by a false joy.

            The true meaning of Christmas should be the exchange of love for one another. That is what Christ brought to the world. It is a gift that is, for the most part, unappreciated. But it is only one gift.

            The other gifts Jesus gave to the world with his birth were redemption and forgiveness. And this gift he gave was on a cross. Yes, Christmas is special in many ways but for us humans—the creation by God the Father—it is necessary to express our love and appreciation to Him that we honor on Christmas Day.

            So in closing allow me to be politically incorrect and wish all of you a very, very Merry Christmas in the name of Him who made it all possible.