Sometime over the last couple of weeks I overheard someone saying that there really are two Christmases. That was all I heard. I didn’t hear what the person meant by saying there are two Christmases, but I found myself thinking about it ever since. And I agree, there really are two Christmases in our society. In one of the two Christmases, there is no mention or even thought of Christ. For many who celebrate this Christmas, it might even be a surprise to learn that the word Christ not only is in the word Christmas, but also that Christ is the reason for Christmas. For those who are sensitive to the reality that the word Christ is in Christmas, the phrase “Happy Holidays” has been substituted for “Merry Christmas.”
The secular holiday has become so divorced from the Christian holy day that the idea of going to church on Christmas would be considered a good way to spoil the day. The whole point of this Christmas is the giving and receiving of gifts. The central focus is not Christ Jesus, but the self. It has become an exceedingly self-centered holiday, and in so being, is the antithesis of the other Christmas. Yet I fear that this Christmas has eclipsed the other Christmas, even among Christians. I am not suggesting that nothing good happens related to this secular holiday, for some very good things do happen, but their link to Christ has been lost.
The other Christmas really should be called another name so as not to be confused with what has become a secular holiday. Perhaps we should return to using its original name—Christ Mass. Christ Mass is a holy day. The central focus of Christ Mass is Christ Jesus. And the most important activity in celebrating this holy day is celebrating the Mass—the Christ Mass.
There really are two Christmases. But it isn’t the first time that has happened. In fact, it seems to have been so almost from the beginning. The feast of Christmas has been on the 25th of December since the fourth century. The Church chose the 25th in opposition to a pagan holiday on the same day. In the Roman world, the 25th of December was called Natalis Solis Invicti—the birth of the unconquered sun. The ancient world celebrated the fact that after the winter solstice the days were beginning to lengthen, the sun would continue to shine, gradually warming the earth once more, and bringing new life. The Church replaced this pagan festival, which deified the sun, with our celebration of the birth of the Son of God, the Son of Righteousness. I suspect it took some time before people forgot about the pagan festival, and I also suspect that some of the merrymaking that went along with the pagan festival was transferred to Christ Mass.
We are here tonight because we realize what Christmas is truly about. We realize that what we celebrate is the birth of the baby Jesus in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. We realize that while most of the world was not aware of what was happening that night, “the light that enlightens every person” was coming into the world. As Phillips Brooks phrased it in his famous hymn, “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” “In thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light.” Jesus, the son of righteousness, was born. We realize that in this baby Jesus, the Word made flesh, God joined heaven to earth and earth to heaven. And we realize that it was through his death on the cross that the light shining in the dark streets of Bethlehem is ultimately victorious. It is important for us Christians to realize that there really are two Christmases so that we do not become seduced by the secular version, get sucked into that lesser observance; and once we know the difference between the two, then we realize there really only is one Christmas after all—the Christmas centered in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ever since that miraculous birth, poets have put it into verse, theologians have written of its great meaning, and carols have translated it into music. There have been many stories and legends relating to the incarnation, all attempting to convey something of the deep mystery behind our belief that in Jesus almighty God took flesh.
One such story says that on the first Christmas night all the stars above Bethlehem shone, letting their soft radiance filter inside the stable to please the Baby King. In the rafters above, two doves were cooing what must have been the earliest carol. The ox and the ass stood together warming the cold air with their fragrant breath. In the manger the hay was warm and soft, a proper bed for the holy child.
But in the corner of the stable was an insect, wondering what he could do for the baby who had been born. It was their stable, all of them; and they all wanted to help in some way. What could a mere insect do? Presently he saw a green leaf, fresh and cool. “I will carry this to his tiny hand,” said the insect. Very laboriously he dragged the leaf towards the manger, arching his worm’s back twice every inch. With utter care he made his way, until at last he was able to drop the leaf in the baby’s hand. The insect saw that there was a wonderful smile on the baby’s face as his tiny fingers closed round the smooth, shiny leaf. Soon he was asleep, and the insect crawled contented back into his corner.
And ever since, the legend goes on to say, that insect has carried a light which other creatures lack. It had caught some of the radiance from the Christ Child. You can see on a summer’s night sometimes a secret glowing in the lane…we call it the firefly…the glow worm.
This fanciful story may not be true in a literal sense, but it does convey a deep truth. That is, when one comes into contact with Christ and is open to that Presence, the light of Christ shines in him or her.
We are in his Presence now and we will receive him anew at this altar. Where meek souls will receive, still the dear Christ enters in. May Christ enter into your and my life anew today, and may his light shine through us to others.