Have a blessed Christmas, everyone!
The Birth of Jesus.
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.
And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.
The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
source: Luke 2: 1:14
Some FYI because we live in crazy, revisionist times….
1. Was Jesus a Jew?
Yes. This is like asking if water is wet.
Jesus was a Jew. His family was Jewish. His mother was Jewish. He went to Jewish synagogues on Sabbath. He observed Jewish rituals like the Passover. He read the Jewish holy book, the Torah, and preached it. He said that he didn’t come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill them.
2. Where is this Judea?
I’m going to cite what’s taught in elementary school here in the US.
Judea: The Birthplace of Christianity
The birthplace of Christianity [Christianity: the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus] was a remote territory at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. According to the New Testament, Jesus [Jesus: the founder of Christianity upon whose life and teachings the religion is based], the founder of Christianity, was born in this region. The Romans called it Judea. It had once been part of the ancient kingdom of Israel ruled by kings David and Solomon.
Judea, where the New Testament says Jesus was born, was located in the present-day Middle East.
The Jews of the region were devoted to their homeland and to their belief in a single God. This belief, together with their religious customs, set them apart from their neighbors in the ancient world.
Once an independent kingdom, Judea came under Roman rule in 63 B.C.E. The Romans tried to govern the country by putting in charge Jewish rulers who agreed with Roman rule. But several times, groups of Jews rebelled against Roman control.
In 37 B.C.E., Rome appointed a man named Herod to be the king of Judea. Although Herod was not Jewish by birth, he practiced the Jewish religion and rebuilt the Temple of Jerusalem. However, many Jews distrusted him. They saw him as a puppet of the Romans.
When Herod died in 4 B.C.E., his kingdom was divided among his three sons.
Once again, unrest broke out. Finally, Rome sent soldiers to Judea to take control. They replaced Herod’s sons with a military governor.
The military governor kept order and made sure Judeans paid taxes to Rome. But he usually left local affairs to the Jews themselves. For example, a council of Jewish leaders ruled the holy city of Jerusalem. The council was headed by a high, or chief, priest.
Judea was outwardly peaceful. But many Jews hated the Romans. In their sacred writings, they saw prophecies that one day God would send a savior to restore the glorious kingdom of David. This savior was called the Messiah [Messiah: a savior who many Jews believe had been promised to them by God], or “anointed one.” Anointed means “blessed with oil.” More generally, it means specially chosen by God.
source: https://www.cbsd.org
3. Why is it called “Christmas”?
I know people nowadays think of Christmas as one big gift-giving event, but Christians are actually supposed to celebrate Jesus’ birthday with a mass. Christmas is “Christ’s Mass.”
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the word Christmas originates from the phrase “Cristes Maesse”, first recorded in 1038, which means the Mass of Christ or Christ’s Mass. The word mass is the English version of the Latin word missa, a celebration of the Eucharist, done in memory of Jesus Christ, where Christians eat bread and drink wine. But not all is Latin; in fact, the word Christ comes from the Greek word Khristos, translated from the Hebrew term messiah, which means anointed.
source: https://www.stillmantranslations.com
Merry Christmas Queen from my family to yours and to our friends here in BOD. 🎄🎄🎄
Happy Birthday Jesus! 🎂🥳❤️ Thank you for coming and saving us. May your birthday feel our hearts with joy and peace.
Luke included verifiable facts in his account of the Christ child’s birth. That kind of testimony must please a lawyer like you, @Packmule3.
I’ll repeat my greeting here that I wrote in another thread: Wishing my dear BoD friends many blessings during this holiday season. For those who will be celebrating it tomorrow, Merry Christmas. And I hope for all…
May your days be merry and bright,
And may all your dramas delight!
Merry Christmas!
