Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah!

This year Christmas brings a happy coincidence. The 8 nights of Hanukkah begin on Christmas night. There’s a lesson for us here.

The lesson starts with “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” We all know the song, but how many of us actually observe those 12 days?

Consider doing so.

Our modern age has taken Christmas and twisted it into a secular and commercial event that neglects the traditional preparation Christians once observed - Advent. That preparation helps us open our minds and hearts to acknowledge the “real” Christmas.

If preparation has been lacking, there’s still time. Indeed, in these remaining days of Advent, we can prepare arm in arm with our Jewish brothers and sisters as they prepare for Hanukkah. After all, Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus were…Jews. Right?

And while our preparations may follow separate paths, we might pray that those paths lead to the same place in the end. After all, The Birth of Christ meant that salvation had come to Israel, and ultimately to all who would accept His saving grace.

But you don’t have to believe me. Here Linus explains to Charlie Brown exactly what Christmas is about.

 

https://x.com/JackPosobiec/status/1869192999474987128
 

It’s time to set aside the world’s view of Christmas. And soon it will be time to begin celebrating on December 25th. If we do that, we may very well remember that the message of our salvation goes far beyond those Twelve days of Christmas.

With the hope that this year the true meaning of Christmas may be especially illuminated by the candles of the Menorah, we wish you a…

Merry Christmas!

and a

Happy Hanukkah!