Why Christmas? Why is so much attention given to Christmas?

The word attention has various meanings.  The one I rest upon is “to watch, listen to, or think about something or someone carefully or with interest.” December 25, has captured the interest of much of the world. Imagine how many thoughts have been focused, over the past months, towards this occasion of Christmas.

Why Christmas? Why is so much attention given to Christmas?

As I pondered this question, I realized that our attempts at attending to Christmas are a response to magnificent attention given to us and our world. Without the attention that was on us, there would be no attention in our lives to Christmas.

We were the focus of attention which resulted in an action.  This is another definition of attention; “consideration with a view to action.”  The Bible says, “For God so LOVED the world he SENT” Jesus (John 3:16). We were the eternal God’s great consideration. Faith believes that we were separated from this God of the cosmos. In love God attends to this deep concern.  Delighting to be in a relationship with his creation, he considers an action to restore that relationship. Attention given to us is on account of God’s great love - it is not because we are so loveable.

There is not one life that is not marked with attentive love.  Like we would mark an image we like with a love emoji, so God has marked each of us with an out of this world love; an unfathomable love. Max Lucado says it this way.  “If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning... Face it, friend. He is crazy about you!”  Because of this great love, God not only had a view to act, but he also acted.  He sent Jesus.  This is why we have, and attend to, Christmas.  God loves us. He wants us to know him and experience the extent of his love as we engage in a relationship initiated by him.  We were created to be in a relationship with the eternal God.  Mysterious? Yes, but true.

Our attention to Christmas is because God has attended to us. This is seen in the manger, and then through the journey to the cross, where Jesus was crucified. “This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God” (1 John 4:10 – The Message).

On this Christmas Eve 2020, if you sense a movement of God because he is giving attention to you, offer your attention to what you are hearing or feeling.  God’s Spirit moves us to attend to God’s activity in our lives.  Completely loved by Jesus – God in flesh made known - he delights to extend his love to you.

As we sing this carol, we give our attention to the mystery of God’s wondrous love.

103: Christians Awake, Salute The Happy Morn

1. Christians awake, salute the happy morn
Whereon the Savior of the world was born!
Rise to adore the mystery of love
Which hosts of angels chanted from above;
With them the joyful tidings first begun
Of God incarnate and the virgin's Son.

2. Then to the watchful shepherds it was told,
Who heard the angelic herald's voice: Behold,
I bring good tidings of a Savior's birth
To you and all the nations on the earth;
This day hath God fulfilled His promised Word,
This day is born a Savior, Christ the Lord!

3. O may we keep and ponder in our mind
God's wondrous love in saving lost mankind!
Trace we the babe, who hath retrieved our loss,
From His poor manger to His bitter cross;
Tread in His steps, assisted by His grace,
Till man's first heavenly state again takes place

Ever present God, whose love knows no limits, we see you in the manger and know your love demonstrated. Thank you for acting in love to restore us.  As we celebrate Christmas help our attention to first and foremost be on you.  May we rejoice with the good news that a Saviour is given, a relationship renewed, a light offered, an eternal hope secured. May we also extend to others a measure of the love you have extended to us.  AMEN