@packmule3 and the wonderful posters on BOD, Thank you for your very educational post. I enjoy learning about other religions and that’s why I went to Newman Club meetings with my college freshman sister and why I was honored to be a guest at the reunion of one of my best friend’s former order(apart from the young children I was the only one there who did not take communion.) What I learned is what beautiful spiritual and kind women all these nuns and former religious were.My friend who is in her eighties still teaches religious instruction and is a hospice volunteer. (Please correct me if my terminology is wrong)
At this holy time of year I send tidings of joy and every good wish for a blessed Christmas and a new year filled with all good things.
Merry Christmas dear Friends!!!, how have you been?. Sorry I haven’t been my usual self lately yet I want to convey that I am grateful to have all of you in my life. We may be characters to each other but those characters convey wisdom and compassion.
Have a Merry Christmas!!! 😀
Merry and blessed Christmas BoD!
Without Mary’s yes, there would be no Christmas. Thank you Mama Mary for saying yes. And thank you God for sending your only Son to save the world. Happy birthday Jesus!
As a funny sidenote dear @PM3, we have what is called “Misa de Gallo” [Rooster’s Mass – it is celebrated before Roosters greet Christmas Morning] on December 25th at around 5 AM when it is still dark. Is a way to celebrate and welcome that Child that came upon us to give His Life and Teachings to us. Personally our family celebrations were until late at night when we were children so I haven’t went to one.
Would be interesting to learn how does it compare to Romanesque era Christes Maesse.
@FGB4877, you are dear to me, and likely many more BoD regulars. Seeing you pop up here is a treat. And I often learn much from your wise posts.
@Old American Lady, I hope you and your loved ones had a Hanukah full of blessings and light. You are another on BoD whose posts I cherish. As this year winds down and the next starts, I hope to hear more good news about your husband’s recovery from cancer.
Thank you, @Packmule3, for all that you do to bring us together on your blog. Hail to the Queen!
Merry Christmas to everyone on this beautiful blog !
May we all be surrounded by people who approach is with curiosity rather than contempt, may we all experience acceptance regardless of our race and colour, may we meet companies that appreciate skill and competence rather than gender, and above all may we all know that we’ve really got no planet B. Here is all we’ve got.
May common sense prevail ❤️
Hello @welmaris ! I hope you’re enjoying your Christmas with your beautiful family in your abode deep in the woods ! Must be so magical!
Thanks @pkml3 for the background to the word, “Christmas”. The Mass of the Anointed. Mass from the word’ ‘missa’ or to be sent (be on mission). Christ came to carry out a mission that continues today, to bring all humankind into everlasting life and joy in the Kingdom of God.
It’s hard to see the light at times in the midst of much suffering, but Christmas gives me hope, that God’s plan continues apace, regardless of all the spanners human beings keep throwing into the works.
May we know the true inner peace that transcends wars, crime, illness and death. May hope override fear and despair never take hold. May the joy that comes with the assurance of God’s love, fill our days.
Hi! Happy Christmas everybody here. ☃️🎄🎁🍗
Kalimera my friends!
Merry Christmas / Καλά Χριστούγεννα to you all: @Packmule3 and my fellow B.O.D’ers who celebrate it!
I wish you all to have a great day with your loved ones.
And if for any reason you are alone this day I sent you a big bear hug… ❤️🎈🌟🎄🌺🎉
Merry Christmas 🎄 PM3 and all BOD commenters and readers.
Thank you for being here and a part of my Drama enjoyment.
Happy Birthday 🎁 Jesús. Thank you for the gift 💝 that is You – our Savior, who takes away the sin of the world- offering forgiveness and eternal life to those who believe.
God bless us all!
@Arihsi, thank you for your lovely greeting. Although I was at my mountain cabin last week, I’m home this week for the holidays. Our younger daughter and her new husband came down from Seattle and are staying with us. My older daughter is off work tomorrow and will join us for a Christmas Day family meal. Since our girls have grown and flown the nest, having all our family under our roof is a rare occurrence, and I will cherish the time I spend with them tomorrow. (I should say today, since I’m writing this after midnight. I’d better get to bed!)
Merry Christmas, Everyone!