There was once this fellow called Grinch and Grinch hated Christmas. He disliked the whole season so much that one year he decided that he would do all he could to stop it. He decided to steal all of the packages, trees, foods, treats, and trimmings that go with the season from the people of Who-ville. So, while the people were sleeping, he went out and took everything, certain that Christmas would not come.

                      

The Grinch woke up the next morning and could not understand what was happening. People were singing and dancing and rejoicing.

And the Grinch with his feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling: How could this be so? It came without ribbons, tags, packages, boxes, or bags. And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.

Then the Grinch thought of something he had not before. Maybe Christmas, he thought, does not come from a store. 

Maybe  Christmas … perhaps … means a little more!

It was a simple scene that first Christmas – a rough room, a young couple, and nothing but a manger to put the Child in. Not exactly the Hallmark moment shown in Christmas pageants. And yet this rustic scene marked the greatest event in the history of humankind.

Unlike any other baby, the one born that night in Bethlehem was unique in all of history. In the Gospel according to John we are told that the Word became flesh i.e. the Word of God was born as a human baby.

Approximately 300 prophecies were written centuries before the life of Jesus Christ which foretold a coming Messiah. The prophet Isaiah said that Jesus Christ would be born of a virgin and He was. The prophet said it at least 600 years before Jesus Christ was born. The prophet Micah said Jesus would be born in Bethlehem and He was. The prophet Hosea said that He would be called out of Egypt and He was.  It was also prophesied that Jesus Christ would come from the Hebrew race, from the tribe of Judah and be heir to King David's throne. The prophet Isaiah also foretold that the people who walked in darkness would see a great light.

“I am the Light of the world” is the second of seven “I AM” declarations of Jesus Christ, recorded only in the Gospel according to John, that point to His unique divine identity and purpose.

There is much darkness in the world and we only have to watch the news online or on TV to understand that the world could do with some light. 

In declaring Himself to be the Light of the world, Jesus Christ was asserting that He is the exclusive source of spiritual light. The Word that became flesh is the Great Light that shines in the darkness and though it did its utmost to extinguish it, the darkness could not overcome it. Even the grave could not extinguish Him.

Christmas does not come from a store.  It “means a little bit more.”  The Christmas season reminds us that Jesus Christ came to earth to bring us light and life. 

In the midst of life's vicissitudes, may you and your loved ones enjoy the true meaning of Christmas.

Bunmi Awoyinfa
HOM

This Christmas season at House of Mercy Children's Home Lagos, Nigeria (HOM), we are working and organising events to brighten the lives of as many needy and vulnerable children as we can.
www.homchildrenshome.org 
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