Thought for the Day 12/23/2022
On
December 25th, the birth of Jesus Christ will once again be celebrated around
the world. The gospels mention no actual birthdate—or even season of the
year—so the precise date remains a mystery. For many scholars, though, the
presence of shepherds and sheep at the familiar manger scene suggest that he
was born in the fall of the year, and not the winter. The exact date is unknown, but by
the 4th century, December 25th was the accepted date throughout Europe.
Scholars believe early Christians chose the date to coincide with pagan festivals
celebrating the winter solstice. Throughout the Roman Empire, the
solstice was called "the birthday of the unconquered Sun," and
public celebrations provided perfect "cover" for early Christians
who wanted to celebrate Christ's birth without drawing attention to
themselves. As centuries passed, winter traditions from Germanic and Celtic
cultures were integrated into the Christian celebration, giving us the
festive, gift-giving holiday we know today. While Christians view Jesus as the
Son of God, the Creator, people from other world religions—and people with no
religion at all—tend to regard him as a great spiritual teacher, similar to
Confucius or the Buddha. In that regard, Jesus is clearly one of history's
most influential teachers, offering countless sayings that have significantly
influenced human history. This week, when so many of us have so much, let us
remember the many who have so little. In doing so, let our efforts be guided
by this important observation from Jesus: ~ Matthew 25:34-36 |
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