At the first Christmas day, the Bible tells us there was no room for Jesus and his parents in Bethlehem, as St. John writes in his gospel, “he came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.” Yet for many of us the same is true today, Jesus has become the unwelcome guest at Christmas, bearing unwanted gifts – after all what has Jesus got to do with Christmas, why’s he crashing my turkey dinner?!
Christmas of course belongs to Jesus, it has been noted that CHRISTmas starts with Christ, it’s his party and he’s the one who brings the best present. St. John continues in his gospel, “but to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” Jesus offers a unique present, one that no one else can – a chance to know God personally.
