It’s the holiday season, and being that
our celebration of Thanksgiving is now over, we now approach the biggest
shopping and gifting holiday of the year, Christmas. Those of whom celebrate it
normally make purchases, (some elaborate,) for our close friends and family.
Our children often get that major toy/game system they’ve always wanted, and
many lovers, (true lovers,) take their relationships to the next level,
transcending them into engagements. It’s usually quite a joyous and “merry”
time for all, yet there are also occurrences which weigh heavy upon the hearts
of many worldwide. Behind some of the cheerful looking smiles, there lies the
pain of loneliness. Beneath the bright & jovial expressions, perhaps there’s
grief, and the mourning of a recently deceased loved one who’s been called Home
to glory. While the monies are being spent, and the advertisements of sales,
gifts, Santa Claus, elves, reindeer and snowmen, take over the television, and
our relatives prepare to join us for one or two of their multiple meals, some accompanied
by multiple holiday drinks, as the majority of us tend to overlook the actual
reason for the season, and exactly what it is that we’re celebrating… Personally,
I wanted to take this opportunity to dissect the phrase, “Merry Christmas.” Of course I’ll begin where it makes the
most sense to, which is In the beginning… A quick look at the word, “merry.”
Merry: (adj.) laugh·ing
1.
that laughs or is given to laughter: a laughing child.
2. uttering sounds like human laughter, as some
birds.
3. suggesting laughter by brightness, color,
sound,
4. laughable
It seems pretty clear to me that to
be “merry,” is to be joyous. Now for the second, “Christmas,” I’m going to
split that one up… “Christ.”
Christ:
(noun)
1.
Jesus
of Nazareth, held by Christians to be the fulfillment of prophecies in the Old
Testament regarding the eventual coming of a Messiah.
2.
the
Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament (used chiefly in versions of the New
Testament).
3.
someone
regarded as similar to Jesus of Nazareth.
Well… There we have it, The “Christ” in
Christmas is intended for us to reflect upon the birth of Jesus Christ, the
Messiah, the Son of God, the savior of the believing Christians of the world. Per
studying the Bible, we see nothing regarding pine trees, candy canes, reindeer,
sleighs, a “Santa Claus,” people exchanging gifts with one another, but
definitely bearing gifts to Him, as an infant.
And the last portion, “mas.” Now we have
no American/English definition of this, yet we do have a definition in Spanish…
-
mas: mercy ≈ la misericordia (noun) compasión
1.
to have mercy on somebody
2. to beg for mercy
3. to be at the mercy of
Is it really that ironic that “mas,” in
Spanish, means mercy in English? The phrase that we use so often in saying, “Merry
Christmas,” is actually a directive for us to be filled with joy & laughter
for Christ’s mercy, rather God’s mercy upon us for giving His Son to bear the
cross for our sins, before we were even formed in our mother’s womb… We serve a
Great and Mighty God, and He’s full of love, forgiveness, grace, mercy, and “much” more… This year, in the midst of
all the hustle and bustle, the shopping, cooking, eating & drinking, take just
a moment to thank God for the birth of our risen savior, Jesus Christ, the “real
reason” for the season... Have A Very Blessed and Merry Christmas
