Christmas Message

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19374, 24 December 1932, Page 15

Christmas Message

Christmastide comes as a season of rejoicing to all men; as the festival cf home life with its glad gatherings; as the festival of childhood bringing back the buoyancy of youth to hearts weighed down with care; as the festival of benevolence when kindly thoughts open out to the poor. We all receive, we all give the greeting, “A happy” or a "merry Christmas.” Even those in our midst who own no religion enter into the enjoyment of the holy season. But the world at large does not reflect on the origin or source of Christmas Day. Men have not considered that these outward expressions of gladness are the overflow of a deep Christian spirit, a clear understanding of a great historical event, an event heralded by angels, God’s messengers to man, “Glory be to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will. This day is bom to you a Saviour.” The source of Christmas gladness lies there. The charm of the Christian household comes. from the Holy Family and the holy home of Nazareth. The gladness of the Christian child—• and all who have a childlike’ heart—comes from the Child born at Bethlehem. The spirit of fellowship which binds men together comes from this stupendous fact of history, of the blessings of which we all partake in common. How meaningless, then, is Christmas if Christ is left out! Christmas means “Christ’s birth.” When you cry “Merry Christmas” you say, “Be merry, Christ’s born. Be joyous because of Christ, be happy in Christ, be jubilant because Christ’s birth has been the beginning of Christian peace and hope. He is here, the expected of nations, be glad, be merry, rejoice, for now all men are brothers, redeemed by the Son of Mary.” If then Christmas has this meaning, if Christmas is the beginning of Christianity, and if you are glad because of that beginning, you will celebrate Christmas truly only when you yourself make a beginning to be better Christians. You do well to decorate your homes, to give presents, to exchange happy greetings, for if ever you should rejoice this is the day, the birthday of Christ, But as the day goes on, pause now and then in your gladnes and ask earnestly, "Is Christ the centre of it, or am I leaving Him out of my Christinas celebrations?” Think then that Christ’s birth meant a beginning of new and wonderful blessings for the whole world, the beginning of peace and hope, and ask yourself if this Christmas is going- to mean a new beginning of peace and hope in your soul, in your home, in the lives of your loved ones, in the quiet, strong Christian influence you can exert on your fellow men during the coming year. If so, then indeed your Christmas joy will be substantial, then indeed you will be numbered among those men of good will, and will participate in that peace of Christ that surpasseth all understanding. This is my heartiest Christmas greeting to you all. ’“The Priory,” Timaru. M. MURPHY, S.M.