At this time of the year we receive cards, e-mails and letters saying “Merry Christmas.” Friends, relatives, neighbors, all say “Merry Christmas”. The cashier, the lady in the store, the delivery men, say “Merry Christmas”. But what does Merry Christmas really mean?

Does Merry Christmas mean to have plenty of food on the table with fish, roasted pork, nuts and sweets? If that’s the real meaning, then Merry Christmas means “Eat well”. How about the people that don’t have a table with plenty of food? I imagine they would say “I had a bad Christmas”.

Does Merry Christmas mean good company and social fellowship? If that’s the real meaning then we can say: “Get together with your friends” “Try to spent time together with the people that you like.” In this case, if you are away from your family or friends, you will have a bad Christmas.

Merry Christmas may be also a reference to the presents. In this case, what people really desire is that we get a lot a presents. We could translate the salutation more or less like this “I hope you get happy with all the presents you will receive.”

Then Christmas would a be a big birthday party for everybody, where all people congratulate each other, give presents and eat well. Honestly it doesn’t make sense.

My fear is that we, the ones who have been transformed by the blood of Jesus, think about Christmas as a reference to food, presents and fellowship. Let us gather and worship God, giving thanks for the true Christmas which is the commemoration of the presence of Jesus born in our hearts.

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