It’s been just over a month since I published my last article. The hiatus has been good to rethink the series a little bit on where it might go with the things I find of interest and want to write about. This article started with a reminder of the article I wrote around this time last year. My 57th in the series called “Something Missing” began with a description of my five favourite Christmas movies. I wrote about why these movies had become favorites but in so doing recognized something I had not anticipated; none of the five movies I’d chosen included anything about what event had taken place for Christmas to even exist and the reason why we celebrate December 25th.
What caused me to think of the article was watching a short bit by ingenious comedian Pete Holmes about society’s apparent obsession with not wanting to offend people over the holiday season with certain salutations. He explained how he hadn’t said Merry Christmas to anyone last year but instead shared the following, “may the birth of the one and only true God, Jesus Christ, bestow a blessing of grace and peace upon your household.” I laughed out loud at this and his brilliance in describing exactly what Christmas celebrates without the “Merry Christmas” greeting. It also shows that the legislative directives introduced by government to replace saying “Merry Christmas” in consideration of those with different belief systems seems to have done little to change the Christmas time of year.
Part of the reason for writing last year’s article, in addition to spreading some good cheer for the occasion, was that I also couldn’t think of a movie that depicted Jesus’ virgin birth in a manger in any sort of epic way. I’ve since seen Dallas Jenkins’ short film “The Shepherd: A Story of the First Christmas,” which is quite stunning but not really epic as far as film format goes. Dallas Jenkins is the creator and director of the popular biblical series The Chosen. This was a series I didn’t originally want to watch because of my understanding of the fictional aspects presented of the biblical stories. The Bible, I reasoned, is difficult enough to understand without creating additional, made-up content. But after watching Jonathan Roumie in the Jesus Revolution, I decided to give the series a chance. I’m glad I did as it provided a more full view of what the disciples would have had to give up—which was everything—that I think is all but impossible to comprehend by most in today’s world. I knew none of this at the time I wrote the article.
What I did include in the article, however, was Mel Gibson’s 2004 The Passion of the Christ, an epic film that depicts Jesus’ crucifixion and the forthcoming The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection, which at that time was to come out in 2024. Its release has now been moved out to Easter Weekend 2025. Here, I propose that Gibson be the one to direct an epic film of the virgin birth. The prequel also would complete a trilogy of The Passion of the Christ. Something tells me Gibson doesn’t need me to tell him this as he likely already has these plans in place.
Getting back to this article, for years we’ve been hearing the media tell us of the progress being made in removing Christian or any religious tradition not only from Christmas time but from society as a whole. Historically, this is not a new thing but I’ll reserve that for another article. Much has been made about how government is legislating the removal of anything from the work place to do with religion or belief in God. Further we read and hear demonstration that these policies are having impact and that Christianity is in sharp decline. Traditional news outlets like Global News in January of 2022 reported that in 2011, 67 percent (22 million people) of Canadians were affiliated with a Christian religion. And by 2019 that number had dropped to 63 percent. Online outlets like Christianity Statistics in Canada indicated last November that 53 percent of the population of Canada (19 million people) identified as Christian. Christianity is still significantly bigger than any other religion in Canada, but the portion that is Christian is decreasing. In listening to and reading such information, one is led to believe that people are leaving the religion but what’s strange is that the underpinnings that represent the significance of Christianity in society aren’t. This is no less apparent than in our calendar date, which literally marks the years after Jesus’ birth. This becomes even clearer in what we witness happening in December as we approach Christmas Day or Jesus’ birth date.
For instance, certainly in North America and possibly the world, December 25th still represents Christmas Day. A day of gifts, feasts and celebration. Though the word “Christmas” from the Old English “Cristes Maesse” originated in 1038 AD, a thousand years after the virgin birth, it means the Mass of Christ. Before that, in 380 AD, Roman Emperor Theodosius made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire and signified the birth of Christ with the December 25th date. The date accordingly comes nine months after the Festival of the Annunciation (March 25th) that commemorates the angel Gabriel announcing to Mary that she had been chosen to be mother of God’s Son. Though not necessarily identifying the day with the birth of Jesus Christ, the date has remained unchanged for 2000 years.
At this time of year, we see coloured lights, decorated houses and trees, images of Santa Claus, and a plethora of other markers that all represent the celebration of December 25th or Christmas Day. Gift giving and merriment are afoot. Every store and most every home seems to participate. Parties, special pageants, songs written and sung, all in a tribute to the December 25th date symbolizing the Christ birth. I imagine there are very few souls alive who are not aware of the date. Christmas is one of the most celebrated days around the world, if not the most, as according to OfficeHolidays.com, there are over two billion people (over a third of the world’s population) who celebrate the day.
Add the hustle and bustle of all that the Christmas season brings from the preparation and shopping to the festivities and mixed emotions, one can almost forget what it’s all about. But upon seeing the eyes of a person light up like that of a child’s when a gift is opened or the sharing of good cheer is felt, we see the spirit of delight that is Christmas. A delight that is contagious if sometimes only for an instant.
And that spirit of delight, though sparked by the thought of a gift that comes because they wished or prayed for it, is still a “spirit” of delight. That spirit and delight that was first given across all stations of humanity from shepherds to kings when the Almighty gave in flesh and blood, into the material existence of His creation, His Son.
So, I come back to my “Something Missing” article and my five favourite Christmas movies. That child-like spirit of delight still returns to my heart while watching each of these movies during the Christmas season with family and friends. Though the birth of Jesus in a manger with Joseph and Mary is not depicted in any of those moving pictures, I still know that it’s there. I may not visually see it in the sense of the material existence of His world but from Matthew 13:16, “But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.” I have eyes to see and ears to hear.
White Christmas, It’s A Wonderful Life, A Christmas Carol, or even The Muppet Christmas Carol and Christmas Vacation are not only about Christmas time but that in being about Christmas they are inadvertently about the birth of Jesus and how his life changed the world. Of course, not everyone will recognize this connection to the true meaning of Christmas, the theme of God’s love for us flows through them, none-the-less. Just because we don’t see the wind or love doesn’t mean they’re not there.
We hear not to use the salutation “Merry Christmas” as it may be offensive to some, yet all around us are displays of Christmas and the spirit of Christ. Come to think of it, when I’ve said Merry Christmas in stores and restaurants, I can’t actually think of a time I was called on it. No one has ever told me they were offended by my wishing them a Merry Christmas and most are quick to follow with similar wishes even if they at first had said “Happy Holidays” or “Seasons Greetings.”
I think over time my perspective of this time of year and the movies I’ve mentioned has changed since I have been given eyes to see the precious gift given to us in the life of Jesus—and the true meaning of Christmas.
Merry Christmas one and all!
Merry Christmas to you and your family as well Doug. It is great to see you back in the writing arena.
It crossed my mind when you brought to our attention the "decline" of Christ acknowledgement within our society due to government rules and maybe even fear of rejection, of not fitting in. I see a different path. Consider Canada's rapid population growth as we accept immigration from countries where worship to others than the One true living God, Christ Jesus can also reduce percentages as more people who worship others become Canadian.
So the numbers or percentages maybe matter less and perhaps what is more significant is decribed in Luke 2:10 - But the angel (of the Lord) said to the (the shepherds), "Do not be afraid. I bring you Good News (the birth of Christ Jesus Savoir of the world) that will cause "great joy" for ALL the people."
The birth of Christ is significant for ALL people and worthy of year round merriment and celebration. We set aside December 25 for a collective gathering where in celebration, a Merry Christmas, a day of, "great joy" celebrating the birth of Christ Jesus, Savoir of the world - or - the world's way.