WAS JESUS BORN ON DECEMBER 25? WHY DO YOU CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS.
By: Fr. Johnbosco Obika.
This is one of the fantastic questions I have encountered as a Catholic each year as we approach Christmas. This is obviously coming from those who would not like to have anything to do with Christmas and Christmassers but would like to double the price of goods they sale, and probably cheat others at Christmas to make more money. Fantastic.
Some religious movements who are also called christians dismiss the idea of Catholics celebrating Christmas because Jesus was not born on December 25. But they didn’t tell us when he was born anyway. But that’s not our concern as christians.
The major and focal point of Christmas is hinged on the indisputable truth that JESUS WAS BORN AS A MAN in history to save us. “Born of the Virgin Mary…as the scriptures foretold…” No one can doubt that. He came in history to redeem us in mystery, that we may live in glory. Anything outside this is a distraction.
Some others argue that Christmas was a pagan celebration. Well, this too is not our focus at Christmas. Whether it was or not a pagan celebration, we still focus on the fact that JESUS Jesus came to change the narrative that’s why he took our flesh to save us from the bondage of the flesh and evil. Say for instance, some people use the hotel to commit some crimes and other anomalies. Does it make a good man who lodged on the same hotel a bad man? No!
We celebrate Jesus because we want more of him and less of ourselves and the world. We have had enough of the world after all. Remember John said: “He must increase, but I must decrease. He that cometh from above is above all.” If pagans actually celebrated something on December 25, and now it has been replaced with Christian celebration called Christmas, it means that the scriptures is fulfilled: “The old things have passed away; behold, the new has come into being. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.” 2nd Cor. 5:17.
The world has also tried to redefine Christmas for Christians by making it a social celebration with much economic benefits, downplaying the spiritual value. St. Paul has this to tell us: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Jesus still remains the reason for the season. Do not accept otherwise. Celebrate with joy!
