Page 12 - Lenten Meditations 2021 electronic edition

W e e k T w o

celebrate Christmas--just not the religious part.” While I plainly
see a lot of people around me who need to be reminded of “the
reason for the season,” this quote is from a person who readily
admits she is a non-believer, yet she celebrates the “non-religious
part” of the holiday. Does she really not know that Christmas IS a
Christian holiday?
How does one justify celebrating Christmas when one does not
believe in Jesus Christ? Of course, I had to go to the internet and
see what the people who leave Christ out of Christmas have to
say. They cite Christmas as being about:
Time spent with family and friends
Giving and receiving gifts
Spreading joy and happiness
Remembering to be kind to others, especially the less
fortunate
That leads me to believe that people who celebrate Christmas
without Christ are not bad people. They are absolutely correct
about the love and generosity that the Christmas season brings.
After all, doesn’t Jesus say, “love your neighbor as yourself?”
(Mark 12:31) Doesn’t He say, “God loves a cheerful giver?” (2
Corinthians 9:7) Doesn’t Jesus, time and time again, say we are to
give to the poor, to take care of the less fortunate, to store up our
treasures in heaven instead of on earth? (Matthew 6:20) Don’t we,
as Christians, know that our true JOY comes from the Lord? (John
15:11)
Hmmmmm. Shouldn’t we be practicing the “non-religious” parts
of Christmas all year long? So. . . what do we say to people who
readily admit that Christ is not in their Christmas celebration?
I say, “I am called to go out and make disciples of Jesus Christ for
the transformation of the world.”I say, “I am not ashamed of The
Gospel.”
I say, “Christ is in you. He’s just waiting for you to acknowledge
Him.” I say, “Let me tell you about my Jesus.”
As we enter the Lenten season, let us be in prayer for friends who
celebrate the bunny but not the Risen Savior.
Prayer: Father God, we pray that you bless and protect everyone
that seeks you, needs you, and believes in you—and even those
who have not yet acknowledged your unconditional love, grace
and mercy. Help us to be disciples whose lives are made
8