Fraternity-Testvériség, 1983 (61. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)

1983-10-01 / 4. szám

FRATERNITY

Page 3

CHRISTMAS 1983

The Great Prophet Isaiah, reflecting upon and prophesying about the advent — the coming — of the promised Messiah, wrote the following prophecy about 2,700 years ago: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called ‘Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace’. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uplift it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for ever more. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” (Isaiah 9:6, 7.)

This prophetic reflection of Isaiah became a reality almost 2,000 years ago, “When the fulness of time had come, God sent forth His Son.” (Galatians 4:4.)

The First Christmas — the Birth of Christ — became the culmination of Advent, the fulfilment of prophecy of the divine promise of God, but the coming of Christ also ushered in a new era in human history, and with it the hope and the promise of eternal life through Christ! The First Christmas was heralded not by human voices, but by an angelic proclamation from heaven; not to monarchs in palaces, but to humble shepherds in the fields of Bethlehem.

Each Advent Season is the anticipation and the preparation for the celebration of and the reflection upon Christmas. In our present era of restlessness, anxiety and world-turmoil, how will we, in a Christian nation, in Christian communities, homes and churches, celebrate this most Holy Day of the year 1983?

As we reflect upon the general attitude, and often the unhallowed behavior of mankind, many individuals and families in our communities will celebrate Christmas for their personal merriment and carnal satisfaction, without any regard or concern for the spiritual significance and meaning of Christmas. Many may attend the Christmas Eve and the Christmas Day Worship Services in their churches, but with that the celebration of Christmas will be completed and finalized. But those of us who await the arrival of Christmas with the true joy of receiving Christ into our lives, will be renewed in our Christian Faith and in our Christian life! “To all who received him, who believe in his name, he gave power to become children of God.” (John 1:12.)

Reflecting upon the celebration of Christmas, do

we recall the meaningful and lasting impressions that we experienced individually, with our families, and in our churches?

Those of us'who grew up in the spiritual environment of our Calvin United Church of Christ —■ formerly Magyar Református Egyház — in Toledo, Ohio, can joyfully reflect upon the meaningful and impressive Christmas Holiday Season we shared and enjoyed together. It wasn’t just attending the Christmas Eve or the Christmas Morning Services, but using the entire Advent Season, and especially the Christmas Holy Week, in preparation of the solemn observance of Christmas — the Birth of Christ! How we enjoyed preparing our Sunday School children with their Christmas programs; the Sunday School teachers singing and participating in the Christmas Eve Services; the entire Congregation attending the Christmas Eve and the Christmas Morning Worship Services and participating in the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper! We worshipped and rejoiced together, for we felt that Christ was present with us!

In the forty-eight years of my Christian Ministry, as pastor of the Hungarian Reformed Congregations, I endeavored to implant this inner Christian spirit into the observance and celebration of Christmas, with the children, youth and the adult members of the congregations. Several years ago I wrote a Christmas Play — “The Story of the Birth of Christ” in three scenes. I presented it with the Sunday School children, as part of the Christmas Program, in all the churches were I served, and also in the churches where I served as interim pastor in my retirement. The children and young people all enjoyed participating in it, and the parents and the adult members were happy, seeing and hearing the story of the Birth of Christ from the lips of their children. Yes, the true celebration of Christmas is: remembering and receiving Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of mankind into our hearts!

“Christmas — 1983” can be joyful and spiritually meaningful to all of us, who observe and celebrate THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, in the true Christian spirit and receive Christ, as our Savior, into our hearts!

During this Advent Season may we prepare ourselves to observe and celebrate CHRISTMAS — THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, glorifying God, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Rev. Béla Bacsó, Pastor Emeritus Magyar United Church of Christ, Elyria, Ohio