Each year we are faced with the obstacle of a secular society, which tries to lure us away from the true meaning of Christmas.
We must never forget that we are celebrating the Incarnation. Jesus, the God-man, entered history to make atonement for our sin of rebellion against His Father and to lead us to salvation. Jesus came upon the stage of the world over 2,000 years ago, poor, helpless, and even homeless. Shepherds were told of His coming. In the spirit of giving they brought their own gifts of milk and bread and wool, and, most precious of all, their love. Wise men crossed continents carrying gorgeous gifts. They, too, wanted to give things to the baby Jesus. Of all their gifts the most pleasing to the Child was their love.
Ever since there has echoed in the heart of humanity the Christmas cry: “Give it to the baby Jesus.” Yes, give everything to the baby Jesus. Every gift at this season of giving can be given to the Christ Child, if it is given in the spirit of Christ, for the sake of Christ, and the sake of Christ’s own, the poor, the neglected, the weak, the weary.
Every act of kindness, every “Merry Christmas,” every song, every celebration, every tiny and tremendous task of preparation, every note of your Christmas carols, every ornament hung on the
tree, every strand of straw in your crib, every good work, every gift given, can be, must be, given to him. Give it; give it all, to the Christ Child.
Giving is the spirit of Christmas. Every gift must be one of love, or it has lost all its meaning. And that love should be centered in the little Child who brought true love to the world.
We must give sorrow for sin; we must give promise of improvement; we must give, above all, a home in our hearts. We must give these things to the Christ Child today. Our hearts are what He wants. We must give them to Him. Our love is what He wants.
We must give it to Him today. Christ became a helpless little one in order that we might feel the heartthrobs that the human spirit holds out to a helpless child. He came to us in so vulnerable a fashion in order that we might come to love Him with the tenderness usually reserved for an infant. In that sweet sense may your Christmas be joyous.