“How to Enjoy Jesus’ Birthday”
When each Christmas season came, I would ask the children a question about their Christmas Day in my children’s sermon. “Do you know that Christmas Day is the birthday of a very famous person? Do you know who that person is?” Because they believed that Christmas is a day for children like themselves, they usually couldn’t answer right away. Then, I let them know it is the birthday of Jesus Christ. Not only children, but many adults also don’t recognize it well or don’t really care that much about it. It shows in our current Christmas culture its’ religious meaning is no longer necessary to celebrate this season. We only enjoy the season of Christmas for ourselves.
However, what if we restore this day as the birthday of Jesus Christ? This is Jesus’ birthday. What do we have to do? The birthday party cannot be left out. Just remember how you prepare a birthday party for someone. We prepare food, decorations, and gifts. Then we invite our family, friends, and neighbors. And finally, we celebrate the birthday and enjoy all together with good food, gifts, and a happy atmosphere. I believe this is what should happen in the season of Christmas as Jesus’ birthday. Christmas is a day that we invite our family, friends, and neighbors and share our love and grace with them together. So, as Jesus already did in his ministry, it is a day that we embrace the people not only whom we know, but also all who are marginalized in the world. Christmas is not a day for ourselves, but a day for others. It is because Jesus came into the world not for himself, but for us.
In this Christmas season, I hope we all stay in the love and grace of God with our family, friends, neighbors, and also people who need God’s help and support from their particular situations. I also hope God’s love, grace, and joy overflow among God’s people who are invited to your Christmas birthday party. Amen.
Pastor Jinha Choi
First & Wesley United Methodist Church