A Perspective on “Tis the Season”
The Magi
With the economy rapidly plummeting into a depression and the inauguration of a new leadership faced with healing this nation, one must stop to reflect on the true meaning of the holiday season.
There are enough stressors magnifying the troubles of people in the U.S. and even around the world to leave many wondering where they are going in their lives. Commercialism and consumerism have become the idolater, thus the analogy which some in the religious community refer to as the lost sheep needing a shepherd to show them their way.
In the spirit of political correctness, we have taken the religious perspective and reasoning out of the season that began centuries ago -even thousands of years, as a celebration for salvation. In modern times, this season that became Christmas, has morphed into the holidays in an effort to encompass all religious beliefs. Truth is, this time of year is based upon religious faith both Jewish and Christian.
In the Old Testament -Hebrew or Jewish Bible, the prophets spoke of a coming Messiah. The Prophet Isaiah tells the distressed people that a mighty king, a wonderful counselor will be born (Isaiah 9:1-7). Malachi speaks that the Lord almighty tells him that he will send a messenger, to tell the people before him he will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear him… (Malachi 3:1-5).
The New Testament -Christian Bible begins with the story of the Nativity or birth narratives told in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. It is this story bringing us into the season that is the manifestation of God’s plan, God’s vision. It is this story that brings us to the celebration of the Word made into flesh -the birth of Christ.
As we celebrate the season, we must also remember the events that surrounded Christ’s birth.
- The shepherds, who upon hearing of the birth went to see for themselves, and then went to tell about what had been made known to them (Luke 2:16-20).
- There were the three astrologers (Magi) from Persia whose travels brought symbolic gifts -gold, frankincense and myrrh, which represent Jesus’ Kingship in Heaven, his Divine nature, and his inevitable death (Matthew 2:1-12).
- The Holy Innocents suffered under the edict of Herod when he ordered his soldiers to kill all the boys in Bethlehem under the age of two when he heard about the Christ child and discovered the Magi deceived him (Matthew 2:13-18).
The Christmas or holiday season society has thrust upon us can be filled with anxiety for many reasons. Keep it in perspective as you recall this phrase: “‘Tis the Season.”
The Word made Flesh… “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” (John 12:46-48)
© 2008 Sharon Moore Stenhouse – All Rights Reserved.
