Jesus is the reason for the festive season

Nearly here!

It can be busy, costly, fun, lonely for many, pressurised and an anxious time.

We throw ourselves into it, usually without asking why.

Why Christmas?

What's it all about?

What's the reason for the season?

Because it's big news good news.

Not about Santa or reindeer or elf-like postmen.

Jesus is the reason for this season.

So many love to sing carols at this time and one goes back to the Cromwell-led Puritan era (1649-1660) and was used as a catechism '“ something in code to avoid persecution but to express the main aspects of the Christian creed.

I'm talking of the 12 Days of Christmas.

So-

The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ.

Two turtle doves; the Old and New Testaments.

Three French hens; the three virtues '“ faith, hope and charity.

Four calling birds; the four gospels of the evangelists.

Five gold rings; the first five books of Old Testament (the Torah).

Six geese a-laying; the six days of creation.

Seven swans a-swimming; the seven sacraments.

Eight maids a-milking; the eight beatitudes.

Nine ladies dancing; the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Ten lords a-leaping; the Ten Commandments.

Eleven pipers piping; the 11 faithful apostles.

Twelve drummers drumming; the 12 points of doctrine in the Creed.

As a more modern song says '“ "It's all about you, Jesus, and all this is for you, for your glory and your fame."

Apparently from surveys taken '“

a) The average family spent 170 on their Christmas dinner in 2008.

b) We sent one billion Christmas cards.

c) A total of 370 million mince pies were sold last Christmas in the UK.

d) Last year the average in UK spent a whopping 395 on Christmas presents.

So it's all a bit of a sad nonentity if there is no real reason for the season.

Please don't leave "the child born for us" out of your celebrations. At a time of so much darkness and gloom Jesus is the good news '“ "for us."

I wish you blessings, health, happiness, wisdom, peace and fulfilment for Christmas and the New Year of 2010.

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