03 Dec 2023 The beginning of the Christmas season

Posted at 2:44 PMh in Faith by

By Rev. Mark McDonald

We’ve all heard the saying “the reason for the season,” which is, of course, the birth of the Christ child. Christmas Day is on Dec. 25, but Christmas itself lasts more than a day. It begins on Dec. 25 and lasts through Jan. 6, when the three visitors from the East come bearing gifts (hence the “twelve days of Christmas” and the reason we share gifts during the season).

Several years ago, I ran across a book called “The Hundred Dollar Holiday” by Bill McKibben. In it, he challenges us to rethink Christmas and focus more on things other than giving presents. The basis of this challenge is only to spend $100 on our Christmas—in total! That seems so very far away from where we are, yet there is something powerful behind this movement. 

Spending less means buying less and making more. We can give the gift of a homemade dinner, babysitting, hand-writing a letter or making something bespoke as a gift.

If we were to do this, I believe we might be closer to the reason that giving gifts to others is a wonderful way to celebrate Jesus’ birth. After all, Jesus did give up his own life for others and clearly taught us to love God and love others as we love ourselves. Giving gifts to others–especially gifts that have deeply spiritual and sentimental value–is exactly what Christ did by his example.

So what is the reason for the season?

I’ve always noticed something that is unique to Christmas—we act better during the Christmas season. We give to more good causes. We not only feed those who are hungry, but we provide elaborate meals and baskets of food for anyone who wants one. 

We focus on providing children with a little extra, seem slightly more patient (well, most of the time), we sing to each other, and we show love more than any other time of the year. It gets stretched from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, even longer than the traditional 12 days of Christmas that begin on Christmas Day.

In short, it seems like we get the reason for being a follower of Christ better during Christmas than any other time of the year. So much so that it’s contagious among all of us! Everyone is drawn to the reason for the season, which is a reminder that every day should be Christmas. Not just one. Not even just 12 days. Every day.

It is a reminder that it is more blessed to give than to receive, that we cannot be filled until we empty ourselves. That we cannot fully love God unless we love others as we love ourselves.

 Every single day of the year. Whether we start Christmas Day, Thanksgiving, Advent or even in August when decorations start showing up in the stores, Christmas is the beginning of the rest of our lives. It is a season of practicing what we preach as Christians, a season of showing the world the unconditional love of Christ.

Mark McDonald
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