Christmas, 2007

Transcript

This year my wife and I are spending Christmas quietly. December has been a hectic month, so it's nice to stay home and reflect on what's really important in our lives.

Here in Japan it's easy to ignore the meaning of Christmas. Businesses take advantage of Christmas traditions, and we can see beautiful illumination on buildings, trees, and city streets.

But Christmas is not about luxury and beautiful scenes. It celebrates the birth of a child under miserable conditions. Jesus was born in a barn—a cold, dark, and probably dirty shelter for animals. He grew up to teach such a radical message of redemption that he was executed. The powerful and wealthy people of his day could not accept the Christian message that superficial, worldly power and wealth have no spiritual value.

To me the message of Christmas is clear. Christians are called to rejoice; to renew their faith, hope, and love; and to share their blessings with those who suffer from poverty, from persecution, and from the anxiety and emptiness of their lives. The message of Christmas is not about luxury; it's about true joy at the deepest levels of human experience.