“Christmas Begins With Christ,” Obviously! Not So Obviously: “Christmas Begins & Ends With Love!” I Say

25 December. When we Christians look at Christmas as ushered in with the birth of Jesus with the foster-father Joseph and virgin mother Mary, we are being historical, sometimes hysterical; but we are not pragmatic or practical – for all intents & purposes, I say categorically: “Jesus came to show us love! Jesus came as love!”

Images shared on Facebook by (a) Bruce Tolentino (“Child Jesus” from I can’t trace) and (b) I can’t trace either sharer or source either. “Christmas Begins,” Facebook sharing 21 Dec 2023 by Isabel Mildred Anunciado Tan.

“Christmas is what we make of it. Despite all the distractions, we can see to it that CHRIST is at the center of our celebration” – Thomas S Monson, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. That’s the problem there; Mr Monson says Christ is at the center of Christmas. No Sir! Who sent Jesus to Earth? God. Jesus is the messenger; God is the center.

God sent Love, because God is Love. So, love should be the center of our celebration! Whatever your religion is.

I’m Catholic. From a non-Catholic source, let’s see now; here are The Ten Commandments (from Life, Hope & Truth, lifehopeandtruth.com):

1, You shall have no other gods before Me.
2, You shall not make idols.
3, You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
4, Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5, Honor your father and your mother.
6, You shall not murder.
7, You shall not commit adultery.
8, You shall not steal.
9, You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10, You shall not covet.

I repeat: I am Roman Catholic. Do we treat Pope Francis as if he were the Son of God? Nope!

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life” (New American Standard Bible). You prove that you believe in Him if you follow the Ten Commandments.

In short – No other gods; no idols; no jokes. Remember to keep the Sabbath holy; honor your parents. Do not kill; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not covet.

You have to agree that The Ten Commandments can be summarized with only one word: Love. We have only one source and/or model of love: God. “For God so loved the world…

Repeat: Do not have other gods but God. No idols. No swearing. Honor the Sabbath. Honor your father & mother. Do not kill. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not covet.

As a practical/practicing Roman Catholic, I say, “We must see to it that LOVE is at the center of our Christmas celebration.” (And afterwards.)

Monday, 25 Dec 2023 – Merry Christmas! Oh, you owe it to yourself to make yourself lovable. But no, I am not going to wait for you to make yourself lovable; to me, you are lovable despite yourself!@517