"Sinte Klaas"

"...the righteous is generous and gives; for those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land..."  Psalm 37:21b-22a

"The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work....  Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift."  2 Corinthians 9:6-8, 15

Yesterday, December 6th was the day of commemoration of one of the saints of the Church, Nicholas of Myra, pastor and bishop.  Nicholas, who died in the year of our Lord 342, was bishop in the city of Myra in Lystra which today is part of Turkey.  Church legend has it that Nicholas would travel vastly to give gifts to those in dire need.  He is said to be the friend of all in distress, the protector of all children, and the rescuer of sailors in trouble at sea.  Saint Nicholas, Sinte Klaas in Dutch, then translated into English as "Santa Claus" has become the world-wide symbol of gracious gift giving.  Because of this, in many parts of the world, December 6th is the day of celebration marked with the giving of gifts to one another rather than December 25th.  Personally, I would much prefer this and thus to save the 25th for the commemoration of the Festival of the Holy Incarnation.  May I humbly and prayerfully suggest that we all purposefully set aside some time this December 25th to praise God for the greatest gift ever given in the history of creation, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, given for the salvation of all who in true repentance believe and trust in Him as Lord and Savior.

"Now this is the true faith of Christ which the apostle commends: faith that works through love.  And what it yet lacks in love it asks that it may receive, it seeks that it may find, and knocks that it may be opened unto it.  For faith achieves what the law commands."   Augustine of Hippo

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."   John 3:16-17

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.   John 1:1-2

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.   John 1:14 

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.  And all went to be registered, each to his own town.  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.  And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for him in the inn.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.  And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"   Luke 2:1-13