Archived Articles by Father Rob Smith

Christmas Doesn't Happen Accidentally

Don't let Osama Bin Laden be the Grinch who stole Christmas. He isn't that important! He is just part of the normal backdrop of Christmas. A visit to Bethlehem two years ago, when things were much quieter than today, reveals that nothing much has changed in two thousand years. Soldiers standing on street corners, terrorists lurking in alleys, wheeler-dealer politicians angling for power, economic woes and common people caught in the pinch are a two thousand-year-old story.

Christ was born for times like these! Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem to register in a census commanded by a hostile occupying nation. Wealthy people had donkeys. They weren't wealthy. There probably wasn't any donkey, despite Christmas Card illustrators. The Christ Child, the Anointed of God, was born in a stable and laid in a manger because there wasn't any room in the inn. Shortly after the visit of the Magi, Joseph and Mary, warned by an angel, fled to Egypt with the little child. Herod's soldiers raided Bethlehem and killed all the little children two years old and younger. It doesn't take much imagination to see that happening today.

Christmas didn't happen accidentally. God picked that time for a number of reasons, among those reasons was the fact that they were troubled times. Christ was born for times like these. Christmas shines like a bright light in the midst of the world's darkness and that has been so ever since the first Christmas.

Christmas doesn't happen accidentally. The first Christmas took a decision from God. This Christmas will take a decision from you. Decide to have a good Christmas. Put Christ Jesus first in Christmas. Worship with your Church family. Keep the focus. Deliberately push current negative events out with the trash. If you want to look at them they will still be there after Christmas. Just don't dwell on them now. Put others first this Christmas starting with your children and ending with yourself, but by all means include yourself. Make a decision to celebrate with joy. Joy is ultimately a decision. President Lincoln once said, "Every man is about as happy as he wants to be." That's true, even at Christmas! Deliberately have a Merry Christmas!
~ Father Rob +

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