Celebrate Jesus, Celebrate

Once again the star appeared to them, guiding them to Bethlehem… When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house where the child and his mother, Mary, were, and they fell down before him and worshiped him.

Matthew 2:9-11

I'm not a festive person by any stretch of the imagination, and all the fuss over grumpy old men in red jump suits and glittery Christmas décor can easily be lost on me. Left to me I could go the whole season without putting up a Christmas tree or turning on a decorative light.

But as I meandered slowly home this evening, something caught my eye. Someone had put up a Star of David in bright Christmas lights on the transmission mast of the local TV station. It looked beautiful as it hung there, glowing against the starless sky. I couldn't help going back in my mind to that cold, lonely night so many years ago, when three sages, tired and hungry from a never-ending journey finally came upon their quarry - a little, frail baby in the company of goats and chickens. The rest of the world was unsuspecting. But they knew better. They knew there was reason to celebrate. Their travels must have taken weeks, if not months, but this single moment in time made it all worthwhile. Christ was born! And how they celebrated!

The very word "celebrate" conjures up images of joy, happiness and ecstasy and, get this, action. It is not passive in any way. It is a deliberate effort to rejoice because of something good. I think it's a good thing that the whole world stops, for a few days in December just to celebrate. They may do it for whatever reason, but I think it's healthy.

Perhaps we spend a little too much time sitting in judgment over those who choose to have a good time at Christmas because they do not know "the reason for the season". Imagine if Nigeria won the World Cup and then, all of a sudden the Cameroonians declared a public holiday and thronged the streets to sing songs of joy. What would we do? Fold our hands and ask how dare they celebrate? I think not. No. We would simply go all the way out and out-celebrate them. If they try to crash our party, we'll simply party all the harder.

Think about it. So many people don't get the point. And yet they rejoice. What about you? You have a great reason to celebrate. His name is Jesus! So let it out - sing, shout, dance, have fun. Celebrate Jesus this Christmas. For unto us a Child is born… Oh Yes!

With love, Doosuur.