Approaching Christmas

Christmas is the celebration of one of the biggest events in history. Because of this event our calendar was changed. This is the reason why we now write “2013”. It is because of this event that broke history in two: Before Jesus and after. A little baby was born,

very poor, so poor that nobody would guess the importance He would have in history. He had to flee the country when still a baby, the authorities wanted to kill him from the very beginning. He grew up in a village called Nazareth (that’s why He was called “Jesus of Nazareth”). He befriended the poor and the sick, he met with sinners and prostitutes, he touched the untouchables of society. He defied kings and rulers. He criticized the hypocrisy of the established religion, showing that religious rites could not replace justice and mercy. The center of His message was love. Love God and love your neighbor as yourself. He healed the sick, he freed the oppressed, He

taught us how to live a meaningful life. He came to show us the way, the truth and the life all of us need. He gave his life on a horrible cross because he was falsely accused. The innocent died as a criminal. And then, after his death more than 500 people witnessed him alive. He gave the biggest gift of Christmas. He gave himself... for me...for you. It is an undeserved gift that everybody can take to become truly free. Free from sin, free from worry, free from guilt, inspired to live a good life, an abundant life. The “Christ-mas” word means the celebration of Christ.

May the joy of Christmas fill all of our hearts. 

                                                                                               Daniel Martin