Magyar Egyház, 1970 (49. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1970-12-01 / 12. szám
12 MAGYAR EGYHÁZ gave a lecture or two, but by and large he shared eternal truths with persons whom he happened to meet and who chanced to need his help. The woman at the well, the lawyer at midnight, the publican perched in a tree — these were the one-man audiences who first heard the words which history has made immortal. Only the personal word will redeem and glorify life in our day. The word from the personal God, revealed through the person of Christ, must find reincarnation in your personality and mind if the warmth of the Christmas good will is to kindle eternal fires on the hearthstones of human hearts. Tibor Toth WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO US Christmas means different things to different people. To many people it means the season of good time, decorated tree, lighted candles, beautiful cards, and exchanging gifts. Others may use the Christmas season for business purposes, for selling and buying. However, there are many people for whom Christmas is far more important than the snow or the gift or the tinsel on the tree. They are possessed by the true spirit of Christmas. What does Christmas mean to us? Christmas means to us that the promises of God have been fulfilled. About 700 years before the birth of Jesus, Isaiah said: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (7:14). And again he said: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given” (9:6). When Christ was bom in the manger of Bethlehem, these prophecies were fulfilled. God is with us, around us, and in us. His grace, mercy, countless blessings and manifold gifts are with us. And since God is with us, even in this confused and disturbed world, we need not to live in fear and doubt, but we should seek for his help, search for his guidance, and ask for his kindness and compassion. Christmas means to us that God loves us. John 3:16 declares: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” In sending his Son, God was giving his love to us. This love is unlimited. It is undeserved. It is ours freely. We only need to accept and receive it by faith. Christmas means to us that we have a Saviour. Before the birth of the Son of God, Joseph was told to “call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Mt. 1:21). The angels said to the shepherds: “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord” (Lk. 2:10, 11). Thus the Child of Bethlehem is our wonderful Saviour. Thus the star of Bethlehem points not only to the manger but to the cross. Today we know that we have a Saviour and Redeemer because “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures” (I. Cor. 15:3.) Christmas means to us that we need to share our faith. After seeing the Child, the shepherds returned to the field “glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. “We need to share our faith in Christ, our hope in Christ, and our love for Christ. We need to proclaim Christ — to tell the world about the birth of Jesus. We need to preach the good news and declare that the Child of Bethlehem must be born also in our hearts that he may become our peace, hope and joy. Christmas means to us that we need to live a different life. Matthew says that the wise men “departed to their own country by another way.” This may mean they had found a new way of life, a better way of living. Christmas could mean the same to us. It can change our lives. It can inspire us to live a new way of life. These are the reasons why Christmas is far more important than gifts, Christmas tree or cards. To us, Christmas means that God is with us, that he loves us deeply, that we have a precious Saviour who is able to save us from our sins, that we are ready to share our faith, our hope, and our joy with all people, and that now is the time to live a new way of life, a better way of living. Rev. Barnabas Roczey LET US KEEP CHRISTMAS Whatever else be lost among the years, Let us keep Christmas still a shining thing Whatever doubts assail us, or what fears, Let us hold close one day, remembering Its poignant meaning for the hearts of men Let us get back our childlike faith again.
