Why Christmas? There is something magical about Christmas. Snow filled scenes, stockings bursting with presents, roaring log fires, perfect nativity scenes, school Christmas concerts and smiling happy families. The reality of Christmas though can be a little different. The shops can become overcrowded with fraught shoppers hunting for the perfect present. There can be overindulgence with people eating and drinking far too much. A nine year old boy once wrote: “I know Christmas should be a religious time, but to me Christmas is a time for the necessities of life such as food, booze and presents.” Some people buy presents others do not need with money they have not got. Others can become over demanding about what they want. There is a story of a doting father who asked his daughter what she might like for Christmas. Shyly she announced that she would like a baby brother. Imagine her delight when on Christmas Eve when her mother returned from hospital on Christmas Eve having given birth to a baby boy. When the father asked the same question the following year there was no hesitation. “If it wouldn’t be too uncomfortable for Mummy, I would like a pony!”
For some Christmas becomes too much. Suicide rates increase, marriages fall apart and family feuds begin. It has been estimated that there will be 3 million family rows at Christmas. Anthony Storr, a psychiatrist wrote about Christmas, “Cheer up,” he said, “it’s soon over” and finished by saying: “Remember that Christmas, although recurrent, doesn’t last forever.” So what is the point or have we missed the point of Christmas? The well known author C.S. Lewis once said that at Christmas, we celebrate the “central event in the history of the earth – the very thing the whole story has been about.” He was referring to the birth of Jesus Christ. Amidst all the celebrations and tensions of Christmas why not explore whether there is a deeper meaning to our lives and maybe reflect once again about the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Michael Broadley Team Vicar St Marks Church
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